Pleased to have Framber back. I really felt like he grew as a pitcher this last season. I’m expecting big things out of him.
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With this being his walk year I expect the absolute best from Framber.
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He’s gonna wind up taking less to go to Boston than what the Astros initially offered.
Boras strikes again.
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I always thought we (Astros fans) probably overvalued him. Leadership and intangibles certainly matter, but they matter a lot less when production fails.
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He is a fan favorite in Houston. He is not anywhere else.
In Houston we would overlook his slow starts because we liked him and we had come to expect him to turn it on later in the season.
The rest of the league sees it as if you suck for 60 games you are only good for 100 games.
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haven’t been able to keep up with everything here
whats the skinny on Bregman - is he for sure leaving or is there still a chance he stays an Astro?
We have a 3B and 1B. Where would he play? Breg is done as an Astro.
He was most valuable to the Astros (fan favorite, clubhouse, etc) and overplayed his hand. I think he’s learning that.
He let Boras overplay his hand….you would think these guys would learn….whatever.
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I think Detroit makes a lot of sense.
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The problem is the media is afraid of Boras. They should be kicking his #%. I mean the real sports media like the Chicago guys and some in the NY market. Not the fake #% Sporting News and SI or Fansided
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agreed…when I read Bregman say in November that he was going to let Boras handle ALL his negotiations, I knew that probably wasn’t gonna end well for the Astros…but I also didn’t figure Bregman would go unsigned this late in the game, either. So, yes, letting Boras handle it all has definitely cost Bregman (both financially and personally from the only team that’s ever employed him…and still the only team with any sort of published official offer to date, I might add…I am also now seeing a report that Bregman might be looking for now a FIVE-year deal after supposedly spurning the Red Sox ‘offer’ of three years in recent days)…but he should have stepped in on this a long time ago when reports first came out that Boras might even be seeking a $300 million deal for his client, and thus, selling Bregs down the river.
While Bregman has certainly earned his right to be a free agent and seek the best offer and opportunity he could get, he definitely has whiffed on allowing Boras to overplay their hand. This late in the game, there are also those that suggest Bregman might even accept a deal with an opt-out after 1-2 years to allow himself to reset his free agency going into any subsequent year(s). But that’s gonna cost Bregman, too, if he is indeed a player with diminishing skills, as some others suggest. He’s not gonna get as much on that open market, either, if that is the route he chooses to go. So, either way you slice it, this has not gone Bregman’s way.
But I’m gonna stick to the point I made weeks ago and say players like Kyle Tucker (and maybe even Vlad Guerrero, too) are what’s hurt Bregman’s value more than anything else this offseason. The minute teams learned the Astros were definitely deciding to not try and extend Tucker and, hence, move forward with trading him, it piqued a lot of interest from viable clubs about simply waiting out 2025 and then putting those 200-(maybe)300 million Bregman dollars they might have readily spent this offseason towards the possibility of being a player for Tucker next year. Make no mistake, Kyle Tucker IS STILL GOING TO BE AVAILABLE! The Cubs are nowhere near out of the woods with that one. And with Boras also as Tucker’s agent, he’s going to do everything he can to gouge whoever wants him. So, knowing this, teams would probably just rather hang on to that cash for now, just in case.
Now, I’m curious if the Astros would still do the 6/156 for Bregman after all the moves they’ve made. No way I would go beyond that (especially now) and it probably doesn’t do anyone any good to take some money or years away, either (even if on general principle you may lean towards wanting to send a message to Bregman about having been disrespected initially). But the Astros still need another bat…that isn’t going away. I like Santander, but I have a feeling we’re gonna still pull our hair out over his .240 average and .305 OBP, all the same (not to mention, defensive deficiencies) – his penchant for considerable power, notwithstanding.
So, I would move to give Paredes lots of time in left (hell, you can even put Bregman in left) and go with some regular rotation of Paredes, Bregman and Yordan at 3B/DH/LF and go to war.
As far as the money, with a six-year deal for Bregs, you could structure that contract any way you want…maybe set it lower for year one (and maybe that would be Bregman’s penalty for taking his sweet time…haha) so that you’re not up against any big luxury tax payments and maximize it more after 2025 or 2026 once you have more financial flexibility. I believe the 'Stros have just four players under contract beyond 2026, if I’m not mistaken (two of those, Yordan and Altuve, are on relative team-friendly deals anyway, especially in the case of Yordan). So, there should be a lot of flexibility there.
It would help if they’re able to deal Pressly’s salary or Caratini’s, and if so, Bregman can still get 20 million in year one. If not, roll with what you have and you’re still a contender. But to quote Altuve, ‘just get it done’ and be done with it.
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Nice job Jay.
Agree with everything said.
The more I look at Santander the more worts I see….i have been looking at all the OF options pretty closely.
The more I do the more I favor Jurickson Profar.
I think you can get away with three years there….that OBP is really nice if you believe it’s real….
BTW, someone a few weeks back mentioned Profar so credit to them….
The other route is to do a one year deal with Randal Grichuk if you can and see how Melton progresses….
Randal hit .291 last year with an .875 OPS, and had 12 HR with 46 RBI….this was in 254 AB’s.
Imagine if you give him 500 AB’s and he comes anywhere close to doubling those numbers….
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FYI- International signings have commenced….the Astros struck the “Mother Load”.
Kevin Alvarez.
17 year old OFer out of Cuba.
He has been given a 65 hit tool and 65 power by MLB.
“TREMENDOUSLY advanced left handed swing”.
I believe they signed 20 guys in this class and there are some high upside guys….but make no mistake, Alvarez was the crown jewel that everyone wanted to sign.
There were only two outfielders ranked just ahead of him and I disagree with both.
Alvarez has a much higher “hit” tool than both with an identical power power tool….their rankings are almost identical….im guess their defense was a smidge better but that’s fine….ill take a 65 hit tool over a 50 hit tool all day.
As soon as this kid comes stateside I’m gonna go watch him play regardless of where it is.
There were only two other players ranked as high Alvarez….Many scouts said they thought he would be the highest rated player out of this class with some comparisons to Kyle Tucker.
If he were in the regular MLB draft he would be picked in the top half of the first round IMO.
If he lives up to his projection he could be the type of prospect that breaks into the league at 20-21 years old.
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Profar has been an intriguing option for me as well. He was awfully good last year, and if he can replicate that over three years here, he’d be a steal. He’s always been a decent on-base guy and he would certainly upgrade the current outfield if we’re looking at numbers alone.
Is it real, though, would be my only question, and I think that’s why he’s gone unsigned. He pretty much turned in career highs in every category last season, so, tough to trust if that’s the Profar we’d get. San Diego is a gorgeous, great environment to play in and he seemed to enjoy a resurgence having gone back to playing there. Who knows if that had something to do with it. It might have. It’s intriguing, but I’m still a little cautious at anything more than 2 years.
I might take a chance at 10-12 million per…three years would be iffy for me, though. Grichuk I might feel better about on a shorter-term deal, even if the OBP is terrible, mainly because he walks very little. He’s also been hurt quite a bit the last couple years. But I trust his consistency enough if he’s able to stay healthy. He, too, would upgrade the current outfield situation and would get us through the year as well.
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I’d go the Profar route over Santander. Cheaper and probably get him on a shorter contract. Plus he wasn’t given a qualifying offer so it wouldn’t cost picks nor international bonus money.
As for Bregman in left field. With his hamstring issues there’s no way I’d put him there. Unfortunately I think the ship has sailed on any opportunity to bring him back. Which sucks because he’s more then likely going to sign for less then what the Astros offered (6/156).
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Cam Smith and Brice Matthews both got invites to Big Boy Camp.
It will be good to get a look at the youngsters for a few weeks.
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This is the most queazy time of the year for me. The anticipation. Waiting on the pitchers to report. There’s always this one report from camp that either gets you excited or scares the crap out of you. Some guy you thought wouldn’t be ready with come out throwing diamonds or some guy you were relying on will break his arm at the elbow pitching to his son.
The other part are the rookies. I remember many playing their first games on grainy channel 20 back in the day.
Exciting time of year.
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This thing with Bregman continues to be odd. Espada’s comments indicate the Astros are holding Bregman’s offer open.
Spoke with Astros Manager, Joe Espada to get the latest on Alex Bregman & if the Astros still have a shot at keeping him in Houston. pic.twitter.com/r5vwgoiYyu
— Nate Griffin (@NateGriffFOX26) January 16, 2025
I saw that this morning (about Bregman).