This is the toughest time to write about baseball. How many times can we argue whether giving Alex Bregman eight years / $240 MM – give or take a couple years and $50 MM is a good idea? But a few things are happening, so let’s talk about those.
Today, we will examine a number of what I would call non-news items and what they may or may not mean.
Alex Bregman turns down his Qualifying Offer – This is in the dog bites man area of news. The $21.05 MM QO was made by the Astros, knowing Alex would not take it because he is a free agent who will be making a lot more than that per year for a lot more than one season. But if Bregman signs with another club, the Astros receive an extra draft choice – after the fourth round as I understand.
The Astros add Colton Gordon to the 40-man roster – Or is it Gordon Colton…. This was as the Astros locked up the roster and the folks who would (or would not) be protected when the Rule 5 draft occurs in December. Since, the Astros have only 39 spots filled on the 40-man – that allows them to add one player (Alex Bregman???) without making another move.
It was not surprising that Gordon was protected as a lefty starter who pitched very well in a hitter’s league in 2024 working around an early season injury. The Astros have three Top 30 prospects Alimber Santa (No. 16) and Rhett Kouba (No. 24) and outfielder Colin Barber (No. 30) who are eligible and unprotected and Alex Santos (unranked) who had a good showing in the Arizona Fall League. The prospect lists are not made by the team – folks do not know where these “prospects” rate with the Astros.
The Juice Box Becomes the Ice Box – Minute Maid Park will be now named Daikin (believe it is pronounced Dike-in) Park. Or Daikin Field or the Daikin Ballpark in Houston. On the radio this morning the talking heads were hoping this meant that the ballpark will no longer be the Sweat Box it has been for the last couple of years.
Just because Daikin is the new sponsor does not mean the team is overhauling the cooling plant at Enron/MMP/Daikin Stadium. But who knows.
Mr. October Hits the Road – Reggie Jackson, who along with Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio seemed to be part of an unholy trinity of Hall of Famers that had what many thought was undue influence on team operations has left to return to California. Was it truly Reggie deciding that he wanted to spend more time with his family and his businesses or was it a sign that the new sheriff in town (Dana Brown) may not be cow towing to the OGs? C’mon, Ol’ Reggie is 78 years old, a lot older than the other two and perhaps senses that his time left may be better spent elsewhere.
The Astros Have “Interest” in Free Agent Willy Adames – This is one of those typical – what is the source of this – news items that show up in the off-season. The Astros might have some interest in Adames – but do they want to outbid other teams to get a shortstop with a minimal 3B background to play 3B rather than outbid teams for their own 3B with lots of 3B background? This feels like an article that comes from Adames’ agent or from someone like me who has nothing better to do in the winter than to make up news.
Jim Crane is Willing to Exceed the Luxury Tax Level Again in 2025
This statement from Jim Crane came with the standard proviso that he would open the wallet wider for the right opportunity. So, no telling what this really means. Would he only go over for a big time signing like Bregman? Would he go over for a mid-season trade for a big salary? Would he go over before the season with a few smaller moves to shore up multiple spots?
The next real news should be in a couple days when the teams tender offers to the arb eligible players they want to keep. For the Astros this includes Bryan Abreu, Luis Garcia, Framber Valdez, Jeremy Pena, Kyle Tucker, Chas McCormick, Jake Meyers and Mauricio Dubon.
They already had DFA’d two others eligible for arbitration – Penn Murphee and Jose Urquidy. They become free agents if they decide not to tender an offer to any of the above players. Hard to see it, unless they have had enough of Jake or Chas.
So, that is it for the non-news here the week before Thanksgiving. Is there anything you would like us to cover in our corner of the blogdom?
ALL THINGS ASTROS 
26 responses to “Astros’ off-season: Sorting through the non-news of the week”
Dan, maybe we should just talk about football this week.
LikeLike
Well with the Texans knocking off America’s (former) Team Monday and hopefully beating Houston’s former team this coming Sunday, this is potentially a more fun and fertile subject area.
LikeLike
Soooo then, along that line….
I don’t understand why the Texans do not have a screen play for the running backs in their playbook. That play, alone, would tend to cause opposing defenses to back off on their blitzes and stacking of their defensive lines.
I predict an offensive lineman to be drafted in the first round and maybe third round of the 2025 draft.
Also, why do the Texans line their corners some 10 – 15 yards off the opposing team’s receivers when that team is down by 6 or 7 and the game is in its closing moments???
LikeLike
I know they tried a few passes when Mixon was out where Akers and Ogunbowale just straight up dropped the ball. What I don’t recall is whether they were traditional screens or check-downs.
LikeLike
Sargeh, no doubt, the offensive line has been a disappointment. Stroud has gotten beaten up, to the point where he’s made some bad decisions and simply missed on some throws. Even the Cowboys were taking him out of his game early.
And we’ve got enough weapons on offense.
And the secondary has been suspect at times.
But is is fun to be watching a Texans team playing relevant games after 11 weeks.
This group is just not disciplined enough.
I’m not sure if we’ve got the right coaching staff yet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sargeh, no doubt, the offensive line has been a disappointment. Stroud has gotten beaten up, to the point where he’s made some bad decisions and simply missed on some throws. Even the Cowboys were taking him out of his game early.
And we’ve got enough weapons on offense.
And the secondary has been suspect at times.
But is is fun to be watching a Texans team playing relevant games after 11 weeks.
This group is just not disciplined enough.
I’m not sure if we’ve got the right coaching staff yet.
LikeLike
Well it’s good to be watching a relevant football team in Houston again.
But the offensive line has been a big disappointment. Plenty of money already invested.
Even the Cowboys were taking Stroud out of his game. He’s making bad, rushed throws and some flat out bad decisions.
We’ve got the weapons on offense.
The secondary has been suspect. Injuries are going to trouble any NFL cub after 11 games.
My biggest issue is that this club lacks maturity and discipline.
Sometimes I wonder if the coaching staff is what we need to go all the way. It’s a much different game than baseball is from that stand point.
LikeLike
Ha, ha, ha. I can’t figure out how to post here. I type something up, I try to send it, I even refresh the page sometimes in the hope it will appear. And then I curse and type again. Next thing I know I’ve got three posts. I hope I was consistent anyway.
LikeLike
Since some WP change awhile back there is a popup everytime I post which I have to click on a “continue reading” link in order for my post to be displayed. Are you seeing that when you post?
LikeLike
Yes Devin, most of the time, and usually those posts go through. WP keeps asking for my password though, and every time I provide again, it all goes haywire.
LikeLike
Some Texans thoughts
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good point on Joe and Nico.
LikeLike
Alex Bregman agent reportedly eyes outrageous free agent deal
Based on this – Bregman may be unsigned for a looooong time.
LikeLike
If the Astros really think Bregman is even going to approach that price range, they should simply move on now to plan B or C. We don’t need to be screwing around in late March looking for a third base solution. We can always pay him for a one year deal as the season starts. Another Boras special.
LikeLike
Boras appears to be asking for $600-700M for Juan Soto, $250M+ for Pete Alonso, and 11/$350M for Alex Bregman. He also has to find a deal for Blake Snell. He wrapped up Matt Chapman during the season scoring far more money than he’s likely to be worth for the Giants over the long run. Cody Bellinger chose to go back to the Cubs…probably because he feared his agent wouldn’t have the energy to get him a better deal this winter. Gerrit Cole had a hilarious exchange where he opted out in order to get the Yankees to trigger a club option that would have added an additional year in order to invalidate the opt-out…but then the Yankees passed and Boras/Cole had to ask if they could take back his opt-out.
I don’t think the Bregman numbers are based in reality. I think it’s more a bargaining tactic where only one team is going win the opportunity to overpay for Soto and Boras is hoping at least one of the losers will panic and overpay for a guy like Alonso who also appears to be declining and has less positional flexibility than Bregman. If Bregman signs somewhere for 6/$180 next week it gives Boras a much lower position to work from for Alonso.
LikeLike
Just imagine! A compensatory pick after the 4th round for Bregman. That is the curse of being over the second tier of the luxury tax limit. The Astros need to get their act together.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s spot on, 1op! Going over the luxury tax just ain’t all what it’s cut out to be.
LikeLike
Chas needs to be replaced on the roster by the Astros #1 prospect who would be making one-fifth of Chas’s arbitrated salary. According to Baseball Ref, Chas was negative oWAR and negative dWAR in 2024. Non-tender him and save the money.
Has anyone ever heard anything encouraging from Valdez or Tucker about staying with the Astros beyond 2025? Why let them walk for nothing? Get a couple of good prospects for each of them and add beef to our future.
Sign Bregman and build around him, Altuve, Diaz, Pena and Yordan. Get the payroll under control and build around your core!
LikeLike
1oldpro, I disagree on Chas. We should not necessarily expect another 2023 season out of him, but I think 2024 was an aberration. I think he’s going to come into camp in great shape and earn his salary in 2025.
The other thing is that Jacob Melton is playing in a hitters league and has not hit enough yet.
Unless Dana Brown surprises me and finds a reliable outfield bat and defender, we need to keep Chas around for now. We lack options.
LikeLike
I did not know the Astros allegedly made an offer to Alex Bregman last night. That’s good. My guess is that the Astros already know whether or not they need to be looking for someone else to fill that role.
LikeLike
Coog’s men’s BB win big tonight.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Astros issued tenders to all of their arbitration eligible players. This indicates to me that they are satisfied with the mediocrity of their team and the underperformance of their outfield as a whole. I am not including Yordan in that, as he should be at DH for the majority of the time to keep him healthy.
LikeLike
It mostly makes sense. Copying from google who is copying from Twitter we get that list as:
RHP Bryan Abreu, IF/OF Mauricio Dubón, RHP Luis Garcia, OF Chas McCormick, OF Jake Meyers, SS Jeremy Peña, OF Kyle Tucker and LHP Framber Valdez
Of the list I agree with you we could/should move on from either Chas or Jake, but we don’t yet have a replacement. Both players should be tradeable before the season. Worst case scenario we can release them before the season and only owe 1 month’s worth of salary, I believe. Also, if we failed to tender a contract to any of them we would have to let them walk for nothing.
LikeLike
Per Chandler Rome yesterday, Jake is a likely candidate for trade this winter. I think the realization that he’s not ever going to be a hitter has sunk in with management. But Dana Brown has to find an option or two for the outfield somewhere. Otherwise we really can’t part ways with Jake or Chas yet.
LikeLike
Per Chandler Rome yesterday, Jake is a likely candidate for trade this winter. I think the realization that he’s not ever going to be a hitter has sunk in with management. But Dana Brown has to find an option or two for the outfield somewhere. Otherwise we really can’t part ways with Jake or Chas yet.
LikeLike
Another two for one!
LikeLiked by 1 person