Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2019 16:08:42 GMT -6
I.D.I.O.T (It deserves it's own thread)
I think it's time we have a separate posting for Kyle Tucker. What are your guys thoughts on holding onto him or moving him for the right piece?
In regards to Tucker I am back and forth. On one hand he is only 22 years old and has great potential. On the other hand he is blocked for the next 2 years and is not a sure thing in the majors. Even if he does successfully transition to 1b how does that affect Yuli? We have an issue but it's one that I feel the Astros are very fortunate to have (how to play all of their guys).
The Astros are clearly trying to hold onto Tucker, but at what cost? If Reddick and or Brantley bolt in 2021 will Tucker be able to slide right into their spot in the OF or would a better option become available anyhow through FA. Could we use Yordan in LF in two years anyhow? These questions are what holds up the trade idea for Tucker as nobody seems to know how that will unfold.
Ideally, The Astros hold onto Springer (long term) and Brantley (another two years) in the outfield leaving one spot available if Reddick leaves. I don't think Marisnick will be around in 2021 as his asking price (like Marwin's) may go up too high for a seldom used player for us. Straw also might be gone and I am not convinced he would be an everyday player anyhow. So do we hold onto Tucker in that regard for 2 years down the line at the expense of using his trading power for a power starting pitcher we could use now and possibly the next two more years?
The flip side is the pitching. We all know that Cole most likely will be gone after this season as his asking price would be through the roof. I would love to keep him long term as well but that goes in another thread possibly. So assuming he's gone, Verlander is only signed through 2021. Who knows how effective he will be after that and what he might command in salary but that is still 3 years away. McCullers is also ARB eligible through 2021. Resigning Miley could still give us a strong 3 starting pitchers for the next 3 years. If Whitley comes around then we have a 4th but we are still hunting for a 5th. Perhaps the Astros can find another "Miley" or "Morton" out there to fill in the gaps. Perhaps he finds this player this Winter. But those are big ifs as well as we can't count on that to happen. For every "Morton" we can get a "Kazmir".
So the question remains, what do the Astros value more in the next 3 years (pitching or hitting)?
If the Astros trade Tucker for Syndergaard (Assuming Whitley is also not part of the deal for another player). Then we could be looking at this for the next two years:
cf Springer
2b Altuve
3b Bregman
lf Brantley
ss Correa
dh Alvarez
1b Yuli
rf Reddick
c Stubbs/Chirinos
sp Verlander
sp Syndergaard
sp Miley
sp McCullers
sp Whitley
That is an awesome ore group of players set for that span. Even in 2021 we still would have Verlander, Syndergaard, Whitley and McCullers through 2021 (not sure about Miley resigning at that point) Then in 2022 we will figure it out from there, perhaps Verlander leaving will allow us to retool again for the future or we pick up an arm in the next 3 years. In either case it's too far away to determine and plan fully.
If we hold onto Tucker then we are looking at using him as a utility player between OF and 1b over the next 2 years and in 2021 could look like this (assuming Yuli is too old to stay on the roster and Reddick is gone)
cf Springer
2b Altuve
3b Bregman
lf Brantley
ss Correa (last year)
dh/1b Alvarez
1b ?
rf Tucker
c Stubbs
sp Verlander (last year)
sp Miley
sp McCullers (last year)
sp Whitley
2b Altuve
3b Bregman
lf Brantley
ss Correa (last year)
dh/1b Alvarez
1b ?
rf Tucker
c Stubbs
sp Verlander (last year)
sp Miley
sp McCullers (last year)
sp Whitley
sp ?
I feel there would be too many holes in 2021 if that were the case. So for the Astors to stay competitive this year and beyond I feel moving Tucker could be in their best interest. Why hold on to a player that most likely won't be helping them the next few years only to have him starting for a team that is not as good as this one is. I think we move Tucker (only for someone like Syndergaard), bolster up our lineup for the next 2 to 3 years and keep developing our farm for the future. IF moving 1 player like Tucker allows us to keep other prospects that could help this team stay on the winning path then I am all for it.
