Could Framber Valdez be a fit in Baltimore? #MLBNHotStove https://t.co/icmzQe4GW0 pic.twitter.com/7dMttRRpSw

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 11, 2025

AL East might end up being a bloodbath.

6 seasons of Yordan (excluding his rookie year)

- Missed most of 2020
Fully healthy 2021
Fully healthy 2022
- almost a month and a half IL Stint in 2023
Fully healthy 2024
- Missed 2/3 of 2025

tjack16 said:

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6 seasons of Yordan (excluding his rookie year)

- Missed most of 2020
Fully healthy 2021
Fully healthy 2022
- almost a month and a half IL Stint in 2023
Fully healthy 2024
- Missed 2/3 of 2025

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Not only that, but half a season of Yordan's production at $10,000,000 or whatever his salary was doesn't hurt too bad, he's likely still a helluva deal at that. At $26,000,000/year it's deadly with our other obligations; even if the luxury tax value is still the same.

So he has played in about 65% of the Astros games since 2019? Wonder how that compares to Altuve?

ETA: Altuve played in 83% over that same timframe.

Farmer1906 said:

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BCEDAg said:

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AggiEE said:

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Marvin said:

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Dana is in a tough spot, but color me underwhelmed so far.

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Feel like this will be a wet fart offseason with lots of speculative reclamation signings

The biggest splash likely being a 1 year JV signing or something, trading Walker for scraps while eating a large portion of the contract, and trading Meyers for middling pitching help

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And still not adding a productive left handed hitter to the lineup. Brandon Lowe or Donovan are on my wish list but I just don't have the confidence that Dana will pull it off. Seems like creating a three team trade of some sort would get it done.

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You would have 3 LHH in Alvarez, Cole/Melton, and Sanchez.

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Lowe and Donovan are proven productive hitters. So is Alvarez when he's healthy. Cole had a small sample size and looked good at times but has a history of striking out atcavhigh percentage even in the minors. Melton and Sanchez haven't shown me anything yet to be considered productive major league hitters.

BCEDAg said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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BCEDAg said:

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AggiEE said:

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Marvin said:

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Dana is in a tough spot, but color me underwhelmed so far.

---

Feel like this will be a wet fart offseason with lots of speculative reclamation signings

The biggest splash likely being a 1 year JV signing or something, trading Walker for scraps while eating a large portion of the contract, and trading Meyers for middling pitching help

---

And still not adding a productive left handed hitter to the lineup. Brandon Lowe or Donovan are on my wish list but I just don't have the confidence that Dana will pull it off. Seems like creating a three team trade of some sort would get it done.

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You would have 3 LHH in Alvarez, Cole/Melton, and Sanchez.

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Lowe and Donovan are proven productive hitters. So is Alvarez when he's healthy. Cole had a small sample size and looked good at times but has a history of striking out atcavhigh percentage even in the minors. Melton and Sanchez haven't shown me anything yet to be considered productive major league hitters.

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okay saying that about Melton is correct, but Sanchez has 1600 at bats against RHP and has a career 775 OPS, he's definitely got ink on him.

Severian the Torturer said:

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BCEDAg said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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BCEDAg said:

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AggiEE said:

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Marvin said:

---

Dana is in a tough spot, but color me underwhelmed so far.

---

Feel like this will be a wet fart offseason with lots of speculative reclamation signings

The biggest splash likely being a 1 year JV signing or something, trading Walker for scraps while eating a large portion of the contract, and trading Meyers for middling pitching help

---

And still not adding a productive left handed hitter to the lineup. Brandon Lowe or Donovan are on my wish list but I just don't have the confidence that Dana will pull it off. Seems like creating a three team trade of some sort would get it done.

---

You would have 3 LHH in Alvarez, Cole/Melton, and Sanchez.

---

Lowe and Donovan are proven productive hitters. So is Alvarez when he's healthy. Cole had a small sample size and looked good at times but has a history of striking out atcavhigh percentage even in the minors. Melton and Sanchez haven't shown me anything yet to be considered productive major league hitters.

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okay saying that about Melton is correct, but Sanchez has 1600 at bats against RHP and has a career 775 OPS, he's definitely got ink on him.

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Wish we saw that kind of career production from Sanchez when he came to the Astros. Plus he was a horrible defensive outfielder.

BCEDAg said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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BCEDAg said:

---

AggiEE said:

---

Marvin said:

---

Dana is in a tough spot, but color me underwhelmed so far.

---

Feel like this will be a wet fart offseason with lots of speculative reclamation signings

The biggest splash likely being a 1 year JV signing or something, trading Walker for scraps while eating a large portion of the contract, and trading Meyers for middling pitching help

---

And still not adding a productive left handed hitter to the lineup. Brandon Lowe or Donovan are on my wish list but I just don't have the confidence that Dana will pull it off. Seems like creating a three team trade of some sort would get it done.

---

You would have 3 LHH in Alvarez, Cole/Melton, and Sanchez.

---

Lowe and Donovan are proven productive hitters. So is Alvarez when he's healthy. Cole had a small sample size and looked good at times but has a history of striking out atcavhigh percentage even in the minors. Melton and Sanchez haven't shown me anything yet to be considered productive major league hitters.

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Sanchez vs RHP
104 in 2025 (we know about the giant slump)
119 in 2024
116 in 2023
109 in 2022
112 in 2021

That's quite a few seasons above avg platooning. Compare him to Donovan vs both sides its not far off @ 119, 115, 118, and 127. Obviously, Donovan has the advantage and isn't a pure platoon. But Sanchez is on the roster and Donny is going to cost serious pieces.

As long as Yordan plays 130+ games at the level we are used to seeing we will be fine.

But the injuries are worrying me

BCEDAg said:

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Severian the Torturer said:

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BCEDAg said:

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Farmer1906 said:

---

BCEDAg said:

---

AggiEE said:

---

Marvin said:

---

Dana is in a tough spot, but color me underwhelmed so far.

---

Feel like this will be a wet fart offseason with lots of speculative reclamation signings

The biggest splash likely being a 1 year JV signing or something, trading Walker for scraps while eating a large portion of the contract, and trading Meyers for middling pitching help

---

And still not adding a productive left handed hitter to the lineup. Brandon Lowe or Donovan are on my wish list but I just don't have the confidence that Dana will pull it off. Seems like creating a three team trade of some sort would get it done.

---

You would have 3 LHH in Alvarez, Cole/Melton, and Sanchez.

---

Lowe and Donovan are proven productive hitters. So is Alvarez when he's healthy. Cole had a small sample size and looked good at times but has a history of striking out atcavhigh percentage even in the minors. Melton and Sanchez haven't shown me anything yet to be considered productive major league hitters.

---

okay saying that about Melton is correct, but Sanchez has 1600 at bats against RHP and has a career 775 OPS, he's definitely got ink on him.

---

Wish we saw that kind of career production from Sanchez when he came to the Astros. Plus he was a horrible defensive outfielder.

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He was a horrible defender partly because we had to put him in LF and he had never played there before. It showed. Bigly.

Mathguy64 said:

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BCEDAg said:

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Severian the Torturer said:

---

BCEDAg said:

---

Farmer1906 said:

---

BCEDAg said:

---

AggiEE said:

---

Marvin said:

---

Dana is in a tough spot, but color me underwhelmed so far.

---

Feel like this will be a wet fart offseason with lots of speculative reclamation signings

The biggest splash likely being a 1 year JV signing or something, trading Walker for scraps while eating a large portion of the contract, and trading Meyers for middling pitching help

---

And still not adding a productive left handed hitter to the lineup. Brandon Lowe or Donovan are on my wish list but I just don't have the confidence that Dana will pull it off. Seems like creating a three team trade of some sort would get it done.

---

You would have 3 LHH in Alvarez, Cole/Melton, and Sanchez.

---

Lowe and Donovan are proven productive hitters. So is Alvarez when he's healthy. Cole had a small sample size and looked good at times but has a history of striking out atcavhigh percentage even in the minors. Melton and Sanchez haven't shown me anything yet to be considered productive major league hitters.

---

okay saying that about Melton is correct, but Sanchez has 1600 at bats against RHP and has a career 775 OPS, he's definitely got ink on him.

---

Wish we saw that kind of career production from Sanchez when he came to the Astros. Plus he was a horrible defensive outfielder.

---

He was a horrible defender partly because we had to put him in LF and he had never played there before. It showed. Bigly.

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I also recall Sanchez playing a lot of right field platooning with Cam. And he was horrible there too.

BCEDAg said:

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Mathguy64 said:

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BCEDAg said:

---

Severian the Torturer said:

---

BCEDAg said:

---

Farmer1906 said:

---

BCEDAg said:

---

AggiEE said:

---

Marvin said:

---

Dana is in a tough spot, but color me underwhelmed so far.

---

Feel like this will be a wet fart offseason with lots of speculative reclamation signings

The biggest splash likely being a 1 year JV signing or something, trading Walker for scraps while eating a large portion of the contract, and trading Meyers for middling pitching help

---

And still not adding a productive left handed hitter to the lineup. Brandon Lowe or Donovan are on my wish list but I just don't have the confidence that Dana will pull it off. Seems like creating a three team trade of some sort would get it done.

---

You would have 3 LHH in Alvarez, Cole/Melton, and Sanchez.

---

Lowe and Donovan are proven productive hitters. So is Alvarez when he's healthy. Cole had a small sample size and looked good at times but has a history of striking out atcavhigh percentage even in the minors. Melton and Sanchez haven't shown me anything yet to be considered productive major league hitters.

---

okay saying that about Melton is correct, but Sanchez has 1600 at bats against RHP and has a career 775 OPS, he's definitely got ink on him.

---

Wish we saw that kind of career production from Sanchez when he came to the Astros. Plus he was a horrible defensive outfielder.

---

He was a horrible defender partly because we had to put him in LF and he had never played there before. It showed. Bigly.

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I also recall Sanchez playing a lot of right field platooning with Cam. And he was horrible there too.

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Yep. But he smiles and bats like Soto so it's all ok.

But yeah I agree. He didn't look good in RF. In LF he looked like a tee ball outfielder who had no clue how to field or throw.

BREAKING: Closer Robert Suarez and the Atlanta Braves are in agreement on a three-year, $45 million contract, sources tell ESPN.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 11, 2025

Anyone ever been to the Light the Park thing at Daikin?

Pretty sure I already know the answer but is it worth the $50/person ticket?

no, but I've heard the one at the field in Sugarland is decent.

Farmer1906 said:

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Could Framber Valdez be a fit in Baltimore? #MLBNHotStove https://t.co/icmzQe4GW0 pic.twitter.com/7dMttRRpSw

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 11, 2025

AL East might end up being a bloodbath.

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Rutschman is still the backstop over there right? He played college football for Oregon State, might not want to beam him with a fastball Framber

I expect Rutschman to being way out. They just signed another catcher in their system to a long term deal

Texas 8&4 said:

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I expect Rutschman to being way out. They just signed another catcher in their system to a long term deal

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Basallo isn't really a catcher. Will be a DH for them.

Rutschman has definitely fallen from where he was, and the trend is worrisome for sure, but he's still a pretty decent hand back there.

Ag_07 said:

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Anyone ever been to the Light the Park thing at Daikin?

Pretty sure I already know the answer but is it worth the $50/person ticket?

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It's new this year at Daikin.

They had a Cyber Monday special for half price tickets, but tickets are only good on the day you designate when you buy them and my schedule was in limbo on that day so I couldn't pick a date. Also, If you follow Astros on social media, they periodically run BOGO coupon codes.

I don't think the price per person is much different than most of the other Christmas activities (zoo lights, Santa's Wonderland, etc).

I fail to see what that really does for us. You get nothing in return and save minimal money to use for a free agent. Seems you are better off hoping he bounces back and trade him after this year rather than selling low.

SpaceCityAg05 said:

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In a vacuum, yes.

In reality, keeping Walker means Paredes goes bye-bye, which makes us a worse team.

So eating 75% of Walker's salary to trade him would still net you a better lineup with Paredes in it, plus $5/year extra to spend elsewhere on the roster.

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Well you get something in return for Paredes so I don't understand how that automatically makes you worse

Additionally, for a team looking for stability moving forward, having Paredes at 1B does a lot for you:
Correa is controlled through 2028 (with four more team option years through 2032) at $33M AAV
Altuve is controlled through 2029 at $25M AAV
Pena is controlled through 2027
Paredes is controlled through 2027

(Yordan is also controlled through 2028)

You would have your qualify IF tied up for two more years, and if you extend Paredes (I am not holding out hope for Pena), you have 75% locked up for the long-term. It is significant money, but Altuve and Correa are not going anywhere, so the money is committed. For a team that has a paucity of position player prospect talent, it would help to have the core of the lineup locked in so that you can focus your assets on bolstering pitching.

If you trade him for a Red Sox OF, then perhaps. As we know, our lineup needs more of Paredes-type approach, not less of it, so we have to be careful about tanking the offense.

If you trade him for pitching, then you may be robbing Peter to pay Paul.

SpaceCityAg05 said:

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If you trade him for a Red Sox OF, then perhaps. As we know, our lineup needs more of Paredes-type approach, not less of it, so we have to be careful about tanking the offense.

If you trade him for pitching, then you may be robbing Peter to pay Paul.

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I guess. Did you know we were dead last in pitches per PA in 2022? Paredes is a good player but to think hitters have to have a patient approach to be successful is just not correct. Jose has always been aggressive and he's a HOF player. Pena is super aggressive and was our best hitter last year. I'm not against having patient hitters but it's not important enough to pursue as part of some grandiose master plan.

I am not just talking about the pitchers per plate appearance, although I do think there is value in that. I am talking about K/BB ratio and OBP. Paredes was our overall best in these areas last year on a time that was rough here. Of those who played half the season or more, Paredes, Pena, Correa, and Meyers were the only .350+ OBPs in the lineup. Now you are talking about trading two of them.

In 2022, you had Yordan, Altuve, Brantley, and Bregman all in the .350+ range at the top of the order. The 2022 also had four hitters who drew more walks than anyone in our lineup did in 2025. Paredes missed half the season and still led the team in walkers until Altuve passed him in late September.

Altuve is under control for quite a while but it's not anything pleasant. For me he's a no doubt hall of famer and the best and classiest to ever wear an Astros jersey but I think we're staring at a 750 ops lf/dh who is a defensive liability everywhere as he ages.

Lane Thomas goes to Royals @WillSammon 1st

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 11, 2025

Royals get an outfielder.

Perhaps, but a .750 OPS is better than what most franchises endure from an aging icon. That is still an above-average offensive player, even if a defensive liability.

I also think Altuve's decline will be more tapered than drastic. In some ways, his style will insulate him a bit. He is a true see ball, hit-ball guy, for better and for worse.