No reason to extend Yuli after a career year and with one year left on his contract. The odds of him matching 2019 are very slim and if it ends up being the right move to re-sign him we'll likely get a far better deal signing a 37 y/o-to-be after a more typical 2020 output.
*****Official 2019/2020 Houston Astros offseason thread*****
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Last: 5 yr ago by BMX Bandit
1b is the easiest position to fill. Yordan needs a position - he's way too young to be a full-time DH. If he plays LF then Tucker needs a position. Otherwise there are always plenty of 1b available for a good price or guys that can switch to 1b like LeMahieu.Ag_07 said:Boiling Denim said:Yuli is critical but he can't really be the future...he's 36 next season and that's a Cuban 36 so he may be pushing 40...Ag_07 said:
Yuli needs to be extended
He's the future at 1B. We've got no one lined up to takeover and Yuli has turned himself into an elite defender and solid, consistent offensive producer.
I actually think extending him is up there on the list right behind George
True but if he walks after 2020 who the hell is gonna play 1B?
Like I said he's 35 but he doesn't have the tread of a normal 35 year old MLB player. He spent years playing in Cuba where he played only 1/2 the games he does now.
So yeah 35 but I don't see any reason he can't be productive for 3-4 more years until we find our next 1Bman.
Yuli is going to be 37 in 2021. Maybe really 40. In the post-steroid era the late 30s are not kind to position players. Lots of guys look amazing at 35 and are out of baseball at 37. See Jeff Bagwell.
The key to winning the World Series is to have a crappy bullpen that no manager trusts. Otherwise general baseball stupidity will invade the managers mind and cause him to take out an ace cruising towards an epic game 7 victory.
Frok said:
The key to winning the World Series is to have a crappy bullpen that no manager trusts. Otherwise general baseball stupidity will invade the managers mind and cause him to take out an ace cruising towards an epic game 7 victory.
Yep. See 2019 Washington Nationals.
And 2017 Houston Astros
Bagwell had a degenerative shoulder condition, so that's not a good comparison. Yuli also doesn't have the wear and tear of most guys his age that have been playing 162 game seasons for 10+ years. He also just put up his best season. I think he's good for a few more years, but I wouldn't be opposed to giving him a little more rest or some time at DH to let Yordan or Tucker get some time at first, if needed.
We need to extend Yuli. Yeah he's old, but I don't think the way that he plays the game will necessarily age poorly. Yuli was nails at 1b all season. Let's not forget how difficult it has been since Bagwell to field a decent first baseman that can hit and field.
Yordan needs to work out at two positions this offseason - left field and first base. If he can get to or close to Brantley levels of LF that's a huge win.
We need to get a 5th starter, and another guy that can be long relief and spot start. ESPECIALLY if LMJ and Urquidy are 3-4. Anyone trust them to pitch a full season? Anyone trust them to go more than 5-6 innings per outing? We are down to 1 workhorse, an aging Verlander.
Yordan needs to work out at two positions this offseason - left field and first base. If he can get to or close to Brantley levels of LF that's a huge win.
We need to get a 5th starter, and another guy that can be long relief and spot start. ESPECIALLY if LMJ and Urquidy are 3-4. Anyone trust them to pitch a full season? Anyone trust them to go more than 5-6 innings per outing? We are down to 1 workhorse, an aging Verlander.
Here's a good idea. Let's trade a boat load of prospects for a top line pitcher. Let's pay him something like $35M/year. But when we get to game 7 of the WS next year, let's start him and pull him after he gives up 2 hits and 1 run (and we have a lead).
Bagwell is a bad comparison knowing what you know now, but degenerative and other conditions tend to happen at that age after a career of playing baseball. There was no way to know when Bagwell was playing 160 games and hitting 39 HR at age 35 that he was going to be toast at 37. Not specifically his circumstances, but that statement is true of a lot of baseball players.iBrad said:
Bagwell had a degenerative shoulder condition, so that's not a good comparison. Yuli also doesn't have the wear and tear of most guys his age that have been playing 162 game seasons for 10+ years. He also just put up his best season. I think he's good for a few more years, but I wouldn't be opposed to giving him a little more rest or some time at DH to let Yordan or Tucker get some time at first, if needed.
Maybe he doesn't have as much wear on his treads as the typical 35-year-old, but he also may not be 35. Regardless 35 is 35 - the body starts breaking down. You are betting against heavy odds to expect any athlete to be as productive at 37 as he was 35.
Look I hope he plays well till he's 40 but IMO it's a dumb move to extend him when we still have one year and he's likely to be cheaper in a year than he is today.
Wabs said:
Here's a good idea. Let's trade a boat load of prospects for a top line pitcher. Let's pay him something like $35M/year. But when we get to game 7 of the WS next year, let's start him and pull him after he gives up 2 hits and 1 run (and we have a lead).
OK we get it...Take it the 2019 season thread.
This thread was started to talk offseason and looking forward to 2020
Also we're being pretty vague about "extend".
I'd love to add a year to his contract for a fair price, what I'm saying is I think it's not realistic to expect him to continue to play at this rate through age 37 and he should not be paid as such.
I'd love to add a year to his contract for a fair price, what I'm saying is I think it's not realistic to expect him to continue to play at this rate through age 37 and he should not be paid as such.
I guess I'm in the minority here, but man am I glad baseball is over for a while. The wife and I started the season with a week at spring training in March, too many regular season games to remember, four different ballparks on the road, and we made it to five of the postseason games. I am burned flat out. For the players to have done 162, then consecutive 5, 6 and 7 game series in the postseason, I can't even imagine how mentally exhausted they are. We'll be back in Florida in the spring, but for now I'm glad to put the orange and blue away for the winter.
Disclaimer: I reserve the right to change my opinion next month, or this weekend... here's to 2020!
Disclaimer: I reserve the right to change my opinion next month, or this weekend... here's to 2020!
Me too. I decided to check back in to Aggie football and I saw they are playing UTSA and then off next week. This is the part I hate about the stupid SEC. Ugh.
It's a metaphor, bro. Nothing more annoying at times than a literalist.Harry Dunne said:This is like the "definition of insanity". The night is not darkest before the dawn. There is appearance of light before sunrise.KC_Ag14 said:The night is always darkest before the dawn. Our window is nowhere near closing. In Luhnow We Trust.Cromagnum said:
Astros sunrise this morning.
But I agree, we will have a good shot again in 2020.
IF the astros are even thinking about trading Correa they won't be doing it this offseason IMO. They would wait, and pray that he has a healthy first half next year and ship him then. His value is pretty low right now in terms of get a return worth the value he deserves when he's at his best.
Hello friends
Nothing stupid about the SEC, we could still be stuck in the BDF
My quick thoughts on what happens this offseason for us....
Not much.
We'll sign a few arms for the pen and, of course, a catcher or two. Maybe trade for a catcher if we're not satisfied with the FA market.
We return 9/10 starters and our entire bench (TED, Diaz, Jake, Straw, Toro, etc)
Our rotation will be made up of Verlander, Greinke, McCullers, Sanchez, Urquidy, and still have guys trying to break in like Whitley, Armenteros, Framer, Ivery, Abreau, James trying to break into it or become mainstays in the bullpen.
If anything the most interesting part of the offseason will be if we try and extend George now before he hits the market next year. We did it for Altuve, Bregman, & Verlander. I wonder if George will be open to it.
I'll comb through the FAs and see if I can identify any names that aren't on our radar yet. Basically who's got some spin and velo yet hasn't performed yet.
By doing very little we'll stay favorites or near favorites to win it all in 2020.
Winning a world series is hard. The postseason is crazy and unpredictable. The object is to keep the window open. Keep showing up to the dance and you'll eventually get asked to dance. It happened in 2017 and it'll likely happen again with this management handling things as they have.
Not much.
We'll sign a few arms for the pen and, of course, a catcher or two. Maybe trade for a catcher if we're not satisfied with the FA market.
We return 9/10 starters and our entire bench (TED, Diaz, Jake, Straw, Toro, etc)
Our rotation will be made up of Verlander, Greinke, McCullers, Sanchez, Urquidy, and still have guys trying to break in like Whitley, Armenteros, Framer, Ivery, Abreau, James trying to break into it or become mainstays in the bullpen.
If anything the most interesting part of the offseason will be if we try and extend George now before he hits the market next year. We did it for Altuve, Bregman, & Verlander. I wonder if George will be open to it.
I'll comb through the FAs and see if I can identify any names that aren't on our radar yet. Basically who's got some spin and velo yet hasn't performed yet.
By doing very little we'll stay favorites or near favorites to win it all in 2020.
Winning a world series is hard. The postseason is crazy and unpredictable. The object is to keep the window open. Keep showing up to the dance and you'll eventually get asked to dance. It happened in 2017 and it'll likely happen again with this management handling things as they have.
Is this where we post about Astros gear going on sale at certain retailers?
I have no info, but I hope you do.
I have no info, but I hope you do.
This should absolutely be in the plans and be developing next year.Harry Dunne said:1b is the easiest position to fill. Yordan needs a position - he's way too young to be a full-time DH. If he plays LF then Tucker needs a position. Otherwise there are always plenty of 1b available for a good price or guys that can switch to 1b like LeMahieu.Ag_07 said:Boiling Denim said:Yuli is critical but he can't really be the future...he's 36 next season and that's a Cuban 36 so he may be pushing 40...Ag_07 said:
Yuli needs to be extended
He's the future at 1B. We've got no one lined up to takeover and Yuli has turned himself into an elite defender and solid, consistent offensive producer.
I actually think extending him is up there on the list right behind George
True but if he walks after 2020 who the hell is gonna play 1B?
Like I said he's 35 but he doesn't have the tread of a normal 35 year old MLB player. He spent years playing in Cuba where he played only 1/2 the games he does now.
So yeah 35 but I don't see any reason he can't be productive for 3-4 more years until we find our next 1Bman.
Yuli is going to be 37 in 2021. Maybe really 40. In the post-steroid era the late 30s are not kind to position players. Lots of guys look amazing at 35 and are out of baseball at 37. See Jeff Bagwell.
It's an aphorism, and obviously it's figurative - I just think it's a dumb throwaway platitude with no basis in reality (like "when one door closes"...).KC_Ag14 said:It's a metaphor, bro. Nothing more annoying at times than a literalist.Harry Dunne said:This is like the "definition of insanity". The night is not darkest before the dawn. There is appearance of light before sunrise.KC_Ag14 said:The night is always darkest before the dawn. Our window is nowhere near closing. In Luhnow We Trust.Cromagnum said:
Astros sunrise this morning.
But I agree, we will have a good shot again in 2020.
Besides which, in this case it does not apply. We are basking in the sunlight. 3 of the best years in the franchise and the bulk of the team returning. It's not dark at all!
Wednesday night/Thursday morning was pretty freakin dark for me... even if it was ever so brief lol. But no, looking forward...absolutely not. Time from the freshness of the loss allows for reflection. What a season and team this was. Couldn't be more excited about where the organization is at considering what we lived through earlier this decade. They've given me a reason to write cheesy aphorisms in a forum thread 
Correa is cheap and is still a pretty good player when healthy. And he's an exceptional defensive SS.
No way the Astros will trade him. He has too much value.
No way the Astros will trade him. He has too much value.
There should be a mass clearance on all majestic items to make room for the new MLB nike stuff.
Who are some pitchers we should look at?
The aggie in me really likes brining in Wacha...but I know he has struggled as of late and has had shoulder issues.
The aggie in me really likes brining in Wacha...but I know he has struggled as of late and has had shoulder issues.
Juan Solo said:
There should be a mass clearance on all majestic items to make room for the new MLB nike stuff.
When will this occur?
Well yeah. Stubbs is the only catcher in the org with any major league experience. I wouldn't read too much into it other than we need a catcher.bearkatag15 said:
The only big name out there is Grandal. He turned down 4 years 60 M last offseason. He made 16 M last year in a 1 year prove it kind of deal. He's going to want 4-5 years at around 16-20 a year. I can't see us sinking that kind of money into him.
The problem with catching and why I think it's a priority is that Cheerios and Machete are aging and there's no one to step and take over.
Those two are good stop gaps but as it is now they're entrenched as more than stop gaps and that's not good.
Those two are good stop gaps but as it is now they're entrenched as more than stop gaps and that's not good.
I wouldn't call Chirinos a stop gap. He was a top 10 catcher by WAR and wRC+ last year. I would be on board with bringing him back, but he might command a little more at age 36 than 35.Ag_07 said:
The problem with catching and why I think it's a priority is that Cheerios and Machete are aging and there's no one to step and take over.
Those two are good stop gaps but as it is now they're entrenched as more than stop gaps and that's not good.
Outside of Garver last year, there aren't great offensive workhorse catchers. Maybe Grandal, but he's good, not great.
https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/houston-astros/payroll/
We're pretty much at the limit now. It just reinforces that nothing much will happen this offseason without sending guys out on trades.
Now the next offseason will be madness.
Yuli
Brantley
Springer
Marisnick
Reddick
Sanchez
Peacock
All off the books/team. That is 73 M to play with. A chunk of that will go to arbitration guys (Correa, Diaz, McCullers, Osuna) and hopefully, we sign George, but there should be some serious money to go get a big name.
We're pretty much at the limit now. It just reinforces that nothing much will happen this offseason without sending guys out on trades.
Now the next offseason will be madness.
Yuli
Brantley
Springer
Marisnick
Reddick
Sanchez
Peacock
All off the books/team. That is 73 M to play with. A chunk of that will go to arbitration guys (Correa, Diaz, McCullers, Osuna) and hopefully, we sign George, but there should be some serious money to go get a big name.
If Brantley has another healthy and very productive year at the plate like this year, do you just try to re-up him with some of that money? I don't see how you could get a better bat for the lineup than him. He may take another 2 year deal.Farmer1906 said:
https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/houston-astros/payroll/
We're pretty much at the limit now. It just reinforces that nothing much will happen this offseason without sending guys out on trades.
Now the next offseason will be madness.
Yuli
Brantley
Springer
Marisnick
Reddick
Sanchez
Peacock
All off the books/team. That is 73 M to play with. A chunk of that will go to arbitration guys (Correa, Diaz, McCullers, Osuna) and hopefully, we sign George, but there should be some serious money to go get a big name.
Fightin' Texas Aggie and Sam Houston State Bearkat
I trust in the organization to make the right moves at SP and RP. Seems like they always do.
I'd be OK running it back with Chirinos & Maldonado - at the C position you can't do much better than those guys did, but I don't think Chirinos will be cheap after a career year. Stubbs doesn't hit well enough to even be a 50/50 platoon guy with a RH hitting C.
Passing on Realmuto (along with no CFM QO) for me will go down as the non-moves that cost us a ring.
I'd be OK running it back with Chirinos & Maldonado - at the C position you can't do much better than those guys did, but I don't think Chirinos will be cheap after a career year. Stubbs doesn't hit well enough to even be a 50/50 platoon guy with a RH hitting C.
Passing on Realmuto (along with no CFM QO) for me will go down as the non-moves that cost us a ring.
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