My narrative is the Astros had the 2nd best hitting OF last season and best overall factoring in defense despite Dusty handicapping the OF with Julks, Alvarez being hurt, and despite yours and the majority of this board acting like the Astros OF can't hit. Reality is that the Astros OF can hit. Despite Alvarez being hurt and Dusty dicking around with Julks, Chas and Alvarez started 85 games in LF . My guess is that Chas plays about 45 guys against LHPs in LF, Alvarez plays 55 or so against RHPs (15 games more seems doable and is line with what he did in 2022 and his pace in 2023), Chas plays 60 or so games against RHPs in LF. The 2-5 games (in your words nearly half) in LF goes to whoever is the 5th OF. Of the 486 starts across 3 OF spots, we are talking about 60 games in CF with Meyers against RHPs and a handful of load management games in the corners in which the Astros won't likely have above average hitting in the OF (roughly 15%). Considering Meyers plays great defense (despite the arm), unless the Astros get Robert, Julio Rodriguez, Soto, or a healthy Trout, odds are that the benefit will be less than a win and cost greater than $20M (whether cash or prospect value) to get someone overall better than Meyers in CF (backup catchers don't get paid much because it is hard to make a huge diffence in 60 games). I'd rather spend the assets on pitching or holding onto them until we know who gets hurt.
Bump... right player, wrong amount.. Ok with it... one of the better backups with good platoon splits to utilize...
Once again, you are burying this by padding it with crap that does not matter. Tucker and Chas are every day starters, so 324 of those 486 starts you mention have nothing to do with this discussion. And all the games vs LHSP don't belong in this discussion either. Approximately 112 games will be vs RHSP (70%) It's fine to play Yordan in 40-50 of those, but that still leaves 60+ games where an OF will need to start, that is miserable vs RHSP. That's a big enough part of the season where adding a guy will help this team. Throw in the fact that Abreu should get 35-40 days off (maybe more) and there is 100 games available for an upgraded bat on this team. That would be a huge improvement and increase the likelihood of a championship.
Oh there's room right now. Just a matter of if Crane wants to pocket $180m a year or $150m a year. There is plenty of room.
Decent amount of teams(Astros, Yankees, Rangers, Dodgers, Orioles, Angels, Cubs) linked to him. Is he that good?
Major League phase A's (39) -- RHP Mitch Spence (NYY) Royals (39) -- RHP Matt Sauer (NYY No. 25 prospect) Rockies (39) -- RHP Anthony Molina (TB) White Sox (39) -- LHP Shane Drohan (BOS No. 19 prospect) Nationals (38) -- SS Nasim Nuñez (MIA No. 16 prospect) Cardinals (39) -- RHP Ryan Fernandez (BOS) Mets (34) -- RHP Justin Slaten (TEX) (Traded to BOS for LHP Ryan Ammons) Guardians (39) -- 3B Deyvison De Los Santos (AZ No. 5 prospect) Padres (31) -- RHP Stephen Kolek (SEA) Rangers (35) -- RHP Carson Coleman (NYY) Minor League phase Round 1 Royals -- OF Joe Gray (MIL) Rockies -- RHP Brendan Hardy (NYM) White Sox -- RHP Jose Ramirez (BOS) Nationals -- RHP Samuel Vasquez (CLE) Cardinals -- INF Johnfrank Salazar (BOS) Angels -- 1B Eric Wagaman (NYY) Mets -- C Donovan Antonia (CIN) Pirates -- RHP Fineas Del Bonta-Smith (COL) Guardians -- RHP Ty Brown (HOU) Tigers -- RHP Nick Starr (TEX) Red Sox -- C Michael Gasper (NYY) Giants -- RHP Nick Garcia (COL) Reds -- LHP TJ Sikkema (KC) Padres -- SS Clay Dungan (KC) Yankees -- RHP Gabriel Barbosa (COL) Cubs -- 2B Hayden Cantrelle (SF) Marlins -- OF Yeral Martinez (NYM) D-backs -- RHP Darlin Pinales (LAD) Twins -- LHP Rafael Marcano (PHI) Blue Jays -- OF Alexis Hernandez (BOS) Phillies -- C William Simoneit (OAK) Astros -- RHP Railin Perez (BOS) Rays -- RHP Michael Gomez (NYY) Orioles -- RHP Nelvis Ochoa (COL) Braves -- LHP Tyler Thomas (NYM) Round 2 Royals -- LHP Keylan Killgore (PHI) Rockies -- RHP Thomas Ponticelli (CLE) Nationals -- RHP Wander Arias (KC) Cardinals -- SS Miguel Villarroel (TEX) Angels -- RHP Ryan Miller (BOS) Mets -- RHP Alan Perdomo (COL) Pirates -- 1B Seth Beer (AZ) Guardians -- RHP Connor Gillispie (BAL) Tigers -- RHP Calvin Coker (OAK) Giants -- SS Dariel Lopez (PIT No. 14 prospect) Reds -- LF Alexander Ovalles (TB) Padres -- LHP Omar Cruz (PIT) Yankees -- RHP Kervin Castro (HOU) Marlins -- OF Marty Costes (HOU) D-backs -- 2B Andy Weber (CHC) Twins -- C Rafael Escalante (PIT) Phillies -- C Luis Caicuto (AZ) Astros -- RHP Carlos Betancourt (PHI) Rays -- RHP Roelmy Garcia (PIT) Round 3 Royals -- 2B Ryan Fitzgerald (BOS) Nationals -- RHP Daison Acosta (NYM) Cardinals -- RHP Benito Garcia (NYM) Pirates -- 3B Marcos Cabrera (NYY) Guardians -- LHP John Doxakis (TB) Reds -- SS Levi Jordan (CHC) Marlins -- 3B Sean Roby (SF) D-backs -- RHP John Matthews (TEX) Twins -- INF Angel Del Rosario (TOR) Phillies -- C Carson Taylor (LAD) Rays -- RHP Blake Brown (PHI) Round 4 Nationals -- CF Moises Gallardo (OAK) Pirates -- CF PJ Hilson (SF) Reds -- RHP Brock Bell (BOS) Marlins -- LHP Adam Laskey (CHC) Twins -- RHP Sheldon Reed (CHC) Phillies -- SS Trevor Schwecke (TOR) Round 5 Marlins -- RHP Julio Dilone (SEA) Phillies -- 1B Bryce Ball (CLE)
LOL Dana was getting pissed at the loaded questions. He held it in but I could tell he wasn’t appreciative of some of the comment/questions.