It is time for another session of What They Said What They Meant.
For newbies to the blog this is where we take what could best be called real “coachspeak” quotations about your favorite team and interpret them in real terms of what they really meant.
The quotes are taken from various sources, including mlb.com, The Athletic, The NY Times, and chron.com (Spit!!).
GM Dana Brown after the Astros were swept out of the playoffs by the Tigers…
- What he said – “First of all, one of the things we want to make sure we do is get back deep into the postseason. That’s going to be our vision, that’s going to be our focus.”
- What he meant – “Yeah, going deep in the postseason was our vision and focus before the 2024 season also and see what that got us. What do you want me to say? I’m heading a sinking ship?”
Manager Joe Espada at the same damn time…
- What he said – “A team gets tested and you see the character of your team, Through adversity and the way we were tested early, I knew that this team was strong enough to make a push and get us into the postseason.”
- What he meant – “Yeah, blah blah blah. I knew they were strong enough to get into the postseason, but I did not know they would look like a 90 lb. weakling once they got there.”
GM Brown after the Kyle Tucker trade to the Cubs…
- What he said – “It’s tough in that first year to stomach because Kyle Tucker has had such a great career here. He’s such an outstanding player. He’s played on some really good teams, won a championship, This is probably one of those moves that I think in the future people will see and understand like, ‘Wow, yeah. I understand it now. I get it’ … I would say that this is more to strengthen our opportunities down the road without losing any footage in the current year.”
- What he meant – “Let’s face it. If the Cubs win it all with Kyle Tucker hitting 50 homers in the friendly confines of Wrigley and we limp through a crappy season, the natives may start lighting those torches and start marching on the offices at ….what the heck is this place now called? Oh, Daiken Field. I have to wonder if I will still have this job when Cam Smith makes it to the bigs in a couple years.”
GM Brown (do you see a pattern here) speaking about the Astros pivoting away from Alex Bregman to Christian Walker….
- What he said – “I won’t get into specifics but I feel like the negotiations stalled, I feel like we made a really competitive offer and showed that we wanted him back. But we had to pursue other options. We couldn’t just sit there.”
- What he meant – “I won’t confirm whether we increased the original offer of 6 years $156 million for Bregman (whisper – which means we did not). Hey, I thought the original offer was a stretch. I think Breggy may wish he had taken it somewhere along the way.”
Bregman’s agent Scott Boras after the Astros pivoted from his client….
- What he said – “Over time, teams learn if you’re running from leadership and talent, you’re running from the ultimate goal,”
- What he meant – “I’m praying that teams are not looking at how these huge contracts for guys in their 30’s who are already declining turn out. I hope their ultimate goal is to add players based on the back of their baseball cards.”
First Baseman Christian Walker after signing a 3 year / $60 million contract with the Astros….
- What he said – “They were circling. This was my first time going through free agency, so I didn’t really know what to expect. Circling, circling, circling and it’s real interest and it happens quick. We had some momentum. We wanted to get it done, they wanted to get it done. It was a no-brainer.”
- What he meant – “Looking back at what I said, it makes it sound like they were buzzards circling my dead body. Listen, I’m not that great at interviews, but I’m the three-time defending NL Gold Glove at first base and I have good pop in my bat. I wanted to be here, and they wanted me here.”
GM Dana Brown after trading away Tucker and pivoting from Bregman – how this might affect their teammates left behind….
- What he said – “I think the team understands that we made him (Bregman) a competitive offer. I really think the guys understand that. I think the guys in that clubhouse understand that, look, this is a business as well. We worked to be competitive. We owe it to the team to pursue other options when things stall. We feel like we’re still a really good team with these additions this offseason.”
- What he meant – “These guys are adults (well most of them). They understand if they get too expensive they may end up elsewhere. I wish it wasn’t true – but it is.”
GM Dana Brown on the potential for trading Framber Valdez before he becomes a Free Agent….
- What he said – “If you’re asking me if (I) think we’re going to trade Valdez, I don’t think we’re going to trade Valdez. I think he’s a pillar and it’s really tough to keep a rotation intact.”
- What he meant – Your turn – what do you think he really meant?
ALL THINGS ASTROS 
30 responses to “Astros’ 2025 Offseason: WTSWTM”
Going back to the question the other day about keeping Jose Altuve happy despite not bringing Bregman back and trading away Tucker, I’d point out that Altuve got a 5 year $125M extension from the Astros which is less than the 6 year $156M offer put on the table in front of Bregman. Altuve and the rest of the team are smart enough to do the math and decide which of their teammates want to be there. I find it hard to believe Kyle Tucker couldn’t have asked for and received an extension like Altuve’s.
Regarding Framber, I think what Brown said is exactly what he meant. On paper Framber is a bargain. He has to stay healthy and not fall off the proverbial cliff. I think Brown is wise to leave the door open to an offer they can’t refuse while making it clear to fans they don’t want to move him. Look at this year’s FA pitching crop thus far (name, age, AAV):
Blake Snell, 32, $36.4M
Max Fried, 31, $27.25M
Nathan Eovaldi, 35, $25M
Sean Manaea, 33, $25M
Luis Severino, 31, $22.3M
Yusei Kikuchi, 33, $21.225M
Walker Buehler, 30, $21M
Nick Martinez, 34, $21M
Frankie Montas, 32, $17M
Alex Cobb, 37, $15M
Justin Verlander, 42, $15M
Matt Boyd, 34, $14.5M
Shane Bieber, 30, $13M
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Sure he’s a bargain today. But on September 30 he’s worth nothing but a draft pick.
And Tucker was worth far more than my favorite baseball player when he was traded. That’s essentially why he was traded.
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I’m looking at this from the perspective of a fan who would like the Astros to be competitive and continue making the playoffs. A deep run and championship would be the ideal goals. If the season is falling apart you make the decision whether to trade Framber as a couple month rental or give him the QO and accept the draft pick. If you trade him now and the team is in a race in July you end up moving prospects from our system for help in the starting rotation.
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Devin, I get your perspective 100%. My own is a bit different though. I’d rather get a maximum return for Framber now, looking towards the near future. I’m willing to give up the immediate future. But regardless, with or without Framber, I think this club get reach the post season in 2025, and with another solid deal made by Dana Brown, we might get more help for Opening Day, along the lines of a quality starter in the outfield and another solid arm. Honestly, and you might have guessed this, Framber, for all his ability and his solid stats annually, is not my favorite Astro. I don’t think he’s an overachiever. He’s never taken the time to improve his defensive work on the mound. He might throw a no hitter one week and then come back with a flat out bad next start. The lack of composure from time to time is always lurking. And last, he’s forgotten how to own the biggest games, those played in October.
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What he meant: “If I say that we want to trade Framber, then other teams are going to lowball us. I’m going to pray that another team desperate for pitching will make us an offer we can’t refuse.”
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What he meant? The boss has given me the freedom to move anyone. That’s apparent. I’d like to get a deal done and keep him here where he’s comfortable, but he’s not as valuable as he thinks he is. He might freak out on the field at any point and cost himself 50 million. That’s why I’m hoping someone loses a starter in ST and comes with the deal I’m waiting for.
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Seems like we’re pretty much on the same page so far.
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What Brown meant to say about the Tucker trade: I had to get it done for the future of the team before someone above my pay grade made moves that would dig a deeper hole for the team to try and crawl out of.
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In the first inkling of news from the IFA market, MLBTR is tying the Astros to the #7 prospect on MLB’s list. He is a 17 yo Cuban-born outfielder named Kevin Alvarez. He is a Lefty hitter and thrower whose two best grades are on his hitting and power.
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The Astros success with players from Cuba – Yuli Gurriel, Yordan Alvarez, Aledmys Diaz, and hopefully some day – Pedro Leon – may continue with another Alvarez. I like it.
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Here is MLB’s top 50 list if you care to read about them and their individual write-ups:
https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/2025/international/
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Apparently, the latest news is old news, because this is from last September: https://astrosfuture.com/2024/09/report-houston-astros-to-sign-cuban-standout-kevin-alvarez-in-2025/
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I hope we all hang around long enough to see the next batch of Astro greats make their way through the minors and on to the big club in Houston. And to me anyway, it seems our barren system is not quite so barren at this point.
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Francys Romero has Alvarez listed as his #3 International free agent prospect: https://www.beisbolfr.com/p/mlb-international-signing-period
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And Francys Romero is my #3 ranker of international free agent prospects (where is my sarcasm font?)
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DOB: 1/13/2008 (16) / H: 6-4 / W: 180 / B: L/ T: L/
For several teams, Kevin Alvarez is regarded as the top hitter of the 24-25 international class. His bat has the potential to change the game. With many similarities to Kyle Tucker, he has worked hard to improve his body, adding muscle mass. Alvarez also has the potential to enhance skills like speed and defense, with the ability to play corner outfield and possibly center field. What truly stands out about Alvarez is his offensive game, which promises to be exceptional. “Outstanding makeup and work ethic”, said a scout in one of his reports about Kevin.
Romero’s assessment of Kevin Alvarez. No sarcasm font required.
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Back to back power hitters, named Alvarez, in the future Astros lineup???
Yes, please.
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Add in a Melton and a Cam smith and a Luis Baez and a Bryce Matthews and we might be on to sumtin’
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https://x.com/astros/status/1879627525615419854/photo/2
Astros signings today!
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There were only 3 pitchers listed in MLB’s top 50 IFAs, And yet the Astros signed 8 free agent pitchers today. I guess MLB isn’t interested in scouting the pitchers. That’s 1/2 of the game they are ignoring. Fortunately, the Astros don’t ignore IFA pitchers!
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A great point OP considering so much of the Astros pitching over the last few years has come from the International side – Blanco – Javier – Framber – Urquidy – Garcia – Bryan Abreu
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Test Zach Dezenzo Test
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I’d like to have Joey Lops back. I think he’s going to figure it out. Unless he was a throw in, I think Click thinks he can make the adjustments. We’ll likely find out this year.
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Bob Uecker has passed away. A voice of the good old days of baseball.
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Saw a lengthy article on Facebook ( I call it something else I can’t say here) that Alex Bregman had resigned with the Astros and Crane was ecstatic to have him back. I thought no way but I thought I’d check my favorite blog and the Astros MLB feed. No mention of it. I sure get tired of people posting total BS stuff on both Facebook and on YouTube. I know if something happens on the Astros front I’ll more than likely hear about here before anywhere else. Keep up the good work everybody and Dan!
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You are so right Z, I fell for a story about Bregman signing with Detroit awhile back and after I had posted on Chipalatta, I did my research and found nothing else. All of these stories must be vetted first.
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Per my personal web site danp.com – Alex Bregman has signed with me to be my personal valet and to pick up all my food and salsas from HEB. I am paying him $200 million spread out over the next 200 million years.
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I had to laugh at that one. Thanks Dan!
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MLBTR is reporting an agreement between the Cubs and Kyle Tucker concerning his final arbitration salary. Tucker will make $16.5 million in 2025.
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If it’s not about money, then why is Sasaki waiting while the Blue Jays and Dodgers try to find more International Free Agent Money to pay him?
How is it that MLB’s wealthiest owner cannot bring back a career-long Mets contributor, Pete Alonso, for a mere pittance compared to the $700 million he just gave Soto?
Why did Alex Bregman turn down $156 million to return to his beloved Astros?
Did the Padres finally figure out Sasaki might have been just using them?
Is the indicted Mayor of Oakland the same mayor who couldn’t figure out how to keep the A’s or satisfy their stadium needs?
Asking for a very old friend.
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