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2022 Spring Training

Discussion in 'Houston Astros' started by J.R., Mar 16, 2022.

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Snake Diggit Member

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J.R. said: ↑

According to the New York Post, rosters will expand from 26 to 28 through May 1 and will revert to the previously agreed upon 13-pitcher, 13-position-player configuration on May 2.

Given all that we’ve learned, here’s my best guess as to the 28 players the Astros will carry to begin the regular season.

Starting pitchers (5): RHP Justin Verlander, LHP Framber Valdez, RHP Luis Garcia, RHP José Urquidy, RHP Jake Odorizzi

Lance McCullers Jr. will begin the season on the injured list, opening a spot in the rotation for Odorizzi or Cristian Javier. I went with Odorizzi in this projection because I am skeptical of how he would project as a reliever, whereas Javier has already shown he is capable of providing value as a reliever.

Even before you factor in the two extra roster spots for April, three scheduled team off days in the first 15 days of the regular season, including two in the first eight days, will make it easier on the Astros pitchers in the early going as they continue to build their arms after the abbreviated spring training. The schedule even presents the Astros the option of rolling with a four-man rotation for the first week, which would mean one additional long reliever in the bullpen, though that might not be necessary with expanded rosters.

Something to keep an eye on in the near future: The Astros play 33 games in 34 days from April 26 to May 25. They could opt for a six-man rotation during that stretch.

If Javier begins the season in relief, the Astros could try to keep him stretched out as a long reliever so he’s their top candidate to move to the rotation when the need arises. Brandon Bielak and Peter Solomon project as their next-best depth starters.

Relievers (10): RHP Ryan Pressly, RHP Héctor Neris, RHP Ryne Stanek, RHP Phil Maton, RHP Rafael Montero, LHP Blake Taylor, RHP Pedro Báez, RHP Cristian Javier, RHP Brandon Bielak, RHP Seth Martinez

Neris and Stanek profile as the setup men for Pressly while we’ll get to see if the Astros’ optimism about Montero from last summer’s trade is validated. Taylor is the lone lefty in this projection, though Maton, with his fastball and curveball, and Neris, with his splitter, can match up against left-handed batters, too. Báez is a total wild card after his lost 2021, during which he barely pitched and showed diminished stuff when he did.

Even though the early schedule played out favorably for the Astros in terms of days off, using both of the extra roster spots on relievers instead of one reliever and one bench bat (i.e., Taylor Jones) feels like the optimal move. Those two spots could be allotted to one long man and one more traditional reliever. I gave Bielak the nod over Solomon as the extra long man because he has more major-league bullpen experience and went with Martinez for the other spot because he can be relied upon to throw strikes more so than Bryan Abreu, Enoli Paredes and Josh James.

Non-roster invitee Adam Morgan, a lefty with considerable major-league experience, has a chance to crack the roster but doesn’t have any minor-league options left. While we’re on the topic of options, the aforementioned Bielak, Solomon, Martinez, Abreu, Paredes and James still have them. The Astros were actually granted a fourth minor-league option year on Abreu. That means his time on the proverbial shuttle between Triple A and the majors is set to continue this season but also that he will be out of options coming into next year, rendering 2022 a potential make-or-break season for his future with the Astros.

Catchers (2): Martín Maldonado, Jason Castro

If Astros manager Dusty Baker sticks with how he operated last season, Maldonado projects as the workhorse primary catcher and Castro will be the No. 2 catcher and a valuable left-handed-batting pinch-hitter candidate in the games he doesn’t start. An increase in starts for Castro from his 37 last season might help the Astros extract more offense from the position, but it’s unclear if that will happen.

Both veteran catchers are in the final guaranteed years of their contracts, though Maldonado has an option for 2023. If he plays in 90 games, the option is valued at $5 million and vests automatically. If he doesn’t, it’s a $4 million team option that the Astros can buy him out of for $500,000.

Non-40-man roster catchers Michael Papierski, Korey Lee and Cesar Salazar represent insurance at the position coming into 2022. Lee, one of the team’s best prospects, will need to be added to the 40-man roster in the offseason as protection from the Rule 5 draft if he doesn’t debut this year.

Infielders (6): 1B Yuli Gurriel, 2B Jose Altuve, 3B Alex Bregman, SS Jeremy Peña, UT Aledmys Díaz, UT Niko Goodrum

The shortstop job is the rookie Peña’s to lose, and the Astros hope he runs with it and doesn’t look back. Goodrum and Díaz are the insurance. Goodrum can be optioned to the minors, but the Astros signed him to be a part of their bench as opposed to Triple-A depth.

Taylor Jones projects to be first-base depth in Triple A. Joe Perez is another corner infielder on the 40-man roster but has a ways to go in his development. Perez’s taking up a spot on the 40-man is a reflection of his Rule 5 draft eligibility in the offseason, not his major-league readiness.

Outfielders (5): LF Michael Brantley, RF Kyle Tucker, CF Chas McCormick, LF Yordan Alvarez, CF Jose Siri

Jake Meyers will begin the season on the injured list as he continues to rehab from November labrum surgery. His absence pushes Siri onto the roster as opposed to his beginning the season back in Triple A. On paper, McCormick would be the front-runner to get most of the center field playing time while Meyers is out. But Baker’s affinity for Siri might get him more playing time than expected, as it did in last year’s ALCS and World Series.

The minor-league depth in the outfield: Lewis Brinson, Corey Julks, Marty Costes and Pedro Leon.

Click to expand...

Didn’t know they’d gotten another option year on Abreu. That’s big.

#81 Snake Diggit, Mar 24, 2022

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bobrek Politics belong in the D & D

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IdStrosfan said: ↑

I missed that Abreu has no options remaining.

Teams can't give up talented cheap pitching in this environment. That makes him a lock.

That leaves 2 pitching spots, 1 which will certainly be a lefthander.

It also means that, barring a trade or injury the pitchers that are not on the 40 man are even less likely to make the team.
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I just learned the Astros were granted an extra option on Abreu, so he has one left.

#82 bobrek, Mar 24, 2022
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Snake Diggit said: ↑

Didn’t know they’d gotten another option year on Abreu. That’s big.
Click to expand...

First I'd heard of it too.

#83 Marshall Bryant, Mar 24, 2022
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#84 J.R., Mar 24, 2022
Last edited: Mar 24, 2022

Marshall Bryant and No Worries like this.
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#85 J.R., Mar 24, 2022
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J.R. said: ↑

Click to expand...

Let's Go Brandon!

Three strong innings! Middle relief security.

#86 Marshall Bryant, Mar 24, 2022
Last edited: Mar 24, 2022
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J.R. said: ↑

Click to expand...

No surprises in the first round of cuts.

I think that the final 2 spots are pitchers and comes down to : James, Abreu, Bielak, Paredes, and Solomon ( in order ) with Taylor on the team.

Last position player comes down to Goodrum or Jones with Pena at SS and Siri 4th OF.

#87 IdStrosfan, Mar 24, 2022

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Marshall Bryant said: ↑

Let's Go Brandon!

Three strong innings! Middle relief security.
Click to expand...

Pay TV only. Free streaming without signing up not found. [(signing up with free trial is ID Theft)]

#88 Marshall Bryant, Mar 24, 2022
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Great to hear Blum & Kalas! (but not in Florida with ‘em)

#89 J.R., Mar 24, 2022
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J.R. said: ↑

Great to hear Blum & Kalas! (but not in Florida with ‘em)

Click to expand...

When will they have a Spring Training retractable roof?

#90 Marshall Bryant, Mar 24, 2022
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Link to watch:

http://sportsnights.cc/events/washington-nationals-605-houston-astros-home/

#91 jim1961, Mar 24, 2022
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#92 J.R., Mar 24, 2022

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Bielak in mid-season form.

#93 RussE, Mar 24, 2022

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jim1961 said: ↑

Link to watch:

http://sportsnights.cc/events/washington-nationals-605-houston-astros-home/
Click to expand...

Thanks a TON.

#94 Marshall Bryant, Mar 24, 2022
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Johnnie Baker:

“…Before Carlos Correa signed with the Tigers…”

Split time with Tucker/Chaz McCormick in CF?

“Probably not. Probably not Tuck in CF. Trying to keep him out of CF. He was runner-up for the Golden Glove. We want to leave him where he is. Right now, going between Brinson and Chaz in CF and also giving Leon a look out there so we’ll see. Major decisions to make in a short period of time.”

Yordan/Michael in LF/DH?

“Just depends on their health. Tomorrow, Michael is in LF and Yordan is supposed to DH. Depends on how many consecutive games we got, day/night, how many consecutive games in a row…”

#95 J.R., Mar 24, 2022
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LA PIÑA GRAND SLAM

#96 J.R., Mar 24, 2022
Last edited: Mar 24, 2022

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It doesn't sound like Siri had much of a chance.

Sign Yuli to an extension NOW!

#97 Marshall Bryant, Mar 24, 2022
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Tremendous ‘stache.

#98 J.R., Mar 24, 2022

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Luis Santana hit an absolute tank- which is a very nice sight to see

#99 Htown Legend, Mar 24, 2022

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That sounded like the one Alvarez hit last year. Some just sound different.

#100 Marshall Bryant, Mar 24, 2022

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