They still owe him $35M. I will be very surprised but very happy. He looks defeated mentally and physically and it’s insulting to play him and it’s insulting to bench him. Astros got rooked, admit it and move on. Orioles kept Chris Davis for over 2 years when he was clearly ****ed and it was just bad for everybody. And this is worse because Houston is supposed to be contending.
So, other than the Astros, what orgs are down-&-out with no chance at redemption that are wasting talent at 1B <-/-> IF <-/-> 3B (OR mL prospects-- HEY DB, AINT THIS YOUR JOB TO FIGURE OUT?!?)... Hell man, find out the players with the biggest upside who are dominating the minors and MAKE. THE. MF. MOVES. ALREADY. Luhnow wasn't scurrt of being aggressive, Click went commando as much as he could. Call Nick Caserio if you need to get a second opinion (or Hannah, or Cal, or Demeco, or the Tman... just DO NOT CONSULT THE "BOARD OF ADVISORS" the org embarrassedly decided to allow in the decision-making process). 2023-24 seasons may just be looked at as the absolute worst GM/Owner combo the league & Houston has seen... or just keep smiling and spitting that shiteatingGM talk to the fans/public. F\/ckall a relentless... WE NEED YOU TO BE RUTHLESS. [thanks in advance, I know I may be proved wrong with the wiser folk here].
The obvious thing would just be a straight dump with Houston picking up like $30M. But a Benintendi swap would be interesting; he has like $55M remaining thru 2027. I don’t know if Benintendi has $25M in upside relative to Abreu. But I wouldn’t mind that trade, as Benintendi is only 29.
this will be the absolute most satisfying contract move in the history* of Houston sports if this happens (aside from the bustedass Derelict Watson deal w CLE) *from recent memory... my short-term-mem is shot Killer B Bagwell should approve this (or just left out of the loop completely).
No - although that would be funny. Astros and Sox have discussed Abreu and Benintendi. Astros like some low level minor leaguers the White Sox have as well. There are ALWAYS problems trading with the White Sox. Right now the Sox don’t want to send any cash out. Astros are fine with that but they want some lower level arms the Sox have from International drafts. Sox claim they won’t make that type of move. We will see what happens but Abreu would still draw fans and they get out of a bad contract a year earlier making the deal. For the Astros they likely try to rehab Beni and hope to pick off a couple rough gems the Sox have.
Trading him to Chicago would be great for everyone, but I can't imagine the White Sox giving up ANYTHING extra to make it happen. Although, Benintendi's contract is looking pretty horrible right now too. He's younger, but he hasn't been anything special for a while now, and the back end of that contract might look REALLY bad one day.
Benintendi deal would look like shuffling, but I guess at his age Benintendi could still have life as a competent OBP guy. Would also provide minor LT relief the next 2 years in a straight up deal. Who else remembers all the hand wringing about having Tucker instead of Benintendi once upon a time.
Add Benintendi to the list of bulls*** that’s happened from teams who eliminated the Astros in the playoffs. Most teams have fallen off immediately after beating Houston -- players retiring, players getting traded, players sucking, teams becoming mediocre or sucking, etc. Lightning in a bottle bs that stole championships. I'm not opposed to having Benintendi if it means Abreu's departure, but it's basically a repeat of the Rockets trading Paul for Westbrook... old problem for a new one. Maybe a prospect is acquired and he adds value.
Benintendi posted a .682 OPS in 2023 and a .521 so far in 2024. Benintendi has three more years left on his contract left. Abreu has just next year. The only way that the Astros make this deal is if they think that they can "fix" Benintendi and get him back to league average, which still makes his 3+year contract a **** sandwich. Put me in the ... Just Say No camp. DFA Abreu and live your best life.
All of that is true, but also consider. It would add an additional $3M of payroll budget for the trade deadline. It would bring back prospects that could add value Benintendi is young enough he could potentially be fixed. By 2026 the extra salary won't he as much an issue with several expensive veterans gone Not saying it's a good idea. Just saying there are positives as well as negatives.
