I wish Joey had gotten a ring but I think he's done. I would bet Singleton has a better season than he.
There is no done deal at this point. Astros want to get it done and made a second formal offer to Hader and his agent. The offer is less than what Diaz got and that has been an issue with Hader. The agent has tried to get Texas, Philadelphia and Dodgers to increase their offers. Told that Hader doesn’t have a massive market yet in part because of velocity concerns and walk rates, coupled with some elite teams wanting to spend for players that play every day. Rangers and Dodgers and Baltimore and Chicago have other areas of interest above Hader at this point. Agent may wait for Snell, Montgomery and a bat or two to sign and see if that warms up the Hader market. Astros response is they need a decision soon. Other odd thing I was told is that Rangers and Dodgers think it could be a smoke screen by both Hader and Astros to force the Rangers or Dodgers to overpay for Hader. As for those asking about Pressly - told that will be dealt with if there is an agreement reached.
There are multiple scenarios and possibilities that would be discussed if a deal is imminent. Everything from Pressly having no issue with it, to an extension … to a trade. Actual saves don’t mean as much as they used to, being a leverage reliever that is effective is what matters. Also Astros would sell Pressly on having less work and getting proper rest (which he complained about last year) and not needing to go over an inning. FWIW I personally don’t think Pressly being upset would hold up a deal if the Astros get close to a deal with Hader.
It isn’t - Astros made an offer and then a second offer… however Dodgers and especially Rangers think it may be.
Nook, is the local TV funding uncertainty and issues playing a factor in the free agent market this year?
Honestly Harris/Pressly/Osuna was probably just as good. Heck you could argue that last year was as good as any with Neris/Abreu/Pressly Main thing is Dotel was a little overrated (that was his best season though) and Lidge didn't become the elite guy we remember until the next season.
Really? I'd still bet on Votto to be a more consistently productive bat. While there should be enough to go around, I don't think the regular season record is a goal. Look where it's gotten the teams that have gone for it recently.
Harris gets knocked bc of the World Series, but he was overexposed, and he was an all-star that year. Greinke could have finished that inning... got screwed by the Umpire.
Lidge fell off about 2/3 of the way through the year due to gross overwork. He had already thrown 59 innings in 104 games in his first season as a reliever, which is a full seasons worth of work for relievers now. They weren't just dominant, they pitched a ton, 258 innings between them. Until Lidge started slowing down, I doubt there were few trios in MLB history that were providing as much value as they were. Had they had the luxury of being used a little more sparingly I think Lidge holds up.
With the shitty way last season ended it sure would be nice to sign hader. Taking a target away from Arlington would just be icing on the cake. Make it happen Dana and crane
I cannot read the minds of the Rangers and Dodgers, etc. What I can say is that signed Hader is very much a Crane type move. Crane wanted Verlander after Luhnow passed on the first trade deadline - and the Astros ended up with Verlander. Crane wanted Verlander resigned, so he took over negotiations from Click - and he resigned. Crane wanted Greinke - and Greinke was an Astro. Crane regretted losing Hader in trade - he then pushed Brown to get him at the deadline last year. The Astros were going to get him until the Padres took him off the market. When the World Series ended, the Astros preliminary checked in with Hader. Now Crane has made two offers for Hader. Does it mean the Astros get Hader? No, Crane wanted Bryce Harper and did not get him.... and he eventually lost out of Verlander to the Mets before trading for him again - but we do know that when Crane wants something, the Astros end up making good faith attempts, and over 50% of the time, Crane has gotten who he wants.
