Squirrel

I don't know the genesis of it, but perhaps in modern baseball, some utility players are getting as much play time as starters, but maybe not as much in one position? If that's the case, then they should be considered in some category. But it is weird to me, as pointed out above, that he would be considered utility for one award and 1st base for another.

Signing Correa won’t tie their hands. They have a lot of young players under control for several years. And they will be renegotiating their TV deal after next season. There is no reason to believe the next contract will be as low as it is currently. They could boost the payroll a little. They have room to sign BOTH Correa and Rodon. Without the shift, the SS role is going to be even more important.

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Of the states that have no state income tax … and everyone still pays federal income tax … that would mean he would have a choice of 5 teams in 3 states. Further to this argument, they pay state income tax in every state they play a game. If you are trying to say that he won’t sign in Minnesota because of the state income tax, then he won’t sign with any team in California, either, where the state income tax is higher. And New York isn’t that far behind. Not to mention the cost of living is way higher in both California and New York. If you combine income tax and sales tax, NY, IL and CA are more expensive. If this is your argument, it’s a wonder that the best teams continually aren’t in FL, TX and WA. Taxes are a non-issue in signing a player. Salary, benefits and incentives are. The only thing that stands between signing Correa or not, is money offered.

Honestly, I don’t think these are dire questions and pretty much the same as what most teams this time of year are asking as they look at their rosters and start fitting the pieces together. But, as I wrote above, I think answering many hinges on signing a SS long term. Do that and a lot falls into place or creates obvious paths for other answers. Lewis is not going to be ready until mid-season, so there is no need to answer that question now and by mid-season there will be a definite path. Miranda will have a place, Arraez will have a place and Kirilloff will have a place. To me, those aren’t even questions. The only question might be if Arraez or Kirilloff is traded. I don’t think so, but could happen.

Sadly, yes, they should not give him a long term contract.

Then he’ll start at DH. I think he, Arraez and Kirilloff will all be starters, but they will be mixing and matching different positions. Arraez will get time at 1B, 2B, DH and very sparingly (if at all) 3B; Miranda 1B, 3B, DH; Kirilloff LF, 1B and DH … dependent on health. And of the three, I think Arraez will spend more time at DH because of his knees. I think Miranda could see more time at 1B than 3B, because I think they need a better fielder at 3B. And this is dependent on potential off-season trades.

Bold and very doable. so doubtful this FO does this

Heh, I was just coming here to say, ‘Well, I’m happy for Dusty Baker’ Okay, but turned it off once they started to interview Altuve

I agree. I really don’t want to see Sands or Megill in the BP to start the season.

Most people have answered these question with their payroll blueprints. And most teams have some fluidity to compensate for days off, injuries, family leave, etc. And most teams are at this place this time of year … who plays where. I don’t think there are as many burning questions as you think, personally. Sure we have questions, but I don’t think it’s dire, except for one position. I’m less concerned about catcher as others. I’m most concerned with the BP and SS. But here are some of what I think to your questions. These are all IMO, of course. 1. I don’t know where Buxton’s health is this off season. But he will play as often as possible. My guess is if it’s a day off here and there, Gordon will fill in out there. Celestino will start in AAA and will be the first called up. 2. I agree and hope Kepler gets traded. And I think we will be fine with Larnach out there. It might be a question but it’s one I am not concerned with the answer. Wallner in the wings at AAA. 3. I think we have many options out there. Again, a question, but not one I’m worried about. Kirilloff, Gordon, Larnach (if Kepler remains on the roster), maybe Lewis (later in the season) or Martin. 4. I start the season with Urshela and see if someone is ready to take over mid-season. Lewis, Martin, Lee (but I think that he won’t be here next year). Gordon is there to back up, and very occasionally Arraez or Miranda. 5. I think it will be Polanco. We do have options that will push the question, but I don’t think 2nd base is a worry. In 24 I think it will be someone else. 6. I think 1st base will rotate between the three you mentioned. Do we need just one person who is there all the time? No. 7. This will rotate between players. 8. Kirilloff is my greatest concern of this list. Buxton is Buxton. I think we all know that. I think Lewis will be fine although don’t know when. I’m thinking super utility to start, and eventually 3rd base or outfield. And I find it laughable and pretty disingenuous to put Larnach in the same category as Buxton. I think we really saw what he is capable of and will be fine. 9 and 10. I want to add a starter, like Rodon. And find one or two BP arms. This is why there are so many pitching articles. And many of the infield questions are because of the SS question and also why there are so many threads and articles discussing it. I think a lot of questions go away or get answered when you get someone in that position that gives it long term stability, not a stop gap until. I want that to be the first resolution because I think it needs to be. My greatest concern isn’t so much all these questions you laid out. I think they are the same questions for every team every year. But if the SS market is held up, it holds up decision making for a lot of other positions, and then we end up with stop gaps and piecing it together.

Gotta spend money to make money :)

Hey ... I'd buy some!

I guess we are at an agree to disagree impasse. Part of my point was we don’t know if these prospects will ever be ready enough to fill a major league role at SS. That’s why I’m all for signing Correa long term now. We do have the means. And if one of the SS in our system now ends being of a high enough caliber move them to another position or trade them. I want to play for the here and now not for a maybe future, and that’s all prospects are is a maybe. And signing Correa doesn’t hamper us from making other signings and trades. I’m tired of ‘stop gap fillers’ who don’t give us enough, waiting for a player who then ends up being not all that. Just expressing a differing opinion, as are you.

Okay ... but then we need to fill those positions and we don't have that in house, either, and will have to spend to do it anyway. And, I don't think signing Correa prohibits that from happening. That was my point. It doesn't hamstring us, imo. Now, we might not be able to sign the top catcher, the top shortstop, the top pitcher and the top reliever ... but I think we could sign, say, Correa and Rodon and be way better off than counting on Lewis or Lee or Martin. Especially with the shift ban next season, I would feel better knowing we have an awesome SS, not someone who might, some day, possibly, but you never know prospect

I don't think this will hamstring them for years to come for many reasons. They have the wiggle room this year, they have a lot of young players with team control for several years, and they get to sign a new media contract after next season. Now is the time. If we only play for the future we will always be playing for the future. Potential SS are not MLB awesome SS and won't necessarily become MLB awesome SS and may never even become MLB SS. Every SS drafted is only a SS until they aren't. Lewis has basically been out of baseball for a couple of years due to pandemic and injury. Up until last year, many thought that he wouldn't stick at short. He certainly isn't going to fill that void next year and who knows years to come. Yes, Lee has done great so far in the minors. In the minors. He certainly looks like a player who might stick at short and be something, but that isn't going to be next year. And we have seen it so many times how that doesn't necessarily translate and more often then not, SS prospects are moved to other positions. Signing Correa doesn't block them. Either they change positions or are traded to fill another hole.

I think injury concerns are real for Duran, especially given his history and the heat he throws. I don't think he will ever have a starting role, but I do think they could stretch him out to throw a few more innings.

I can delete the whole thing for you if you like. Let me know.

Astros haven’t given up yet.

Why do you say that? I think he's as good or better than some others who received that

It's okay. I'm not saying they didn't try. But that does seem to be the most-oft response. It doesn't mean they didn't try, but ... there it is. It's not about not trying, it's about not putting forth the best offer.

Yep ... 'We tried' is their mantra

I think realistically is 0% … that’s what I think of the FO with the ‘We’re on board’ which will become, ‘We tried’

You move Buxton now, then you have created a bigger hole to fill, imo.