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Astros Offseason Chat: 2022-23
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Anthony Franco
12:17
Lee and Whitley aren't that at this point
Astros fan
12:18
Do you think there is any chance that Jeff Luhnow will be back as the GM?
Anthony Franco
12:18
I'd be stunned. He sued them after he got fired
12:19
I know they resolved it, but that feels like burning the bridge
Astros 2023 Champs
12:19
If Verlander is not re-signed, does Brown make the rotation, with Urquidy being the long inning reliever/spot starter?
Anthony Franco
12:20
This is an interesting one. I lean towards one of Urquidy or Garcia getting traded this offseason to sort it out anyways, but if they're all back, I think you start Brown in the bullpen
12:21
Let him work multiple innings, kind of the way they've handled Javier in prior seasons or how the Braves managed Spencer Strider early this year. When the inevitable injury arises, you can move Brown into the rotation
Billy Wagner
12:21
Houston hasn't had a strong left arm coming from the bullpen in years, but writers seem to be obsessed - every trade deadline, every offseason - in treating that as a major deficit. Instead, the team has found righties with good splits, and made it work without issue. Yordan can tell Robbie Ray and Jose Alvarado what he thinks about maximizing matchups even when his splits say he has your number from righties and southpaws alike. Why the obsession with adding a lefty to a bullpen that proves itself during the regular season and then dominates in the postseason without a bullpen appearance from a lefty?
Anthony Franco
12:22
Yeah I wouldn't call it an obsession so much as a cherry on top of an already great roster. Having Andrew Chafin or Will Smith back would help, but you're right they've found plenty of success without a go-to LH bullpen arm for a while now
Oz Ocampo
12:22
Why is everyone always knocking our farm system? Clearly your ratings didn't take into account the rise of Valdez, Garcia, Javier, and Urquidy. Pena's ceiling was clearly misjudged. It seems like the farm ratings are more about trade values, so in that sense I don't mind the cupboard being seen as bear - don't need teams nosing about and causing Rule 5 issues. And yet the Astros continue to produce big league talent (add Abreu to the list) from within while continuing to rank low on every list I see - what gives?
Anthony Franco
12:24
I do think the Astros have a track record of pitching development that has allowed them to turn guys who weren't heralded as top prospects into productive MLB starters. If you want to argue that makes them more likely to outperform their farm system ranking than other teams would be, that's perfectly fair
12:25
At the same time, the minor league talent that's there right now just isn't great relative to what other clubs have in their system. That's the case for a lot of teams that are firmly in win-now mode and both a) leverage young talent for immediate MLB upgrades and b) tend to pick towards the back of the draft. Houston's was exacerbated by the sign-stealing punishment
12:26
It's not a huge deal right now. You'd much rather be an elite team with a thin farm system than the other way around. But it is something they'll have to be cognizant of as some of their current core gets closer to free agency in two or three years
Forget the Alamo
12:26
What's Luis Garcia's future? Will he grow into a #2 starter, or is at the back of the rotation?
Anthony Franco
12:27
I think this is what he is, good #3 starter on a contender
HTownsmitty
12:27
Kyle Tucker - more likely to accept a contract extension a la Alvarez, or more likely to go FA in three years?
Anthony Franco
12:29
I'm sure they'll try to work out an extension but Tucker banked $4MM as a draft prospect and is in line for around $6MM next year. He shouldn't be under much immediate financial pressure to take an extension at this point, so I lean towards free agency there
12:30
I'd have said the same thing about Yordan though. That kind of stuff is so dependent on the player's personal preference it's impossible to know without talking to him, which the team will definitely do
Astrosfan58
12:30
Which of the following do you feel is the biggest offseason need for the Astros....Corner outfield bat, catching help, first baseman bat or lefthander in the bullpen?
Anthony Franco
12:30
First base, then corner OF. Catching and LH relief would be nice but aren't as pressing to me
Jim the GM
12:30
Would Urquidy, McCormick and Korey Lee be enough to get Walker and Jake McCarthy from the D’backs?
Anthony Franco
12:32
I'd be tempted if I were Arizona but I like McCormick (and Urquidy, to a lesser extent) more than most seem to. Given Walker's breakout second half, I think they'd pass, but it's a perfectly defensible offer at least
Jörg
12:33
How high you See the chances that the Astros Signing Andrew Benetendi and Wilson Contreras to multiyear contracts. Greetings From Germany to USA.
Anthony Franco
12:33
Have to take the questions from Germany when I can get them
12:35
Benintendi feels more likely to me than Contreras. Does seem like they legitimate interest in Willson but topping $80MM for the market's top catcher and having to sell him on a hybrid role that maybe sees him play mostly DH is a tough fit. Think there'll be similar offers from teams that are just content to let him catch 75% of his games
Benintendi makes a ton of sense, sure
Tom H.
12:35
How do you think the pitch clock will impact pitchers like Framber Valdez, who often takes extra time to gather himself in pressure situations?
Anthony Franco
12:36
I think it'll be an adjustment for the first few starts that'll push some guys of their comfort zone early, but I doubt it has much long-term impact on his (or anyone else's) performance
Jeff
12:36
Can Pedro Leon play first? Hard to see where he fits in the outfield if Meyers, McCormick, and Dubinsky are all around with better AAA success.
Anthony Franco
12:37
I'm sure he could play first base, but turning a bat-first position over to a guy who hit .228/.365/.431 with 29% strikeout rate in Triple-A feels ill-advised
12:38
I'd just send him back to Sugar Land and hope he forces his way into the outfield mix with a better performance during his second full season there
Cam
12:38
Interesting to see the Astros are looking for lefty corner OF’s. They already have Yordan and Tucker. Plus, possibly Brantley returning. Would this mean Tucker would play CF? I know Dusty has been against that. Who’s realistically out there thru signing or trade for them?
Anthony Franco
12:39
Tucker's going to stay in right. The search for a lefty corner outfielder is just about replacing or retaining Brantley to split time with Yordan in left
12:41
Benintendi/Kepler/Conforto were already mentioned. Profar's a switch-hitter who's typically a little better against right-handed pitching. Doubt Seattle would trade Jesse Winker to Houston but he's at least a viable trade candidate somewhere. Corey Dickerson, David Peralta, Ben Gamel and Tyler Naquin are all more platoon or stopgap types who probably sign for one year
Guest
12:42
Why are people so low on McCormick? He gives the team ~90th percentile defense + one of the best barrel rates on the team in '22, and improved his BA during the second half. It seems like he's making adjustments to turn into about an .840 OPS producer at the plate, yet everyone wants to see him replaced. Why?
Anthony Franco
12:43
Ha I don't know. Like I said, I really like McCormick, but the team also lurks on the periphery of potential impact CF pickups as well
12:44
Which I think is fine. If Bryan Reynolds becomes available, sure, check in. But I don't think you have to replace McCormick at all costs and the center field market generally is terrible
ross atkins
12:44
Is there a decent hard throwing pitching arm I could pry away from the Astros for Danny Jansen?  I know the Astros could probably use a catcher and they focus on defense as priority and Jansen's defense is pretty good (as is his bat)
Anthony Franco
12:45
Tough for me to see the fit with Houston as far as the rotation goes. Urquidy wouldn't be enough for Jansen, I think the Astros would balk at anyone else in the rotation
Hunter Brown's probably the closest match value wise, but I doubt Houston's pulling the trigger there with how much they love Maldonado
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