IMO, the front office is going to leak a lot of stuff like that to save face with the fans, but I don't see them actually competing with contenders for top FAs. Sounds like the makings of the Abreu deal all over again - you feel good until you find out they were offering way less than other clubs in on him.

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Astros interested in Shin Soo Choo?

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/24107398/could-the-lowpayroll-astros-make-a-stunning-play-for-choo

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I don't see the upside for the Astros on this. He is 31 years old...

House cleaning has started.

Trevor Crowe and Jorge De Leon both released.

The 40 man now sits at 36, and I would be surprised if more trash wasn't cleaned up.

[This message has been edited by Duck Patrol (edited 10/21/2013 8:46a).]

You call it house cleaning Crane calls is getting salary down.

It's OK cause he's spending big this off season.

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IMO, the front office is going to leak a lot of stuff like that to save face with the fans, but I don't see them actually competing with contenders for top FAs.

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Yep. Crane is like a politician. He just tells you what you want to hear but continues to do nothing. Many will buy it. Some will not. I won't buy it until I see him actually do something.

Predicting MiLB rosters this early could be pointless, but the futility of the Astros has made me sort of a minor league junkie. High A Lancaster has the potential to be awesome next season, like best minor league team anywhere.

Tony Kemp, 2B
Teoscar Hernandez, LF
Carlos Correa, SS
Rio Ruiz, 3B
Danry Vasquez, RF
Conrad Gregor/Bobby Borchering, 1B
Brett Booth/Roberto Pena, C
Telvin Nash/Tyler White, DH
James Ramsay, CF

With an amazing rotation of:

Mark Appel(Could start AA)
Lance McCullers
Vincent Velasquez
Josh Hader
Andrew Thurman

The rest of the system should be pretty awesome also. There is blinding light on the horizon!

koolaid

I really hope those pitchers don't have to play in Lancaster next year.

I really hope at least half of that roster is in corpus by ASB next year

Appel needs to be at AA. Wacha is basically the same age as Appel and he's dominating postseason games for the Cardinals. The FO needs to quit babying some of these guys and get them into the major leagues if they're real prospects.

Wacha is two years younger than George Springer.

The Astros literally had one of the worst teams in MLB history yet didn't have room for a potential all-star who just turned 24.

But hey, they made money by fielding the cheapest team in history. Which was their goal and probably will be next year too.

I agree about Springer, but for whatever reason I am optimistic about next season. I think Carter and Altuve should trend upward. Springer will be fun to watch. If Castro and Matty D can repeat/build on their success last season, the young pitchers continue to impress, and Lunhow makes one of his clutch trades/FA signings next season might actually be fun!

mlbtraderumors:

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The Astros issued a press release to announce that they have claimed left-hander Darin Downs off waivers from the Tigers.

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Surprisingly good peripherals.

Who?

Astros get off dead center and sign Brad Ausmus as Manager.

Marlins claimed Jimmy Paredes.

Thank God. I was worried we were still going to waste time with him.

So by my count, the 40 man is at 36. Is Corporan under contract for next year, or will we be going with Castro/Stassi behind the dish?

Paredes is gone??!

Damn tigers tabbing Ausmus as mgr. I really wanted him to be the Astros skipper

Baseball Prospectus' Astros Top Ten Prospect Write-up:

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=22157

I love Ausmus but porter doesn't deserve to be canned yet

Man, reading that Baseball Prospectus article makes me feel much better about 2014. I really hope we see several of those guys in the majors next year.

Also, I'm happy for Ausmus after getting the job in Detroit. I remember going to a game with my brother when we were in high school and we made a poster that said "Officer Ausmus". I don't remember if that was a common nickname for him, or if it was just something that my brother and I called him. Anyway, I always liked him.

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Marlins claimed Jimmy Paredes.

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Does that mean the tigers will play good defense but hit like crap?

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Does that mean the tigers will play good defense but hit like crap?

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Yes. Especially since he's hiring Adam Everett as a bench coach.

Wait a minute mazag, weren't you a Parades guy for the last several years?

I was a Paredes guy until this year

I was excited about him because he was one of the only prospects close to the bigs. I loved his potential originally, then started to fade on him at the end of the '12 season. I was wiling to give him another chance this year, but he was awful and showed theres no hope and no reason to waste space with so many other outfield prospects close to the bigs.

After listening to Chris Young begging to come to the Astros and back to back to back 100+ loss seasons, Astros fans everywhere deserve this gif.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.mobi/25729/show/6674536d69ca5bffd96271cf462bd73d?t=hh5grvjnnujgchjaubjrako7f6

Jake Elmore claimed by the White Sox. That opens up another 40 man roster spot.

We must not be in as bad of shape as an organization as I thought. If these teams are claiming our players they must be in dire straits as well.

Lots of waiver activity today:

The Astros announced that they have claimed shortstop Ryan Jackson off aivers from the Cardinals and outrighted outfielder J.D. Martinez to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Jackson, 25, went hitless in seven plate appearances for the Cardinals in 2013 and is just 2-for-24 in his brief big league career to date. However, he's posted a much stronger .275/.343/.371 batting line in 1,013 career plate appearances at Triple-A and is capable of playing second base and third base as well. It's hardly a surprise to see the Astros claim him, as GM Jeff Luhnow likely played an integral role in selecting Jackson in the fifth round of the 2009 draft when he served as the Cardinals' VP of scouting and player development.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.mobi/25729/show/6306cafe436b5267247793bfb6da7c29?t=7q9u8rmqqn2q6f3v9si8nl6m40

Jake Elmore, J.D. Martinez, and John Ely all removed from 40 man roster.

Elmore was claimed by the White Sox.

Martinez is staying in the organization. I think he's finished though.

Ely has been released.

Jackson looks to be a good utility player. I think the Astros infield is pretty much set for opening day, barring any major injuries.

Dominguez at 3rd. Villar at SS. Altuve at 2nd. Carter at 1st. I like this infield, a lot actually.

Outfield and pitching is where it will get interesting. Hoes and Grossman are the only ones that I think have a shot. Barnes might have a shot because of his defense. But I think Springer is a starter from day 1 of spring training.

wow, breaking news...Crane has filed a lawsuit against Drayton McLane, Comcast, and NBC Universal. Says they sold “an asset they knew at the time to be overpriced and broken”

I think most folks that followed the astros knew that ahead of time. Someone didn't do their due diligence