2020 roster breakdown: Locks (10): 2B Altuve SS Correa 3B Bregman CF Springer LF Brantley SP Verlander P McCullers P Peacock RP Pressly RP Osuna Locks unless traded (12): UT Diaz (no options) 1B Gurriel (no options) OF Marisnick (no options) RF Reddick (no options) RF Tucker LF Alvarez LF Fisher (no options) RP Devenski (no options) P Valdez P James P Martes (no options) SP Martin Out of options fringe players (6): C Stassi 1B White 1B Reed OF Kemp P Rodgers RP Guduan Likely optioned (7): C Stubbs IF Mayfield UT Straw P C Perez P Armenteros RP Deetz P Abreu Rule 5 eligible from mlb.com Top 30 (5): 3B Toro OF Dawson SS Arauz P Urquidy P Javier Free agents (7): C Chirinos SP Cole SP Miley P McHugh RP Smith RP Harris RP Rondon From my view here are the needs (in order): C SP RP 1B P P The big questions are how much money they have and which prospects will claim a spot. My post is already too long, so I’ll skip forward; here are the moves I would like to see: 1. SP: Trade for an ace caliber pitcher with an addl year of control this season: Scherzer, Synergaard, Kluber, Bauer, Stroman, Greinke, Ray, Boyd, Gray, Gray, Matz, and Archer all would work, although obviously it depends on your definition of ace. For this exercise, I’m assuming they can get one of those guys using a package of Corbin Martin, Derek Fisher, JB Bukauskas, and a 3rd tier guy like Luis Santana. 2. C: Extend Chirinos. He’s obviously a fit and he’s unlikely to be expensive. Grandal is an option in free agency, as are Castillo, Lucroy, Castro, Avila, and Cervelli. Trade options would be Narvaez, Barnhart, Ramos, Gomes, Suzuki, and Posey. 3. 1B: try to flip Reddick and/or Gurriel’s salaries for an everyday caliber 1B. They may have to throw in some money or prospects. I don’t think they’ll have the budget to add any bats in free agency, but maybe they can flip those 2 guys plus a couple of 3rd tier prospects for somebody like Belt (or even crazier, Miggy, assuming Detroit eats all the money after next season). Alternatively, I’d like to see Reddick and Gurriel used as a 1B platoon. 4. RP: Luhnow has been too good and too unpredictable to speculate which relievers he would add, but sufficed to say there will be plenty of options via trade and free agency, and for now none of the internal options appear ready to fully replace the group they’re losing (Harris/Rondon). I think they’ll need to add 2 between now and next year. Opening Day 2020 40 man roster: CF Springer LF Brantley 3B Bregman 2B Altuve DH Alvarez SS Correa RF Tucker 1B Gurriel C Castro* Bench: Diaz, Marisnick, Stassi, Reddick Rotation: Verlander, Stroman**, McCullers, Peacock, Minor** Bullpen: Diekman*, Steckenrider**, Valdez, James, Martes, Devenski, Pressly, Osuna Optioned: Stubbs, Mayfield, Arauz, Toro, Straw, Dawson, Urquidy, C Perez, Armenteros, Javier, Abreu, Deetz, Bailey DFA: White, Reed, Kemp, Rodgers, Guduan Traded: Martin, Fisher
I think Dallas going to the Braves will kind of hurt us with NY most likely trying to land another pitcher. I could be wrong but we will be betting against them for a pitcher.
Not worried about the Yankees adding. They aren’t gonna be crazy about adding anyone making any money, anything they add at this point comes with at least a 30% tax. Old man George ain’t running that show anymore
I don't think that matters much at the trade deadline. It's not like the Mets are going to trade Syndergaard for $100 million. I guess they could take on a huge contract more easily, but I'm not sure that really matters.
I don’t think Houston will do anything on offense, especially until they improve their rotation. The Astros have 2 of the Top 15 hitting prospects in the game waiting in AAA, and they both play the corner. They don’t need a bat, and they especially don’t need a bat on an expiring contract. However, I could see some sense in flipping Gurriel and Reddick plus a 2nd or 3rd tier prospect for Encarnacion. The money would be a wash (if Houston picked up his option for next year) and adding him while sending out Gurriel/Reddick would serve 2 purposes (improve 1B, open up a spot for Tucker). Astros get: 1B Edwin Encarnacion Mariners get: OF Josh Reddick 1B Yuli Gurriel RHP Brandon Bielak PTBNL (if the Astros pick up EE’s option, it would be a player like SS Deury Carrasco, otherwise cash) Edit: it is EXTREMELY unlikely Luhnow would do this due to the potential impact on the clubhouse.
I think Astros will try to SP, RP, C, 1B with a preference in that order. I think it will be easier to acquire guys in the opposite order. If Astros get a good deal at any of those positions, I expect they pull the trigger.
I totally get this logic here and in a lot of ways it makes sense. Pitching will be the priority and it should be. Im also in the camp that we need to give Tuck and Alaverz a shot. It doesn't make sense not to when our core comes back. Need to see how these guys do with MLB pitching. On the flip side, i think it's important to realize that we do not have a lot of depth at players who can hit the long ball. Come playoff time, our pitching will be solid but ultimately I believe Houston will have to get in a few slugging fests. We all saw how unhealthy this team was and for almost three straight seasons, we've had guys hurt. We couldn't drive runs when needed against Boston. There are no promises that our guys will be healthy come post season. We see the type of hitters the Dodgers, the Red Sox, and the Yankees (when healthy) have. I think it would be smart to at least kick the tires and see what the cost would be to have depth and especially with Encarnacion.
Career high in HR: Bregman 31 Springer 34 Reddick 32 Correa 24 Altuve 24 Brantley 20 Gurriel 18 Chirinos 18 Diaz 18 Marisnick 17 In 2017, White hit 28 across 2 levels. Fisher 26. Tucker 25. Reed 34. Mayfield 20. Throw in Alvarez who has 22 HR in 55 games this year. I’m not totally against them adding a bat, but Houston has plenty of power depth. Straw, Stubbs, Stassi, and Kemp are the only position players on their 40 man roster who aren’t a consistent threat to go yard.
I don't see C as a priority at all. Chirinos will be the man and I think they like Stassi. If they make a move, it won't be until the last days or hours or minutes up to the deadline. There's no urgency to add anyone now.
And yet Kemp hit a HR tonight. I've been saying for 2 years now Kemp is very underrated around these parts.
What makes Kemp underrated? For the most part he is a mediocre to average player. He has the occasional big hit that folks seem to remember, but game after game, he is nothing special on the field.
No one likes Stassi. He is the back up because he is out of options and cheap. We will get another catcher.
