6:35pm: In a full column at The Athletic, Rome writes that the Astros have unsurprisingly acquired calls on Tucker. He signifies that none of these discussions have grow to be severe however reviews that Brown is certainly prepared to think about transferring one of many two gamers if the fitting alternative presents itself.
6:20pm: Astros basic supervisor Dana Brown met with reporters this night on the Winter Conferences. Along with reiterating their longstanding want to re-sign Alex Bregman, Brown left the door no less than barely open to buying and selling one in every of his star gamers.
In response to a query in regards to the group’s willingness to discipline curiosity in Kyle Tucker and Framber Valdez, Brown replied he “would hear on all of the gamers” (X hyperlink with video by way of Brian McTaggart of MLB.com). It doesn’t appear they’re actively procuring both, nonetheless.
“We’ll hear on anyone. We’re not attempting to aggressively transfer anyone out the door… If it doesn’t make sense, we wouldn’t do it,” Brown expanded (relayed on X by Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle). “So it actually must make sense. As a result of proper now we’re group and we’re not motivated to maneuver any of those guys.”
An open-mindedness to dialog isn’t a declaration that both participant is on the block. It nonetheless appears likelier than not that each will start subsequent season in Houston. That stated, there’s no less than a bit little bit of chatter about the potential for the Astros pulling off a blockbuster. Chandler Rome of the Athletic floated the concept final week, stating that it’d open a good quantity of quick payroll house whereas serving to to replenish a poor farm system. Jon Morosi of the MLB Community tweets that there’s “some buzz” across the Conferences concerning the potential for a Tucker commerce, particularly.
Each gamers would web a powerful return. They’re every all the way down to their closing yr of arbitration however are among the many finest in baseball at their respective positions. Tucker, whom MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz initiatives for a $15.8MM wage, hit 23 dwelling runs in solely 78 video games this yr. He slashed .289/.408/.585 throughout 339 plate appearances. A nagging proper leg harm value him just a few months, however Tucker’s fee manufacturing was the perfect of his profession. He’s one of many sport’s 5 to 10 finest hitters and trending in direction of a free agent deal that might push close to $400MM.
There’s little to counsel the Astros are going to make a push to signal Tucker to that sort of contract. Even when they count on him to stroll in 12 months, a commerce could be a troublesome promote. Houston is attempting to win one other AL West title. They wouldn’t come near changing Tucker’s manufacturing in the event that they transfer him. They’re already skinny within the outfield, the place Chas McCormick and Jake Meyers are the opposite projected starters. Yordan Alvarez may see time in left discipline, however supervisor Joe Espada stated at present the Astros have been hoping to cut back his outfield work to present him extra reps at designated hitter (X hyperlink by way of Rome).
Valdez most likely wouldn’t carry fairly the identical return as Tucker. He’d arguably be simpler to interchange, although the Astros could be inserting loads of religion in harm returnees Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. to take action. The southpaw is coming off a 2.91 ERA displaying by means of 176 2/3 innings. Valdez has topped 175 frames in three straight years. He hasn’t allowed an ERA above 3.45 in any of these seasons. Whereas his strikeout charges are extra good than nice, Valdez posts elite ground-ball numbers.
Swartz initiatives Valdez for a $17.8MM wage in his closing arbitration yr. That’s a notable sum however nonetheless properly under what he’d make for one season if he have been a free agent. (Frankie Montas simply signed for $17MM yearly over two seasons, for instance.) Valdez goes into his age-31 season and could possibly be restricted to a five-year free agent contract, however he’s on observe for a deal that lands properly north of $100MM. The Astros have a greater probability of re-signing him than they do of retaining Tucker, however neither participant appears particularly more likely to stay in Houston after subsequent season.
