Well that just about does it.

I liked cesars defense

Obviously holding him back for arbitration reasons is a detriment to him, but does his agent really have anything to file a grievance other than he's upset. This just sounds like normal Union bull****

Yeah, it just seems like rabble-raising to me. That being said, I think they should let the kid start getting some major league ABs. He has proven enough in the minors, and he needs experience at the highest level now to maximize his potential.

Didn't he have a ****ty spring? If he had a great run leading into the season, he might have a leg to stand on. But when he plays like **** and still expects to be on the roster, then tough ****. Making himself look like an entitled crybaby.

dp

[This message has been edited by gougler08 (edited 3/24/2014 1:46p).]

Spring training doesn't mean jack squat. He proved himself last year. Springer could have a case against the Astros because you technically are not allowed to hold a player back for arbitration reasons. That's why they always cite the high-strikeout stat as the excuse.

I just hope he doesn't sour on the organization.

MLB tonight discussed this yesterday. Comparing it to Wacha last year, starting the year in the minors even though the consensus was that he was MLB ready. Posey was "ready" for the giants at the beginning of his ROY season after proving himself in the minors, but played almost an entire half in the minors. It is up to the organization to decide when a player moves up. He sounds like trouble in the future, not just near term...

Oh, and spring training means nothing for an established player, but is very important for a young prospect trying to earn a spot. Regardless of how awesome you, and he, thinks he is. He's not the first in this position to be sent down after blowing the opportunity to prove himself. His case would be legitimate if he hit more than .170. What you've done in the minors is insignificant until you've shown you can do it against major league pitching.

[This message has been edited by WoMD (edited 3/24/2014 3:30p).]

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I just hope he doesn't sour on the organization.

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This is my main concern. I just don't want him to be an issue down the road. Or split as soon as he is allowed to.

Here's why Springer is going to be down for 2 months...

Let's look at a recent outfielder who just completed his contract and signed as a free agent.

2007, age 23 - 1 year, contract purchased 6/30/07
2008, age 24 - 1 year/$0.406M, re-signed 3/6/08
2009, age 25 - 1 year/$0.4495M, re-signed 3/09
2010, age 26 - 1 year/$0.4965M, re-signed 3/8/10
2011, age 27 - 1 year/$2.4M, re-signed 1/18/11 (avoided arbitration)
2012, age 28 - 1 year/$8.05M, re-signed 1/17/12 (avoided arbitration)
2013, age 29 - 1 year/$9M, re-signed 1/18/13 (avoided arbitration)

He was called up on June 30 in his first year and avoided super 2 status. This made his first 4 years very cheap to the team. The last 3 years, the team negotiated a pre-arbitration deals, which was still a substantial raise for the player.

Over this entire contract the player made over $21.25 million as a major leaguer.

If he had been super 2, his 2010 season would have been arbitration eligible and you lose a year of him being cheap (less than $500 K) and gain a year of him costing over $9 million dollars. Now this player would have hypothetically made over $30 million over his 7 years.

Avoiding super 2 can eventually save the team around $10 million or more... USUALLY MORE, as a matter of fact.





Springer will be called up in May/June to avoid super 2.


This is his age 24 season.


So here's what his career with the Astros will look like:

2014, age 24, contract purchased
2015, age 25, $500K+
2016, age 26, $500K+
2017, age 27, $500K+
2018, age 28, Arbitration
2019, age 29, Arbitration
2020, age 30, Arbitration


If he becomes a super 2, that means he becomes arbitration eligible in the 2017 season, and he is a much more expensive player. He would probably cost no less than $10-$15 million more over the 7 years he'll spend as an Astro.


Now, Springer is gambling on himself by turning the $23 million dollar extension down. If he becomes a Justin Maxwell... a player called up and down but can never stick because of contact issues... he may never make anywhere near half of $23 million in his career. However, if he signed that deal and becomes a stud, he could potentially make more through arbitration, probably upwards to nearly $30 million.


Good thing is... if Springer does become a star, and bolts for the Yankees, we will still have had him through his "power prime" years. It's the business of baseball. By 2020, if he's looking to bolt, we could have already drafted another outfielder or signed one...


Hell, maybe by then, we've won a World Series and players are begging to sign with the Astros.

[This message has been edited by irish pete ag06 (edited 3/24/2014 4:54p).]

So are we going to do this with every big prospect?

I think this is unique because we still suck and those arbitration years we're expecting to be competitive. One more season on the cheap means we can make a deadline trade adding more salary... In theory.

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Hell, maybe by then, we've won a World Series and players are begging to sign with the Astros.

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Awwwwwww yeah!

Thanks for the breakdown, pete.

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So are we going to do this with every big prospect?

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Exactly

Baseball money is good because is guaranteed. But the way the mlbpa has it set up guy can literally be blackballed for the entire Prime of his career without getting 1/10 of what he's worth

They won't necessarily do this to every top prospect. There is a plan in place to build a contender and doing this now aids in that.

Once a decent team is fielded they will be quicker to bring up the youngsters to help fill the holes.

Exaclty, I would say that they are doing all they can to keep George Springer as long as they can shows that they believe he is going to be a stud... and want him to still be around when Correa and company are rounding into form.

So I take it the large contract that the Astros offered, and that was rejected, was not enough for an unproven, but likely future stud?

Not in George Springer's eyes.

^^^^ I like that better because it was blocking a great view of downtown..... But we still look like the Indians from major league.


"the outfield wall now looks like the yellow pages "

Harry Doyle

Still ugly.

Why not just flash the "community partners" on the ribbon boards?

[This message has been edited by frok (edited 3/25/2014 2:54p).]

Yep, that still looks awful. Just not quite as awful, so I guess that's good?

I must be the only person that actually likes it. Love the pennants on the light tower.

At least the Citgo sign is gone. Or is it just not in this picture?

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At least the Citgo sign is gone. Or is it just not in this picture?

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Good point. I always thought having the citgo sign right next to the ConocoPhillips home run pump was weird

And there is that ****ing citgo sign

So I'm guessing Union Station is the next thing to be covered with ads? It's about the only thing left not covered.

This team is so desperate for any kind of income. Not a good "sign".