I understand why people want him and I don’t have a problem with that reasoning. I don’t want him for the reasons that I mentioned before. If he ends up an Astro I will support him like I do all Astros.
These are not the words of someone that thinks their signs are being stolen simply by someone at second base looking at the catcher. Rather it's being relayed to the person at 2nd with use of technology similar to what we know the Red Sox and Yankees were doing. "We know who is getting the signs. We know what they’re doing. We know what they do to get it."
I wouldn’t be shocked. I would be disappointed but I wouldn’t be shocked. Verlander was going to sign with the Blue Jays before Crane had enough and personally called him, modified the offer made by Click and convinced him to resign. If someone is willing to give him a 4-5 year deal, or a massive 3 year deal that Crane can’t stomach, the Verlander is gone. If Verlander leaves it isn’t good news but it doesn’t destroy the Astros because they will fill other holes. I am a big fan of Verlander but he is almost 40 and recently missed almost two full seasons.
agreed fully. Any insight on Astros pursuit of Rizzo or other FA’s? The Rizzo leak seems like something agents do to create market demand vs indicative of him being the Astros’ #1 First Base target. Also if Verlander doesn’t resign, do we keep our 6 man rotation in tact or look to trade of Garcia/Urquidy?
I haven’t heard anything at all about the Astros internally targeting Rizzo. The report is odd. So the Astros are going to beat the qualifying offer, on multiple years to sign Anthony Rizzo and surrender a draft pick? Seems foolish to me. Crane and Cook are running the show now so maybe they want Rizzo but it doesn’t make sense. Also the idea that they want to sign him to hurt the Yankees? They will just turn around and sign Abreu or Bell and gladly take the Astros draft pick. The Verlander story was worded weird by Rosenthal. He basically is speculating that Verlander wants to “possibly” go to NY or LA. He worded the way he did on purpose.
Tonight is the first I have heard of anyone reputable connecting Rizzo to the Astros. I suppose it isn’t shocking because he is one of the better 1st basemen on the market and that’s a real need for the Astros. Honestly it feels like someone wants to either influence Rizzo to not take the qualifying offer or push the Yankees to offer a longer term deal.
No, not if Abreu or Bell is available. I don’t think it is a terrible move if they do it, but wouldn’t be my first choice.
If mutual Rizzo-HOU interest exists, Crane could very well go for it. There is no guarantee Abreu or Bell would agree to come to HOU; nor that negotiations could get close. Still—this does feel like an agent trying to drive up the price/interest.
he wants wins + money (and money = respect in that world ). He gets basically similar odds with the Dodgers and Mets - and both teams could conceivably splurge on him - so wouldn’t shock me if he did that
It makes no sense to me to move your family out of a place you love, away from a team you love, to make an extra 10M a year, when you and your wife are already worth 170M+.
And on top of that no state tax if playing in Texas. But we will see. I think I read Kate is worth 280 mil
It’s not impossible and wouldn’t be a shock, especially if Abreu signs elsewhere. Maybe Crane offers 2/40 and that gets it done. Rizzo isn’t a stud hitter, but he is a capable hitter and does hit good pitching. Defensively he has been good in the past but I wasn’t as impressed this year. However if you believe in OPS+, Rizzo last year was as good an offensive player as Yuli has ever been on the Astros… even with a 224 average.
If a team is willing to offer Verlander 135/3 or 170/4...you bet your ass he's leaving. I don't see Astros offering more than 2 year guarantee deal, with 40mil aav...maybe 3rd year option. I dunno...
Players do it all the time. I look at someone like Pujols that actually liked living in St. Louis and choose to leave a city where he had a chance to pass Stan Musial as the best player in franchise history. Instead he leaves for the lesser team in California where no one gave a **** about who he was. He made less money when purchasing power and his marriage fell apart. He gets released and returns to St. Louis and says he never should have left. With the vast majority of these guys it’s about ego.
