Ugly situation.

The Mets signed Chris Young to a 1 year deal, so that option is now closed.

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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

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That idiot should never have been approved to be an owner.

From the lawsuit:

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Ultimately, fans of the Houston Astros have been injured because defendants’ misrepresentations leave (Crane) with an impossible choice: either accept the broken network as is and deprive thousands of fans the ability to watch Houston Astros games on their televisions, or distribute the game at market rates and take massive losses out of the Houston Astros player payroll – thereby dooming the franchise for years to come,”

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And there's the handy crutch he'll lean on when the fans get antsy about him not spending.

yep, situation not good

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Sea Bass

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Welcome back my friend

Thank you, Summit!

Here's some more offseason news:

Astros add LHP Luis Cruz, OF Domingo Santana, and RHP Asher Wojciechowski to the 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 draft. Right now, the roster is at 37 players, so there's 3 slots available.

Seems like the only player worth a damn on that list is Wojie. Cruz and Santana are toss-ups.

BTW, I really hate Jim Crane and McLane. The only people suffering are the fans. Both parties have made that extremely clear in this Houston sized **** up.

[This message has been edited by Sea Bass (edited 11/25/2013 10:50a).]

We just got Dexter Fowler for Brandon Barnes and Jordan Lyles

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/12/astros-acquire-dexter-fowler.html

Like it. Gets rid of Lyles, which frees up a spot in the rotation for somebody else (Woj or White would be good). Barnes was great defensively but his offense was nothing to brag about. Also gets us a PTBNL, which could end up being a key part of the deal. Seems like a good move to me

Sounds good.

The only thing that strikes me as odd is what do they plan on doing with Springer now that we just traded for a MLB CF?

Wow. FWIW, Carlos Beltran is headed back to KC.

Looks good. Pretty crazy, but our payroll just doubled too. Fowler is due to make $7.35M next year.

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Wow. FWIW, Carlos Beltran is headed back to KC.

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Dexter was a big fan favorite in Colorado iirc

[This message has been edited by Mr.Bond (edited 12/3/2013 4:50p).]

Great deal for the Astros.... I think Fowler could be inserted in a corner spot.... by MLB CF'er standards he was considered a poor defender.

and another wash out Ed Wade 1st round (supplemental) pick

Fowler's a good player, but a free agent in two years.

They'll need to get an extension worked out at some point to really solidify it as a good trade.

So are we still looking FA for that third outfield spot?

I'm hoping for a LF of Hoes/Grossman (just to see if one sticks) and a RF of Springer.

As someone on Crawfish Boxes pointed out.. Springer anywhere but CF diminishes ROY potential.

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As someone on Crawfish Boxes pointed out.. Springer anywhere but CF diminishes ROY potential.

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Not necessarily. If Springer produces with his bat like he did last year in AA/AAA, and throw in some outfield assists from RF and minimal errors, he could be just as valuable as we would have been at CF.

That said, I really couldn't care less about having a ROY on our team. I want production and wins. I'm tired of seeing this team suck ass, and if that means put Springer at RF to make way for Fowler in CF, then let's do it. Even if it hurts his ROY chances (I don't think it will), it's a good move for the club

Springer/Fowler/Hoes/Grossman outfield would be a pretty good defensive outfield, should be able to cover alot of ground.

So, just for grins, this is what our lineup could look like:

CF: Fowler
2B: Altuve
RF: Springer
1B: Singleton
DH: Carter
C: Castro
3B: Dominguez
LF: Hoes/Grossman
SS: Villar

And with Lyles leaving the rotation:

1. Cosart
2. Peacock
3. Oberholtzer
4. Keuchel
5. White/Woj?

Lineup actually looks decent (if Springer and Singleton can produce like they have in the minors). Rotation looks pretty weak, though

I can't figure out if Fowler is going to be in our long term plans or not. I can see this playing out two ways:

1) He is going to be a part of a long term core of players with Altuve, Castro, Springer. This will require signing an extension after the 2015 season. With the OF contracts getting handed out this week, he might be looking for $12-15M per year. This is obviously a long way away, and a lot can change between now and then, but that's a big commitment. If we are contending by that time then I would be on board with an extension.

2) He is going to be a "veteran" presence for the next 2 years to help bring along Springer, and we flip him in the middle of 2015.

I guess it comes down to whether or not we are contending by mid-2015.

That lineup isn't awful if Singleton is ready and can hit MLB pitching. I dont see him batting ahead of the 7th hole though to start with. Carter would be cleanup. Tossup between Castro and Springer in the 3 hole.

Now imagine this..

CF Fowler
LF Springer
1B Singleton
DH Carter/ Amador
C Castro
3B Dominguez
RF Santana
SS Correa
2B Altuve

Bench: Villar, Carter/Amador, Stassi or Perez, Grossman or Hoes

SP: Appel
SP: Cosart
SP: Folty
SP: Oberholtzer
SP: Wojo

Spot Starter/long relief: Peacock
RP: Clemens
RP: FA
RP: FA
RP: Cisnero
RP: Lo

That could be 2015

Picture this: If NPB accepts the new cap for player postings, the Astros could be a prime candidate for Masahiro Tanaka. That is, if they are willing to put up $20 million to negotiate, and the team with the worst record that makes the maximum bid has priority. There is some discussion that the player could pick which of the teams that made the maximum bid they want to negotiate with.

Of course having another 130 SO guy at the top of the lineup would sure hurt. You would have all 9 guys potentially be 100+ SO guys. We could break our own record.

[This message has been edited by TREX01 (edited 12/5/2013 12:15p).]

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Astros GM Jeff Luhnow told reporters, including MLB.com's Brian McTaggart, that he'll likely have "another deal or two" done with regards to pitching by this time next week.

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From MTR

We are really opening up our checkbooks. Just signed Scott Feldman

Edit: 3 yr/$30 MM

[This message has been edited by mAgnoliAg (edited 12/6/2013 10:54a).]

Astros sign Scott Feldman. 3 yrs, $30M.

Sounds like overpaid to me.

Was coming here to post the same thing. Interesting move but I guess it gives us a much needed veteran in the rotation.

The f-ck?! Way overpaid.

We gave 10 million a year to a sub. 500 pitcher with an era over 4.6....... In a hitters ballpark. Wtf luhnow

http://www.baseballnation.com/2013/12/5/5177140/masahiro-tanaka-rumors-posting-fee-yankees-dodgers
Any chance we get tanaka?