257 replies to this topic

[BaltBird 24]

Cam Smith, going from Chicago to Houston, is a pretty significant prospect. He was the 14th overall pick in 2024, had a 1.004 OPS in his brief pro debut.

[BaltBird 24]

Crazy Houston appears to be selling, though. I'd say Bregman is probably gone, but he's not a great player. As big as Houston is, with their fan base, you'd think they'd have a fairly significant cash resource.

[Mackus]

Cam Smith, going from Chicago to Houston, is a pretty significant prospect. He was the 14th overall pick in 2024, had a 1.004 OPS in his brief pro debut.

 

Cool thanks for the correction.  I saw he was 7th for Chicago on MLB and didn't look deeper.  Lazy.  MLB ranks him #73 overall, so definitely a serious prospect.  Higher rated than Bradfield or Honeycutt.

[BaltBird 24]

Cool thanks for the correction. I saw he was 7th for Chicago on MLB and didn't look deeper. Lazy. MLB ranks him #73 overall, so definitely a serious prospect. Higher rated than Bradfield or Honeycutt.

Yeah, I don't know anything about how deep the Cubs system is, but being ranked 7th as your teams #1 overall pick, with the results he had, seem low.

Honeycutt had a terrible debut and still ranked 3rd in our system, all while being a lower pick.

[mdrunning]

At least the Yankees didn't get Tucker. I read somewhere that the Yankees' offer for Tucker was "crap."

[weird-O]

I have to wonder if Tucker wasn't interested in an extension, and wanted to see what free agency is like. Houston fans love Tucker. And Unlike Bregman, he's young enough that a long term contract wouldn't be a known burden down the road. Added to that, is the owner saying "the window is never closing". 

[makoman]

Tucker is amazing but assuming last year is a bit of an outlier and he's more a 5 WAR guy and not a 9 WAR guy, maybe Paredes (with 3 years control) plus a top 100 prospect is worth it. More of a retool, not really selling.

[Mackus]

Tucker is amazing but assuming last year is a bit of an outlier and he's more a 5 WAR guy and not a 9 WAR guy, maybe Paredes (with 3 years control) plus a top 100 prospect is worth it. More of a retool, not really selling.

 

Wonder if retooling Houston would be interested in Mountcsatle as part of a Valdez trade.  They've struggled at 1B.  Mounty two years left.  They could use Dezenzo there, but seems like there is some 3B hope left for him so he might be slated for the opposite side of the diamond if Bregman leaves.

[mdrunning]

Wonder if retooling Houston would be interested in Mountcsatle as part of a Valdez trade.  They've struggled at 1B.  Mounty two years left.  They could use Dezenzo there, but seems like there is some 3B hope left for him so he might be slated for the opposite side of the diamond if Bregman leaves.

Is Houston looking at 2025 as a contending year? The moves they're making (or, in the case of Bregman, not making) would suggest that perhaps they're taking a step back next season.

[makoman]

Wonder if retooling Houston would be interested in Mountcsatle as part of a Valdez trade.  They've struggled at 1B.  Mounty two years left.  They could use Dezenzo there, but seems like there is some 3B hope left for him so he might be slated for the opposite side of the diamond if Bregman leaves.

Seems like Paredes plays mostly 3rd and some 1st too, with Dezenzo they are probably set. I'd be interested in seeing Mounty in that stadium though.

 

But yeah if they are taking a year off to retool see how you can get Framber. Teams would be lining up to try though.

[mdrunning]

The Astros are probably also looking to upgrade their farm system, which has been signficantly depleted over the years. ESPN had them ranked 27th last year, while Baseball America put them at No. 29.

[weird-O]

Is Houston looking at 2025 as a contending year? The moves they're making (or, in the case of Bregman, not making) would suggest that perhaps they're taking a step back next season.

The ALw is far from difficult to compete in, so I would be surprised if they stepped back. They were pretty bad last year, and still took the west. That's why I really wonder if Tucker just wasn't interested in an extension. 

[mdrunning]

The ALw is far from difficult to compete in, so I would be surprised if they stepped back. They were pretty bad last year, and still took the west. That's why I really wonder if Tucker just wasn't interested in an extension. 

From what I've read, Tucker was upset with his arbitration case (I'm assuming this was last year) and felt Astro management tried to short-change him. For the life of me, I'll never understand why players take arbitration personally; it's simply a process that is available when all other options have been exhausted.

 

It also appears that, unless Houston made Tucker an offer he absolutely couldn't refuse, he was going to test free agency. And no, he isn't a Boras client.

[BaltBird 24]

Astros seem to not have a problem letting their homegrown talent walk in FA. They let Correa go. They appear to be letting Bregman go. They didn't seem to have interest signing Tucker, as he was traded. Same could be said for Valdez soon.

They did retain Altuve and Alvarez, though.

[mdrunning]

Astros seem to not have a problem letting their homegrown talent walk in FA. They let Correa go. They appear to be letting Bregman go. They didn't seem to have interest signing Tucker, as he was traded. Same could be said for Valdez soon.

They did retain Altuve and Alvarez, though.

George Springer as well.

[makoman]

The ALw is far from difficult to compete in, so I would be surprised if they stepped back. They were pretty bad last year, and still took the west. That's why I really wonder if Tucker just wasn't interested in an extension. 

This is probably right. Paredes is a clear downgrade but is still a quality starter, was over 4 WAR in 2023. You get a top 100 prospect for Tucker instead of getting a pick that's in like the 70s.

[weird-O]

Astros seem to not have a problem letting their homegrown talent walk in FA. They let Correa go. They appear to be letting Bregman go. They didn't seem to have interest signing Tucker, as he was traded. Same could be said for Valdez soon.

They did retain Altuve and Alvarez, though.

I most cases, I think they let players walk, because they had in-house replacements. I don't follow the Astros, or know who they have in their system, but I'd be surprised if they have a replacement for Tuck.  

[mdrunning]

I most cases, I think they let players walk, because they had in-house replacements. I don't follow the Astros, or know who they have in their system, but I'd be surprised if they have a replacement for Tuck.  

Like I posted earlier, Houston's farm system is pretty much a barren wasteland (as opposed to the other kind of wasteland, I guess). They more or less emptied the last of it back in 2023 when they reacquired Justin Verlander.

 

Maybe they looked at the Angels did last year and said, "What kind of package did LA get for Ohtani?" Exactly.