re: DAT: 2017 World Champions Houston Astros offseason discussion: ASTROS ACQUIRE GERRIT COLE

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What if we sign darvish too

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Any of the available SPs really. If Lynn or Cobb sign for, say, $15MM-17MM per year. Would you take one of them plus Cole for a combined $24mm this season? A littler higher in 2019 assuming Cole gets more in arbitration next season.

Or if Yu signs for 20mm/year. $27mm for him AND Cole this season. Maybe $30mm combined in 2019, but with Cole possibly coming off after that season.

Basically getting two above average SPs for the price of one ace. In the case of combining Yu & Cole, you have the possibly of getting two Aces for the price of one if both pitch to their previous highs.

I love LMJ, but if he cant pitch more than 100 IP per season then he needs to be dominating in the back of our pen. But out of pure potential he probably gets penciled in as the #5 over Morton if this happens to start. But if Morton gets the #5 and LMJ moves to our BP immediately, then we just upgraded tremendously in the pen too and in the rotation by signing another SP.

Doing this could allow us to trade Jabroni if there is any market for him - even if it's for prospects. That might even be better honestly because you can take the $4mm or so he is making off the MLB books. So we get some savings there to reinvest or for the owners to bank.

I am sure I am missing something, so why wouldnt they at least kick the tires of adding one of the other SPs?

Well Francis is about to be sent down to AAA when projections were saying he was supposed to be in the rotation late last year. He spent half a season in the pen which was good for him (I think he needed to see the maturity and approach professionals take) but sooner rather than later we have to figure out if he’s going to be a legit arm as a starter

Bukauskas was supposed to be one of the most MLB ready pitchers in the draft in fact people post draft said based on his plus fastball and slider was ready for the pen immediately

Whitley age wise sure could wait another couple years but the organization obviously truly believes in him and no reason to think otherwise


With all three of those guys you are either going to stunt their development by sticking them too long in the pen or toiling away on a bus in podunk


ETA do you want 3/5 of your rotation rookies in 2019 or figure out intermittently over the next two years

2020 will be another tear down. Lunhow Is already making Preparations.

By then the Astros will be ok with a 200m payroll... especially if they keep winning and the fans keep packing Minute Maid

No reason it cant be by being smart. Going huge all in on FA vets goes against what weve seen this regime do to this point. Core from the farm and piece together finishing pieces from trades (which is really an extension of the farm) and select free agency. We have arm talent ready to go in 1-2 years to continue to extend the window. Paying Jose George and Correa becomes more realistic when you see the fruits of your drafting coming around on the arm side having elite talent on pre FA contracts like we are currently seeing in the lineup.

Im all for going "all in" to shore up a team when you have a chance but paying for another FA starter is the least of our needs at this point. Spend it on relief arms

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By then the Astros will be ok with a 200m payroll... especially if they keep winning and the fans keep packing Minute Maid

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Can't be stressed enough. If the fans see a consistent contender for a few more years plus another title, they will be all-in on the franchise. That means more revenue. Plus, Crane has a plan to maximize gameday profits and beyond by developing more commercial and even residential opportunities right around Minute Maid.

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Altuve will resign at 20m a year

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I hope you’re right but no way. Also Altuve is a free agent after 2019

And I don’t think there’s any way they resign Keuchel unless he takes some sort of discount deal, which I do not see happening

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And I don’t think there’s any way they resign Keuchel unless he takes some sort of discount deal, which I do not see happening

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I think it will be easier, Dallas will be 31 and seeing what Arrieta, Yu, etc are going through we may see a change in giving out these 6-7 year 100+ million dollar deals.

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Not in the rotation. Dallas is the only one. Again, I love LMJ but he hasnt proven that he shouldnt be in the bullpen yet. Peacock was great last year but looks to be back in the BP. Offensively our minors developement has killed it. Our arms? Not so much.

The astros fan base, and I am guilty of this too, keep falling in love with the next big SP prospect(s) in our minors who is going to be the next guy up in our rotation. We just shipped two of them off in a trade for Cole that the fan base (even many in the DAT) considered untouchable two offseasons ago and now we are looking at this trade as rape by our front office. Paulino had the hype of a possible #2 SP but he cant get out of his own way in the minors right now. Would anyone make a peep if we moved him anytime soon? Appel. Even LMJ if he is forced to move to the bullpen at some point. EVERYONE loves Whitley at 19 years old. But do we "block" his mlb development by signing guys to help you compete for championships for the next 3 seasons?

I personally rather win now and worry about room for our 19 yo later. If he proves to be the next big thing, I am fully confident he'll force his way onto the Astros rotation when the time is right.

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So we sign yu....what then? We already dont have enough room in our rotation as it is.
Does signing yu really change our win projections that much? Signing lance lynn, alex cobb?

Now what does signing tony watson steve cishek or greg holland add to this team? IMO any one of those fills a need dramatically and alters the course of next season more than signing one of the starters and is much cheaper. Right now our 2015 playoff team number 2 is either in long relief or on the trading block to acquire minor league assets. Brad Peacock can easily fill in as well in addition to the guys knocking on the door if someone spends some time on the DL.