@markkar4663 I don't know how the Abreu contract works, if it counts towards the luxury cap next year, but if it does that'll definitely hurt the chances that we do much of anything exciting this off-season. Verlander and Pressly will come off the books, so there may be some money to be given out, but there's still the Montero contract as well. As far as adding pieces, I have a feeling about all we'll be getting is 1 B tier hitter. Certainly no pitching as they'll probably just lean on having Framber, Hunter, Arrighetti, then Garcia coming back and maybe Javier late next year. Doubt they keep Kikuchi, though tbh I don't know that I'd want to keep him. I'd hate to make the same mistake as Montero and pay someone with an incredibly mid track record just because of one good year. They develop pitching so well that I'm ok letting Framber walk after next year. If it were up to me I'd be paying Bregman and Tucker. Bregman has his faults, but it feels like the well of prospects to just plug in the vacated positions has run dry. Peña hasn't developed nearly like he was supposed to and has been completely MIA in the playoffs the last 2 years. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe Dezenzo or Whitcomb just need a chance to have the job, maybe Jacob Melton breaks out (though for all the drooling over him from Dana Brown he's been rather underwhelming in AAA), but there's just too many questions marks and "maybe". I haven't looked at the FA list yet, but someone I've heard a lot about coming here that I'd like to have is Pete Alonso. Guess we'll find out. Regardless, I've always been the "until they show me I shouldn't trust them, I'm going to" mentality, to "until they show me I CAN trust them, I wont". I will no longer be the "everyone needs to calm down and stop overreacting" guy. I don't believe in Espada. I don't believe in our team like i did. One too many core pieces may finally be leaving to continue churning through the AL. The first round picks aren't what they once were. The last 5 years we've only seen Tucker and Yainer as breakout stars in the lineup and Tucker was a top pick from 2016.... Yainer is the lone exception that was found by James Click, who apparently wasn't good enough for Crane. Who needs 106 wins and a championship, amiright? Not when it's not done the way Crane wanted! Unless 2 more prospects suddenly become something they haven't shown to be, i fear this is the beginning of the end. Free Agents like Michael Brantley are pieces added to an internal core..... not bandaids to slap on to stop the bleeding....

Who are you talking about?

Yep! stranded like a mofo

Tuck is Ok, Astros need one more consistency-hitter outfielder to make Yordan a permanent DH and play him out only in case of emergency. I would try to poach Arozarena (cough, cough, Juan Soto, the impossible dream), but he's under control until 2027, so I would try to check on the FA market: Cody Bellinger, Marcell Osuna, Charlie Blackmon, Joc Pederson, the list is pretty interesting. If Astros really want to get a strong 1B, they should go for Christian Walker from the D-Backs, he will be on the free agency market come 2025. Pete Alonso is another great possibility, but I believe he wants to stay with the Mets. And yes, 100% Breggie is the best 3B in the FA market and one of the best in the game right now.

@@alxm1271 I agree with most of that except Tuk. In my book anyone who doesn’t give 100% on every offensive and defensive play isn’t “ok”. He’s bad and idc how much of a superstar he is. Let him go be an allstar somewhere else. There are way too many outfielders we can sign if we don’t have to pay Tuk money he doesn’t deserve. On a side note, I hope they keep JaHey. I like his attitude. He may not be the hitter Brantley was but he fills that role in the dugout and clubhouse.