January 7, 2025 • 37 mins
We've got a lot to react to since we last talked including the Astros trading away All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker, adding infielder Isaac Paredes, signing star first baseman Christian Walker, and assessing how different the team can look in 2025.
In addition, we touch on some of the expectations for the Houston Astros in 2025, and debate the idea of staying under the CBT, and trying to maintain a flexible payroll. Chris Gordy and Ross Villarreal are talking all things Astros on the Crawford Boxcast, presented by Karbach Brewing and the Crawford Bock.
In addition, we touch on some of the expectations for the Houston Astros in 2025, and debate the idea of staying under the CBT, and trying to maintain a flexible payroll. Chris Gordy and Ross Villarreal are talking all things Astros on the Crawford Boxcast, presented by Karbach Brewing and the Crawford Bock.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Astros fans, cheers.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Wacky Lucky, Welcome to the Crawford Box Cast. Proud leapord
for you by Crawford Bach from Carmack Brewy.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
You're getting that bear?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Oh my godness, The Crawford Box Cast starts now here
we go.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Here's Chris Gordy and Ross viareal and it is an
all new edition of the Crawford box Cast, Off Season Edition,
presented by Carback Burring and the Crawford Bach. Of course,
hopefully you guys have been enjoying plenty of tasty Crawford
Box throughout this football season. This college football is coming
to an end. The NFL playoffs are upon us, and
(00:52):
that means Ross I was looking at schedules today. It's
looking like a little over a month, about five weeks from.
Pitchers and catchers reports. Us are mean that close, yes,
five weeks away. Wow, it's January fourteenth, somewhere. Typically around
February twelve. February fourteenth, pitchers and catcher's report. Within five
to seven days after that, position players report, and then
(01:13):
we're playing spring training games.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
So before we know it, we'll be back into the
twenty twenty five campaign.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
And so much has happened raw since we last talked,
and we had the MLB Winter Meetings go down, and
we got to first start off with we will get
to Alex Bregnan, who as of this recording still remains
a free agent, still is available out there. But the
big blockbuster trade that the Astros made in trading away
start outfielder Kyle Tucker. Take me back when you heard
(01:43):
that it was potential, remember, like it was like a rumor, like, oh,
Dana Brown mentioned, oh they could trade Kyle Tucker, they
could do this, and you kind of knew it could
be on the table in that all Right, he's asking
for big money. It looks like they're not going to
be that team to give him that big fat contract
next year, So why not get ahead of this and
flip him and see what you can get if you
(02:04):
can get a good trade. We know at the trade
deadline last year, the Astros are very interested in Esok
Parades from the Rays who went to the Cubs. They
really tried to get him then, and they end up
making this trade with the Chicago Cubs. They get infielder
Escoc Paratus, who is a third baseman but can play first.
Hayden was Nesky, who was a pitcher from the Houston area,
(02:27):
and prospect Cam Smith who was one of the top
infield prospects third base prospects in baseball and now becomes
the astros top prospect. But immediate reaction when all that
went down.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Yeah, I would say surprised, but it felt like it
was coming together. Well, I would say when we first
started to hear it coming together, it was something that
we'd been talking about and something that we discussed as
far as a possibility. But then it started to heat
up that there have been talks and there was this
team interested in that team interested, and then it when
(02:59):
it finally happened, it wasn't extremely shocking. But if A
were true, then B had to be true. A being
Jim Crane not going to get involved in markets of
players who are going to be signed to big money,
long term deals. We know that Kyle Tucker, when he
hits free agency, which he is, is going to get
(03:20):
a big time, long term deal. So moving forward with
the franchise, it made the most sense to try to
get the maximum amount of valuable value from him getting
signed away that you could, whether that be giving him
a qualified offer after next year, getting that value of
a twenty twenty five campaign and then getting a draft
pick from that. But the more immediate impact is guys
(03:42):
that can help you at the major league level with
escoc Paratus and Hayden Wisneski and then Cam Smith. Of course, now,
as you pointed out on Twitter when it happened, immediately
becomes the number one prospect in the astro system according
to the MLB pipeline. So I would say surprised, not shocked,
and the way the direction that the franchise needed to move.
(04:03):
If Jim Crane is going to continue to have this
hardline stance that he's not signing guys to long term contracts.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
Well, and look, I like the approach because what I
always say, you know, I prescribe ross to the old
mantra that you learn as a kid. You know, why'd
you do that stupid thing? Well, so and so is
doing it. Well, if he jumps off the bridge, are
you gonna jump to That's how I feel with a
lot of these gms. You have insane gms and owners
(04:29):
like the Mets owner is insane, He's got insane money.
The Dodgers ownership group apparently they don't even know what
money is they just spend spend like they just come
up with they put it all out there. Just because
these other teams give out stupid contracts does not mean
I have to. And somehow this evolves always ross into well,
that's the price of paying poker. That's that's the business,
(04:51):
that's how it works. I don't think giving out twelve
year contracts to anyone, maybe outside of Otani, is a
good investment, because any of them rulse. We're already seeing
how are not good investments.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Yeah, but I think if we go through the list
of them, a lot of them, it's a question of
do they regret this contract. Francisco Lindor led the entire
National League and wins above replacement last year he got
a big contract from the Mets. I don't think they
regret that. Right now. Bryce Harper has been living up
to his contract. Who are who are some of the
other famous Yeah, I'm talking about recent guys who have
been signed to big deals. I don't think the Yankees
(05:25):
are regretting the Garrett Cole deal. He's been their ace
for the last couple of years. He's living up to
that deal. So I do think there are examples that
we can point to of these big long term contracts.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Which but no one's saying risks, but no one's saying
they're not going to work for the next three, four,
five years. Right, it's year nine, ten, eleven, twelve, where
it's still fully guaranteed at a high dollar figure that
there's no way that payoff is going to be there.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Right, So you don't want to pay somebody to thirty six, Right, Well,
why do you say, Christian Walker's thirty three years old
and you just gave him a three year deal. You're
gonna be paying him when he's thirty six.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
Right, But I know in three years he's off the books.
The problem I have is paying the guy top dollar
on a twelve year deal where yes, for the next
five years he's going to be awesome, but then it
is going to suck on the back end of those
last five years where you can't get out of it.
There's nothing you could do about an old player who
can't hit anymore.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Yeah, you can't do anything about it. But also, I
mean you could you just basically have the jose B
Bray you him and what you're saying to yourself.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
You don't get that money back.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
They're saying that the revenues are going to go up
to a point because at the end of the Pooh
Hooles deal, what was he making. I don't even know.
Twenty five million dollars or thirty like that wasn't as
much money by the end of that deal that it was.
So I'm with you. I get Jim Crane and what
he's saying as far as is I don't want to
sign these long term deals. But to me, yeah, you don't, Okay,
(06:44):
I don't want Alex Bregman here till he's thirty six,
thirty seven. Well, Christian Walker's going to be here till
he's thirty six. Josea Brady was here till he was
like thirty seven.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
So I mean, but it was Nan Walker till he's forty, Like,
that's stupid.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
You wouldn't do that. Of course you wouldn't do that.
And I don't think outside look signing one Soto till
he's forty one, that deal is absurd. Right, How old
is show i Otani going to be at the end
of that deal? I don't know. And what you're doing
is you're overpaying for the prime of that player. Saying
Alex Bregman at this point in his prime, slightly underpaid,
(07:16):
and then at the end of the contract he's going
to be over So what.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
You're saying instead of going instead of signing an eight
year deal, it's sixty million a year, which would cripple
you in this term of in terms of luxury taxing,
all this. If they're spranging it out to a twelve
year deal, I'm just like, that's such a bad investment
down the road. Like again, like if it works out
for you next six years and you might win one
World Series, you'll say, probably it was worth it. But
(07:39):
I just can't envision and get to the back six
years of that deal and you go, oh god, what
do we do. Our franchise is cripple because we're having
to pay this guy so much money.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Yeah, it's things we don't know, and it's games that
Jim Carton Crane can't He's not playing the same game
that the Dodgers and Yankees are playing. I'm totally one
hundred percent flexibility.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
That flexibility, you you.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Lose a little bit of, Yeah, what you're talking about
with long term flexibility. Christian Walker thirty three years old.
You were able to sign him to a three year deal.
You plug in holes as you find them, and you
build from within. The problem that the Astros have and
the task that Dana Brown has been tasked with is
is making all this happen and plugging those holes without
a crop of prospects coming not only to come up
(08:17):
to the major league level, but allow you to trade
away guys when you got teams like the Dodgers have
been hable to have it a top five farm system
in the last several years and the Yankees been a
top ten pharmcist in the last several years. That affords
you so much more when you have prospects and unlimited money. Yeah,
it's tough, and it's no accident that both of them
were in the World Series.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
I think that's why Data Brown was hired. Yes, you know,
it's not because he's man. He's going to be this
awesome GM is going to make trade deadline deals and
all this, which again the Cakuchie trade did work out,
and I think Dana Brown gets a lot of credit
for that. But he was brought into reffix this farm
system and that's what he was very highly thought of
in the Braves organization as a scout and I was
(08:58):
talking to Taylor Roam about this over the holiday. He
agrees with me, the repercussions of losing those draft picks
from signs stealing gate really didn't hurt hurt the Astros.
Let's hurt them way more. And I get people baseball
draft you know all the time, but losing first and
second round picks in two straight years that really hurt
(09:18):
his farm system huge. And then you gave up your
top outfield prospect for to bring back Justin Verlander two
years ago. Like there's things you've done that are like, wait,
we're supposed to be restocking the pharm system here, not
depleting it even more. And so that combined with Dana
Brown and his drafts and and so far, so good,
these last two drafts have looked all sides pointing to
(09:40):
them being pretty good drafts. Like people think very highly
of the players that they've they've drafted. You need more
of that from Dana. But the other one ross is
the international and Oz Campo and all those guys they
had for years did a great job of signing these
Dominican prospects and the guys from Puerto Rico and all this,
and it's funny. Every now and then you'll see it'll
pop up on your Twitter time. It's like Astros assigned
(10:01):
seventeen year old prospect from Cuba, and it's like, you
don't really hear, like we'll see, Like time's gonna tell
on those guys. But that's what it feels like. The
Astros and Jim Credit and Dana Brown are banking on
is over the next two, three, four, five years, is
hitting on those national international prospects and continue to build
through the farm system in the draft. Yeah, you have to,
(10:22):
you almost have to.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Yeah, and back to what you're talking about, those first
and second round picks like that has huge value to
your farm system and also has a few huge value
in trades to where like think about this, when you
hear somebody mentioned in trade, you're like, oh, guys, a
first round pick, Okay, we must have some value you miss,
You know you you can dangle those to other teams
as well, even if they're not going to help you
at the major league level. So an absolute significant hit
(10:44):
to the building of this franchise long term. So don't
listen to those idiots like Astros didn't even get punished
for the cheating scandal.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Shut up. So we're trying to catch everybody up on
and since we last talk, so we did the Kyle
Tucker trade, yes by Kyle Tucker Farewell when you interviewed
them met Fanfoam almost a year ago. I think we did. Yeah, yeah,
we had him on and talked about it. He just got
married and all this. It is funny though they think
that the guy who barely talks is gonna be the
face of the Times and the cupshuh.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Not the most charismatic guy in the microphone, but that's
who cares if he goes out there and he gets you.
He's gold Glove caliber and right field thirty thirty threat
every single year. I'm not gonna go Some people call
him a five tool player, but one of those tools
is hitting for average, and he's like two seventy five
ish whatever, So it's I don't know where you cut
off the tool as far as the batting average, but
(11:33):
four and a half tool player. Yeah, he's really good.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Well on the other part of the syst too. I
was reading article the other day the Cups may not
sign like he may get bigger bucks from somewhere else,
like they've not locked in on him.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
He's getting paid.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
So then it looks really bad at the Cubs. You
gave up Cam Smith, a great prospect and these players,
and it'll make the Astros look even smarter of yeah,
we weren't gonna pay him, and we got some stuff
with value in the cups. Don't even keep him.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
It depends. We'll see. We'll see how good cam Syth is.
He's a highly thought of expect the Top Hunt every year.
Every year, top one hundred guys don't pan.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Out, Yeah, no, no doubt. So okay, so timeline so
that Kyle Tucker gets rid. The next thing that came
out was a potential from Bervaldez trade. That rumor came
out there. Dana Brown kind of downplayed it, and it
looks like at this point Ross that's not gonna happen.
Frober is going to go into his final year of arbitration.
He's going to play out this year with the Astros.
To me, this is a monumental year for from Bravaldez.
(12:25):
He has got to play like the ace that he
can be and has been at times, and when Justin
Verlander was hurt and then when Justin Verlander left, Frober
has elevated, but I cannot get the last two postseasons
out of my head of from Berveldez.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
So yeah, he was batting twenty one in the postseason
as well.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
So I almost thinking like, he's got to have an
awesome regular season again and he's got to help lead
this Astros team to the postseason and at least win
a game in the postseason if he wants that big contract, now,
will that be from the Astros, will it be from
somebody else? Time will tell. But where are you on
fromert Valdez.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Yeah, I look I like him as a pitcher. I
think he does get a little bit too much flak
for being the meltdown type of guy, because he really
settled in after that game against the Angels where he
gave up those three home runs and he had eight
turned runs in the middle of the seed. I don't
know it was May or whatever it was. After that game,
he really settled in. He was the ace of this staff,
(13:23):
and the Astros don't make it without him and Yusa Kakuchi.
The Astros don't make it into the postseason this past year.
That being set, I would have reservations about signing him
to a very long term deal, because there has been
talk about his the level of seriousness of his commitment
to baseball long term and the things that we have
(13:47):
seen where he is prone to blow ups here and there,
but he's also he's a guy that can go out
there and he can throw you no hitter, but he
can also go out there and give up seven runs
and two and the thirds, and he has had some
bad postseason starts. So I really like from er Valdez.
Do I want the Astros to sign him to a
long term deal. The answer to that question would be okay.
At how much, At what his market might command, I
(14:08):
would say no, And I would be okay with the
Astros in theory. In theory, I would be okay with
them trading him in this offseason if you're trading Tucker
and Valdez and saying we're kind of doing a hard reset.
But that's not what the Astros are doing. The Astros
are trying to do it all right now.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
And with the pitching injuries you still have with Hovey
Air and company, like you need from, you need from
like you can't, you can't. You can't start this season
without him. He's got to be at the front end.
The other thing that almost happened but didn't Nolan Arenado,
and we're going down the timeline here. This was the
next thing that the Astros were rumored that they were
a serious suitor for Nolan Arnado and apparently had a
(14:44):
deal in place to bring him to Houston, and it
was going to be very interesting because of the seventy
four million left on his contract, the Astros were only
going to pay him like fifteen million of that. So yes,
Aging Superstar who you knows, numbers have dipped a little bit,
but it wasn't gonna call much. But it was also
the next sign of ross of oh they're bringing Paradus
(15:04):
and the Tucker trade and now they're looking at Ronado.
These reports of still talking with Bregman seemed to be, hey,
we're we're still talking to Bregman, but we're also kind
of turning the page here.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Yeah, I think the page turned, especially with not only
the Aeronaudo talks and with the Christian Walker signing that
that certainly has changed. Are the page has turned, as
you said, But it also just begs the question like
what is the Astro's aim? What are they trying to do?
Because trading when Kyle Tucker says, all right, we're not
necessarily trying to compete this year. We'll see you in
(15:37):
a couple of years, because you're trading away an all
Star caliber player thirty thirty threat gold Glover, but then
signing Christian Walker says okay, we're going all in for
this season, so and then trading for all oh Nolan
Arnado says, okay, we're going all in for this season.
But as you said, I if they if they're getting paid,
I think Colorado paying some of it for Saint Louis
and then maybe Saint Louis paying some more as well.
(15:59):
Then that means you're probably giving away prospects. So are
you trying to gather prospects and compete in the next
couple of years or you're trading them away like fel
They're zigging and zagging this offseason. So I don't know
exactly what's going on with these Astros team, but the
bottom line does seem like they are trying to compete
next year while giving away Kyle Tucker, which is pretty crazy.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
By the way, this is the Crawford Box Cast presented
by Carbock Brewing. Make sure you guys are loaded up,
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summer to be out there.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
Car Bach is a great cold weather beer.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
Yeah, no, I agree, Stile And look, you put a jackey,
go sit out in the beer garden. You can go
inside in the restaurant. They got the new pizza place
over there as well, pizza and pints. So plenty of
great stuff going on over there Carbock Brewing. All right,
So then we get to Nolan Arnatto declines the trade.
He had a what do you call it? No treuse? Yeah,
And ultimately from people I talked to was it wasn't
(17:04):
he was opposed to coming to the Astros. That's what
people jumped the headline off. See he knows the Astros
that are dumpster fire. He didn't even want to come here. No,
he was more taking a hardline the Cardinals going, wait,
you guys didn't even talk to me about this. Y'all
went and talked to Jim Dana Brown, who worked out
this deal, and you didn't even ask if I was
okay with it, ignoring the fact I have a new
trade clause. So the rumor was like he was still
(17:26):
open to talk talking about going to the Astros. He
just wanted to have a sit down and talk with
the Cardinals, going, look, let's talk about this, guys. You
don't go behind my back and make a trade. I'm
on vacation with my family right now. So the Astros
avery quickly pivot and go all right, if there are
Nino things not going to go down. Christian Walker's name
comes up, and he's a guy who's been very successful,
great hitter, and it's a pivot, right. They put out
(17:47):
the qualifying or not qualifying offer, but they put out
an offer for Bregman that they thought was pretty reasonable, which,
by the way, what were the dollar the last offer
that they had for Bregmant?
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Was it for sure?
Speaker 3 (17:58):
Was? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Six fifty six or five? And that's one.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
People were like laughing at that offer, and I'm going, wait,
you can laugh at it, but at the same time,
we can acknowledge it. Would be the biggest deal the
Astros have ever given out as a franchise. So, like,
I think we poop poop some of this stuff because
we get these numbers and these fingers in our heads
because why because Scott Boris puts it on our head.
Scott Boris goes, yeah, that guy will make this. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
But just because it's the biggest contract in Nationals history
doesn't mean it's a good deal. It's that deal is
a slap in the face. He's gonna get much more
than that, I think. I don't think it's but he
still sits here waiting it's five Yeah. Well, I could
have just about guarantee you he's gonna get more what
you're gonna get more from somebody else. I mean, come on.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
But also, let's consider when he signs that deal, what's
he paying in state taxes to that team and all that.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
You know, the A's just signed their biggest free agent
contract too, and it was like sixty million dollars. Just
because they're spending the biggest they've ever signed doesn't mean
it's good money.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
Saying we have to put it in perspective sometimes.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Too, he's gonna get more from somebody else.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
It would have been goody. It's life changing money regardless.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Yeah, well that's up to Alex Present to decide how much.
You know, he signed it.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
But I did say when I saw he was buying
the race horses in Kentucky and private jetting up pensive,
I said, he ain't taking no hometown and the second
baby on the way. He needs as much money.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
You got to feed these things, yes, stud fees, I mean,
my god, horse he loves. Also, got that guy Bafford,
whatever was that guy Bafford is like training his horses.
You know how much that guy probably cost.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
Bragman's also a huge UFC fan. Loves to hop on
private jets to Vegas all the time, get the fights in.
He's got to move around, you know, trips to Albuquerque.
You know, I gotta fly into the private airport.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
They hittling mid salsa.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
And you got the Hey, it's decent, it's mid it's decent.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Sorry soul.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
Yes, well it was Bruggy Baum.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
And then it was taking off so hard they changed
the name.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Well it's because they borrowed from the lady in Albuquerque.
It was her recipe or something. Well, she needs to
spruce it up and then I think that Paul walls
Tequila in at some point. I don't know, but regardless,
Bragman's doing very well. We'll see where he ends up.
But anyway, they asked to us bring in Christian Walker,
who also the I feel like this doesn't got talked
to often about enough. He declined a qualifying offer from
the Diamondbacks. With the deal getting done, Houston will lose
(20:10):
its second and fifth highest draft picks in the twenty
twenty five draft, but they will get a cop pick
after their fourth round once pregnant signs with somebody. But
you're gonna lose your second round pick for Christian Walker.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
Okay, Like that's like, why do we make sense? Why
couldn't they kill I got it? I got a crazy theory.
How why didn't they keep Tucker ansign Christian Walker? I
would really feel good about this team coming.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Up this year, But then you let Tucker walk for
nothing after this year?
Speaker 1 (20:38):
Get you get a compensatory pick? Yeah, but it would
be down the road.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
If Cam Smith is a future star, then yeah, but
three years sixty million for Christian Walker? Look I like
it again.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
This is it's fine.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
This's a guy who can hit. You need and especially
this was the big takeaway Ross. Did you see the
spray charts for both Christian Walker and ESOC Paratus. Oh,
let's go baby boxes in they call a short portion
and left field it is short in that it's in,
not short in that it's three feet off the ground
like the Yankees right field is it's yeah, it's it's
(21:14):
the projection, say Parites and Walker should be crushing bombs
to left field this year.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
Love it. Well, that's what Alex Bregman did. Yep, he's not,
you know, not a super high exit vl O guy.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
Not.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
I don't think he hit a whole lot of four
hundred foot bombs. But hey, so Isaac, He's like, Paratus
can do it, Christian Walker can do it. Let's go
get home field advantage of the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Yeah, so twenty million each of the next three years
for Christian Walker. I feel like it's pretty sid Like,
if you're an Astros fan you had a Bregman jersey
or Tucker jersey, I think you can pivot for Christian
Walker jersey. I think it's a pretty safe bet he's
going to be here for the next three years years.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
No, you want Jersey long term? Can do you do
aw two of age where it's the rest of your life.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
Well, that's actually smart investment. Should have been that. Yeah,
I mean if you really wanted a player for the Verlanders,
whatever jerseys you've bought over the years, the Altuve was
always the safe one. Now granted Brugman was too. In
twenty seventeen, I bought a Bregman and got nice seven years.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
Yeah, he got some good years. And that's also he's
Astro for life to me. I mean, he'll he'll be.
You can put him in the Astros Hall of Fame.
So that's a fun question.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
But if he comes back here as a Yankee, you
boo the hell out of him.
Speaker 1 (22:21):
I guess you go with jord On if you're picking
a year, Well he's twenty seven.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Yeah, probably still a safe bet though, is No, he's
gone after arbitration.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
Signing him long term.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
Sure, but he'll be around here because after catching he
can be a first basement or DH.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
How old is how old is Hunter Brown? You can
get a Hunter Brown jersey.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Yeah, probably probably a safe one there as well. So
those are the big acquisitions that have happened for the
Astros since since we last talked here on the Crawford
Box Cast. Uh, some other questions still prevail. And here
we are a couple weeks from the Astros hitting spring training.
What do you think happens with Ryan Presley? As of yesterday,
Chandler Room said the CBT remains an issue for the Astros,
(23:03):
who are still shopping set up man Ryan Pressing. If
they can't move him, there are a couple other players
they could make available to create some space and then
at externally. That's what sucks, is like this whole luxury
tax thing you're trying to avoid, you're still in the CBT.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Yeah, that's that's what I said, Like, that's why I
was confused why they keep zigging and zagging this offseason
and trading away Ryan Pressy. You're gonna have to offer
some money with that, and that doesn't matter to the CBD.
So as long as you get him off and you
get him off the books and you go with cash
considerations and all that type of stuff, they're gonna have
to pay somebody for some for like a low level prospect.
(23:40):
So they if they want to get him off the
payroll bad enough, they're gonna to pay somebody to take
him and get very minimum coming back.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
Yeah, it just sucks because he's still he's still a
good picture good but man, it was like there were
a few moments last year I was like, God, you
knew him coming in. I think you would always tweet
it out how we feel it's not good ross because
we know he's giving up a run.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
He was normally good if it was a three run.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Lead and he gives up a solo homer and he
leaves with a two run lead, Okay, I feel good. Yeah,
but when he came in in a tie game or
one run lead, suddenly that one run lead, you're in
a tie game.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
Yeah, he's thirty five years old. Didn't trust his fastball
the last two years. Curveball is still elite, one of
the best in baseballs for in terms of coming out
of the hand of relievers and spin rating, all in
shape and all that stuff. But he just to me, yeah, good,
not great. Maybe you feel you're feeling a little bit
better about the back end of the bullpen with what
Brian a Bray, who has done back to back years
(24:35):
now with Josh Hater, I think he'll stabilize, he'll be
he'll have a bounce back year for the Astros. You're
getting Kendall Graveman back Bennett Sue's other guys in the
back end of this bullpen.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
And.
Speaker 1 (24:47):
You're trying to say under the CBT. So Ryan Presley
like you don't love you, he's got to go.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
And Josh Hater need you to be nails again. He
had a nice long stretch last year where he got
back to being.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
Seven six twenty seven. Save opportunity, he saves it. He
wasn't as bad again. He wasn't as bad as people said.
Ryan Presley wasn't as bad as people said either, but
he has to They both would have to have be better.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
This is from Chandler Roum at The Athletic. He said,
the Astros trying to control payroll this year, which is
bloated by thirty one million in dead money to Rafael
Montero and Jose braw Thank you Jeff Bagwell for that one.
But he goes on to say, I mean, he says,
where the Astros would want to buy out majority of
Presley's fourteen million dollars salary, they could, and some other
(25:29):
teams would be interested. But it should be noted the
Astros wan to be contenders this year and they are
still in search of another leverage reliever. So like if
you get rid of Ryan Presley, you still have to
replace him. We have to find another high leverage reliever.
So just kind of an interesting one. And then of
course the quandary with the outfield. I've seen so many
people bring up, you know, names like Anthony Santander and
(25:52):
pieces that are out there. Guys, what part of they
were up against the CBT? Do you not understand? You
can't just ask a does Santander want to come play
for free? Then yes, let's at him. But there's no
way to shift this thing. I mean, if you could
find a way for jose Bray, you to, hey, do
you mind cutting to check the Santown Darra off the books?
Just to get him over here brace. But that's just
the tough part. And I think ross the reality of
(26:14):
as we'll talk about as we get in the spring
training here for real soon, the reality is there going
to be leaning on Jake Myers and Chas McCormick to
perform this year yep.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
And the question is going to become when does Jacob
Melton become ready? And how much cow productive can Zach
Dezenzo be in the outfield and then Mariso Dubon in
the mix. I mean, you've got bodies.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
Oh and the other party they brought up. They don't
want your on playing left field. They think his injury
history here is marked to him playing more outfield, so
they want to pull way back on that.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
Yeah, but deservedly so. You need him in the lineup.
Somehow he was hurting the playoffs and you gotta do something.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
It's not the same man, Like there was a stretch
where he was the most feared, Like when that dude
came up to the bat in the postseason, you just
knew good things were going to happen.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
And get him back at DH, let's go.
Speaker 3 (27:02):
I think that's I think that's the move. Some other
moves here the Astros in recent weeks. In fact, just today,
the Astro signed infielder Zach Short to a minor league
deal as two hundred nineteen games a major league experience
across the past four seasons with Detroit, Boston, Atlanta. The
Mets Chandler says, presume the deal conteens and n R
I to big league non roster, invite you a big
(27:25):
league spring training and the Chandlers say confirmed, it does
include that. So Zach Short could be a guy. They're
just yeah, they're looking for well that's his last name.
They're looking for extra bodies. And to me, God blessed
John Singleton. It was a good story for a good
stretch last year. But like, if we got to rely
(27:45):
on him as the primary backup to Christian Walker at first,
I don't know, man, I'd almost rather be giving the
Shay Whitcombs and the those Zach Dezenzo and those guys opportunities.
Because here's the thing, we know what Singleton is at
this point in his career. We don't know what some
of these pro specs are.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
Zach Short is twenty nine years old. I'm just looking
up now because I you know, i'd heard the deal,
but I hadn't really looked him up. Twenty nine years old,
career war of negative point two and career average of
one sixty seven with a five sixty five fifty six
ops and about five hundred and thirty eight played appearances.
That's that's about a season's worth.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
Well, I just looked back on last year's.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
Spring bas is decent for a guy that doesn't hit
at all.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
Look back on last year's spring training roster, there was
one body. There were some guys they took chances on
and you know it didn't really.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
What's been gamble up to he coming back. He's a
free age Jason Heyward.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
Who was the guy that we liked that they got
from the Angels that Dana Brown really liked.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
Oh, Trey Cabbage.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
Cabbage, Yeah, he's he's signed elsewhere.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
Dana Brown was talking up Jake Trey Cabbage in the
off season. The guy had a thirty thirty season in
the minor leagues, but he's quadruple a player.
Speaker 3 (28:54):
And you know, you just kind of look back at
it hindsight. Look, you say Kakuchi was awesome, You really
would like to have low Praffito in this mix. Wouldn't
you kind of be competing for that outfield.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
Strikeout king I'm not talking about Cocucci. Yeah, look, we'll
see what happens and what works out with that. But
they had to do something. They don't make the playoffs
without you, say, Kakucci, you had to get into the playoffs.
You had to step one to winning our world's areas
is getting into the playoffs. They wouldn't have done it
without him, So I understand why they did what they did.
I'm still not going to crush that deal and we
(29:26):
we unfortunately have to move on life post Joey Loperffito,
who struggled mightily as a as a Toronto Blue Jay.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
What if pedro Leone crushes in spring hacking?
Speaker 1 (29:37):
Speaking of quadruple players, thanks for bringing him up.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
I mean you lost Corey Joelks.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
He was I got a week up here and they're like,
oh yeah, never mind, we're good.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
The good news is And just kind of thinking back
on this time, literally your ago ross was we were
talking about. Yeah, probably at some point this year we'll
see Spencer Arraghetty. Look at what Spencer came for you.
I mean, I'm at a disastrous first month, but man healed.
And the same thing with Hudner Brown, the disaster start
to the season, but really locked in it became very Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
Right now, if you're going with fromber Renel Blanco Arraghetti
Hunter Brown, as you mentioned, that's a start one that's
a solid one through four.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
This point a year ago, we did not know what
he was going to be.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
So yeah, I feel like I feel like starting pitching
can be good and then hopefully get better. Of course,
what's gonna happen with Lance mcullors junior than than Luis
carci is of the world, those guys, but you're not
necessarily counting on those.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
The sad mccullors. His name has become a punch line.
But if he comes back, dude, and he's ready to
go from spring, he could be back in.
Speaker 1 (30:37):
The Colors Island.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
Baby.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
You could come to mc collor's island with me, baby,
And when he when he's healthy.
Speaker 3 (30:42):
He's good.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
It's just been a couple of years. Of course, that's
a big win. He's been healthy is the big if
we can get to that. We got plenty of time
to talk of the offseason. But then Hayden was an esky.
I mean you have Dana Brown saying he is going
to be a starter.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
Yeah, and he was. He was a starter slash bullpen guy,
and he was pretty good as a starter.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
Like early. He's got one I think I can't remember
what breaking ball. It is really good. He's got a
good sinker. So, I mean, the Astros have transformed pictures
in the Astros, I trust when it comes to bringing
pictures with good stuff, having them make the right pitch
mix and Dana Brown saying we're going to put him
in the plug him into a starting role. I'm excited
to see what Hayden Wizness can do.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
All right. Two more things as who were app up
is January seventh prediction on where Bregman ends.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Up Detroit Tiger's.
Speaker 3 (31:27):
It sounds like Detroit and Boston have still kind of
been They kept lines of communication going. Some people thrown
out there. Maybe the Mets, you know, could make a
move because they just have stupid, unending money. But to me,
I love the poeticness of aj Hinch reuniting with Bregman
in Detroit while they've got this upcoming team.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
Now.
Speaker 3 (31:45):
I don't like that they outsaid the astrosut of the
playoffs last year. I wasn't down with that crap, But
it is kind of funny. It looks that looked a
little bit like fifteen astros Ross where it was like, oh,
they're starting to bring up some of these prospects. Everything's
starting to click. The bringing the veteran Bregman the pair
with that Detroit might have something.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
Yeah. I also think it's no accident those two are
in the mix. When we've we've talked about Alex Regman's
value on the field, and is off the field. We
I mean Taylor Scott with you the comments about how
he does better things in his his scouting reports against
with opposing hitters than he had seen even from the
team themselves. Being the guy that goes into those mound
visits that leadership setting the tone in the clubhouse. No
(32:24):
accident that aj hanch and Alex Korra are big on
bringing Bregman to their clubs.
Speaker 3 (32:28):
Yeah, and by the way, this was from Bob Nightingale
said the Astros they offered Bregman six years, one fifty
six and those talks stalled. But he is drawing plenty
of interest, but not at that two hundred million dollar
price range that he had out there. So Red Sox
and Detroit Tigers could certainly sign him. They're not going
to sign him to that much, but they're in the mix. Lastly,
(32:50):
Ross one Jack Peterson Journeyman has played for many of
different teams. He was signed last week by the Texas Rangers,
and at his press conference, as they introduced to Man,
he put on his Rangers jersey. New Texas Ranger Jack
Peterson said, quote, you know, we played the Astros in
the World Series in twenty twenty one. When I was
with the Braves. They put together a nice little run.
(33:10):
But it's coming to an end. It's time for us
to take over the West. Are you buying that the
Texas Rangers are about to take over the Ale West?
Speaker 1 (33:20):
It could happen. They almost won it two years ago.
I mean, if their arms get healthy. They signed Nathan
Valdi back. De Gram should be good. Maybe you get
a Doulas Garcia back on that good stuff. Corey Seeker
has a bounce back year. I don't know about Marcus Simian,
he's too old. They'll be they'll be West contenders. But
(33:40):
coming out and saying yeah, it's time to whatever take
it over from them, that's that's we'll see.
Speaker 3 (33:45):
Yeah. And just for accuracy accuracy sake, the Astros have
won the Al Wes four straight years at seven of
the last eight. Really, the only one was that stupid
COVID you know where the A's won it.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
Sixty game season doesn't count.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
But last the last seven full seasons, the Astros have
won the AL West. Uh. The Rangers last one in
fifteen and sixteen, so it has been quite a while.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
I'm feeling feeling very spoiled right now. That's awesome.
Speaker 3 (34:11):
Yeah, and look and everybody the way some Asters fans
are talking down about this team, It's like, dude, like,
can we take a step back and appreciate what you've
had here like this, Like it's like that New Rich
where we're like, oh, we don't al wes, we crap
on those titles. Who cares about.
Speaker 1 (34:27):
Fans are somehow already spoiled, wanting them to make big
trades to win the championship. Texans fans are already spoiled
ten and seven and and oh ten and seven and
come in division champions This team sucks. Like all right,
let's everybody relax and remember the bad times we went
through with all of these franchises.
Speaker 3 (34:43):
Oh, I'm just learning that essak Paratus's nickname is Lt. Gray.
I like that tiger.
Speaker 1 (34:47):
Oh we al you guys, gotta like that.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
We replace Alex Bregman the Tiger with.
Speaker 1 (34:51):
Oh with a literal L. I like that.
Speaker 3 (34:54):
Let's go appreciate it. Can't wait to hear his first
appearance on The Matt Thomas Show with you guys.
Speaker 1 (34:58):
I should be fantastic.
Speaker 3 (35:00):
Do you speaking Spanish? Uhito, We'll have to work on
that if we're gonna have By the way, Frobber has
gotten better with it. Day ought to Robert. Let's push it, man,
let's get you, Let's get you on the radio doing
an interview. He could do it.
Speaker 1 (35:20):
That's not hold our breath.
Speaker 3 (35:21):
I'm gonna miss my guy host Arkety though. He was
our well, he was our first guest that ship Spanish speaker. Yeah, no,
Katy was great. Man, he was. He was awesome and uh,
we're gonna wish him.
Speaker 1 (35:31):
Which the MARTINELO would come on.
Speaker 3 (35:33):
Yeah, he was good. Not so much yet mm hmm. Yeah,
we need to brush up on the sports.
Speaker 1 (35:42):
Brian bred you came on. He said he's been working
on his English.
Speaker 3 (35:44):
Brian Brady is really good. He doesn't like doing interviews though.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
A nice guy though.
Speaker 3 (35:49):
Yeah, but he's a nice guy. I'm like, why you're good?
He's good. We'll see.
Speaker 1 (35:52):
Will he be on Astro's Fan Fast in a couple
of weeks.
Speaker 3 (35:54):
We'll see. So that's the last thing I wanted to
plug and promote to you guys. We will be out
at Astro's FanFest in just a couple of weeks. We'll
be interviewing some of these players, and of course we'll
bring you some of the best of those interviews right
here on the Crawford Box Cast presented by Carbrock Burwing.
January twenty fifth, out at Astros fan Fest at Minute Mate.
If you have not gotten your ticket yet, they're doing
things a little bit different this year. You have to
claim your ticket online. I think it's two dollars per
(36:16):
ticket and all proceeds will go to the Astros Foundation.
And then anything else, any of the add ons you
want to do. It's like, I don't know, forty bucks
to take BP or you know, thirty five bucks to
take a picture or all this. So they got all
kinds of add ons you can do, but they are
charging two dollars this year for the ticket, but again,
proceeds go to the Astros Foundation. So check that out
(36:37):
or at astros dot com. And certainly while you were
checking out and get ready for the start of spring training,
make sure you guys are loading up on plenty of
Crawford Bock from our friends at car Bock Brewing. And
if you're looking for a spot to watch some of
the NFL playoff games or enjoy some of the great
festivals they've got going on over the next couple of weeks.
All these great bands and entertainment and fun stuff going
on over there at Carbock Brewing and their beer garden,
(37:00):
And certainly if you haven't tried pizza and pints yet,
you need to do that. Some really good tasty pizzas
with all the great delicious beers that they have, including
the Crawford Bock on tap out there at Carbock Borrowing.
Make sure you go check them out and have a
little fun as we get in the new year. It
is twenty twenty five, an all new edition of the
Crawford box Cast for Ross Varel. I'm Chris Gordy. We'll
(37:20):
talk to you guys very very soon right here on
the Crawford box Cast
Astros fans, cheers.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Wacky Lucky, Welcome to the Crawford Box Cast. Proud leapord
for you by Crawford Bach from Carmack Brewy.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
You're getting that bear?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Oh my godness, The Crawford Box Cast starts now here
we go.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Here's Chris Gordy and Ross viareal and it is an
all new edition of the Crawford box Cast, Off Season Edition,
presented by Carback Burring and the Crawford Bach. Of course,
hopefully you guys have been enjoying plenty of tasty Crawford
Box throughout this football season. This college football is coming
to an end. The NFL playoffs are upon us, and
(00:52):
that means Ross I was looking at schedules today. It's
looking like a little over a month, about five weeks from.
Pitchers and catchers reports. Us are mean that close, yes,
five weeks away. Wow, it's January fourteenth, somewhere. Typically around
February twelve. February fourteenth, pitchers and catcher's report. Within five
to seven days after that, position players report, and then
(01:13):
we're playing spring training games.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
So before we know it, we'll be back into the
twenty twenty five campaign.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
And so much has happened raw since we last talked,
and we had the MLB Winter Meetings go down, and
we got to first start off with we will get
to Alex Bregnan, who as of this recording still remains
a free agent, still is available out there. But the
big blockbuster trade that the Astros made in trading away
start outfielder Kyle Tucker. Take me back when you heard
(01:43):
that it was potential, remember, like it was like a rumor, like, oh,
Dana Brown mentioned, oh they could trade Kyle Tucker, they
could do this, and you kind of knew it could
be on the table in that all Right, he's asking
for big money. It looks like they're not going to
be that team to give him that big fat contract
next year, So why not get ahead of this and
flip him and see what you can get if you
(02:04):
can get a good trade. We know at the trade
deadline last year, the Astros are very interested in Esok
Parades from the Rays who went to the Cubs. They
really tried to get him then, and they end up
making this trade with the Chicago Cubs. They get infielder
Escoc Paratus, who is a third baseman but can play first.
Hayden was Nesky, who was a pitcher from the Houston area,
(02:27):
and prospect Cam Smith who was one of the top
infield prospects third base prospects in baseball and now becomes
the astros top prospect. But immediate reaction when all that
went down.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Yeah, I would say surprised, but it felt like it
was coming together. Well, I would say when we first
started to hear it coming together, it was something that
we'd been talking about and something that we discussed as
far as a possibility. But then it started to heat
up that there have been talks and there was this
team interested in that team interested, and then it when
(02:59):
it finally happened, it wasn't extremely shocking. But if A
were true, then B had to be true. A being
Jim Crane not going to get involved in markets of
players who are going to be signed to big money,
long term deals. We know that Kyle Tucker, when he
hits free agency, which he is, is going to get
(03:20):
a big time, long term deal. So moving forward with
the franchise, it made the most sense to try to
get the maximum amount of valuable value from him getting
signed away that you could, whether that be giving him
a qualified offer after next year, getting that value of
a twenty twenty five campaign and then getting a draft
pick from that. But the more immediate impact is guys
(03:42):
that can help you at the major league level with
escoc Paratus and Hayden Wisneski and then Cam Smith. Of course, now,
as you pointed out on Twitter when it happened, immediately
becomes the number one prospect in the astro system according
to the MLB pipeline. So I would say surprised, not shocked,
and the way the direction that the franchise needed to move.
(04:03):
If Jim Crane is going to continue to have this
hardline stance that he's not signing guys to long term contracts.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
Well, and look, I like the approach because what I
always say, you know, I prescribe ross to the old
mantra that you learn as a kid. You know, why'd
you do that stupid thing? Well, so and so is
doing it. Well, if he jumps off the bridge, are
you gonna jump to That's how I feel with a
lot of these gms. You have insane gms and owners
(04:29):
like the Mets owner is insane, He's got insane money.
The Dodgers ownership group apparently they don't even know what
money is they just spend spend like they just come
up with they put it all out there. Just because
these other teams give out stupid contracts does not mean
I have to. And somehow this evolves always ross into well,
that's the price of paying poker. That's that's the business,
(04:51):
that's how it works. I don't think giving out twelve
year contracts to anyone, maybe outside of Otani, is a
good investment, because any of them rulse. We're already seeing
how are not good investments.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Yeah, but I think if we go through the list
of them, a lot of them, it's a question of
do they regret this contract. Francisco Lindor led the entire
National League and wins above replacement last year he got
a big contract from the Mets. I don't think they
regret that. Right now. Bryce Harper has been living up
to his contract. Who are who are some of the
other famous Yeah, I'm talking about recent guys who have
been signed to big deals. I don't think the Yankees
(05:25):
are regretting the Garrett Cole deal. He's been their ace
for the last couple of years. He's living up to
that deal. So I do think there are examples that
we can point to of these big long term contracts.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Which but no one's saying risks, but no one's saying
they're not going to work for the next three, four,
five years. Right, it's year nine, ten, eleven, twelve, where
it's still fully guaranteed at a high dollar figure that
there's no way that payoff is going to be there.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Right, So you don't want to pay somebody to thirty six, Right, Well,
why do you say, Christian Walker's thirty three years old
and you just gave him a three year deal. You're
gonna be paying him when he's thirty six.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
Right, But I know in three years he's off the books.
The problem I have is paying the guy top dollar
on a twelve year deal where yes, for the next
five years he's going to be awesome, but then it
is going to suck on the back end of those
last five years where you can't get out of it.
There's nothing you could do about an old player who
can't hit anymore.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Yeah, you can't do anything about it. But also, I
mean you could you just basically have the jose B
Bray you him and what you're saying to yourself.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
You don't get that money back.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
They're saying that the revenues are going to go up
to a point because at the end of the Pooh
Hooles deal, what was he making. I don't even know.
Twenty five million dollars or thirty like that wasn't as
much money by the end of that deal that it was.
So I'm with you. I get Jim Crane and what
he's saying as far as is I don't want to
sign these long term deals. But to me, yeah, you don't, Okay,
(06:44):
I don't want Alex Bregman here till he's thirty six,
thirty seven. Well, Christian Walker's going to be here till
he's thirty six. Josea Brady was here till he was
like thirty seven.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
So I mean, but it was Nan Walker till he's forty, Like,
that's stupid.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
You wouldn't do that. Of course you wouldn't do that.
And I don't think outside look signing one Soto till
he's forty one, that deal is absurd. Right, How old
is show i Otani going to be at the end
of that deal? I don't know. And what you're doing
is you're overpaying for the prime of that player. Saying
Alex Bregman at this point in his prime, slightly underpaid,
(07:16):
and then at the end of the contract he's going
to be over So what.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
You're saying instead of going instead of signing an eight
year deal, it's sixty million a year, which would cripple
you in this term of in terms of luxury taxing,
all this. If they're spranging it out to a twelve
year deal, I'm just like, that's such a bad investment
down the road. Like again, like if it works out
for you next six years and you might win one
World Series, you'll say, probably it was worth it. But
(07:39):
I just can't envision and get to the back six
years of that deal and you go, oh god, what
do we do. Our franchise is cripple because we're having
to pay this guy so much money.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Yeah, it's things we don't know, and it's games that
Jim Carton Crane can't He's not playing the same game
that the Dodgers and Yankees are playing. I'm totally one
hundred percent flexibility.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
That flexibility, you you.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Lose a little bit of, Yeah, what you're talking about
with long term flexibility. Christian Walker thirty three years old.
You were able to sign him to a three year deal.
You plug in holes as you find them, and you
build from within. The problem that the Astros have and
the task that Dana Brown has been tasked with is
is making all this happen and plugging those holes without
a crop of prospects coming not only to come up
(08:17):
to the major league level, but allow you to trade
away guys when you got teams like the Dodgers have
been hable to have it a top five farm system
in the last several years and the Yankees been a
top ten pharmcist in the last several years. That affords
you so much more when you have prospects and unlimited money. Yeah,
it's tough, and it's no accident that both of them
were in the World Series.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
I think that's why Data Brown was hired. Yes, you know,
it's not because he's man. He's going to be this
awesome GM is going to make trade deadline deals and
all this, which again the Cakuchie trade did work out,
and I think Dana Brown gets a lot of credit
for that. But he was brought into reffix this farm
system and that's what he was very highly thought of
in the Braves organization as a scout and I was
(08:58):
talking to Taylor Roam about this over the holiday. He
agrees with me, the repercussions of losing those draft picks
from signs stealing gate really didn't hurt hurt the Astros.
Let's hurt them way more. And I get people baseball
draft you know all the time, but losing first and
second round picks in two straight years that really hurt
(09:18):
his farm system huge. And then you gave up your
top outfield prospect for to bring back Justin Verlander two
years ago. Like there's things you've done that are like, wait,
we're supposed to be restocking the pharm system here, not
depleting it even more. And so that combined with Dana
Brown and his drafts and and so far, so good,
these last two drafts have looked all sides pointing to
(09:40):
them being pretty good drafts. Like people think very highly
of the players that they've they've drafted. You need more
of that from Dana. But the other one ross is
the international and Oz Campo and all those guys they
had for years did a great job of signing these
Dominican prospects and the guys from Puerto Rico and all this,
and it's funny. Every now and then you'll see it'll
pop up on your Twitter time. It's like Astros assigned
(10:01):
seventeen year old prospect from Cuba, and it's like, you
don't really hear, like we'll see, Like time's gonna tell
on those guys. But that's what it feels like. The
Astros and Jim Credit and Dana Brown are banking on
is over the next two, three, four, five years, is
hitting on those national international prospects and continue to build
through the farm system in the draft. Yeah, you have to,
(10:22):
you almost have to.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Yeah, and back to what you're talking about, those first
and second round picks like that has huge value to
your farm system and also has a few huge value
in trades to where like think about this, when you
hear somebody mentioned in trade, you're like, oh, guys, a
first round pick, Okay, we must have some value you miss,
You know you you can dangle those to other teams
as well, even if they're not going to help you
at the major league level. So an absolute significant hit
(10:44):
to the building of this franchise long term. So don't
listen to those idiots like Astros didn't even get punished
for the cheating scandal.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Shut up. So we're trying to catch everybody up on
and since we last talk, so we did the Kyle
Tucker trade, yes by Kyle Tucker Farewell when you interviewed
them met Fanfoam almost a year ago. I think we did. Yeah, yeah,
we had him on and talked about it. He just got
married and all this. It is funny though they think
that the guy who barely talks is gonna be the
face of the Times and the cupshuh.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Not the most charismatic guy in the microphone, but that's
who cares if he goes out there and he gets you.
He's gold Glove caliber and right field thirty thirty threat
every single year. I'm not gonna go Some people call
him a five tool player, but one of those tools
is hitting for average, and he's like two seventy five
ish whatever, So it's I don't know where you cut
off the tool as far as the batting average, but
(11:33):
four and a half tool player. Yeah, he's really good.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Well on the other part of the syst too. I
was reading article the other day the Cups may not
sign like he may get bigger bucks from somewhere else,
like they've not locked in on him.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
He's getting paid.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
So then it looks really bad at the Cubs. You
gave up Cam Smith, a great prospect and these players,
and it'll make the Astros look even smarter of yeah,
we weren't gonna pay him, and we got some stuff
with value in the cups. Don't even keep him.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
It depends. We'll see. We'll see how good cam Syth is.
He's a highly thought of expect the Top Hunt every year.
Every year, top one hundred guys don't pan.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Out, Yeah, no, no doubt. So okay, so timeline so
that Kyle Tucker gets rid. The next thing that came
out was a potential from Bervaldez trade. That rumor came
out there. Dana Brown kind of downplayed it, and it
looks like at this point Ross that's not gonna happen.
Frober is going to go into his final year of arbitration.
He's going to play out this year with the Astros.
To me, this is a monumental year for from Bravaldez.
(12:25):
He has got to play like the ace that he
can be and has been at times, and when Justin
Verlander was hurt and then when Justin Verlander left, Frober
has elevated, but I cannot get the last two postseasons
out of my head of from Berveldez.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
So yeah, he was batting twenty one in the postseason
as well.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
So I almost thinking like, he's got to have an
awesome regular season again and he's got to help lead
this Astros team to the postseason and at least win
a game in the postseason if he wants that big contract, now,
will that be from the Astros, will it be from
somebody else? Time will tell. But where are you on
fromert Valdez.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Yeah, I look I like him as a pitcher. I
think he does get a little bit too much flak
for being the meltdown type of guy, because he really
settled in after that game against the Angels where he
gave up those three home runs and he had eight
turned runs in the middle of the seed. I don't
know it was May or whatever it was. After that game,
he really settled in. He was the ace of this staff,
(13:23):
and the Astros don't make it without him and Yusa Kakuchi.
The Astros don't make it into the postseason this past year.
That being set, I would have reservations about signing him
to a very long term deal, because there has been
talk about his the level of seriousness of his commitment
to baseball long term and the things that we have
(13:47):
seen where he is prone to blow ups here and there,
but he's also he's a guy that can go out
there and he can throw you no hitter, but he
can also go out there and give up seven runs
and two and the thirds, and he has had some
bad postseason starts. So I really like from er Valdez.
Do I want the Astros to sign him to a
long term deal. The answer to that question would be okay.
At how much, At what his market might command, I
(14:08):
would say no, And I would be okay with the
Astros in theory. In theory, I would be okay with
them trading him in this offseason if you're trading Tucker
and Valdez and saying we're kind of doing a hard reset.
But that's not what the Astros are doing. The Astros
are trying to do it all right now.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
And with the pitching injuries you still have with Hovey
Air and company, like you need from, you need from
like you can't, you can't. You can't start this season
without him. He's got to be at the front end.
The other thing that almost happened but didn't Nolan Arenado,
and we're going down the timeline here. This was the
next thing that the Astros were rumored that they were
a serious suitor for Nolan Arnado and apparently had a
(14:44):
deal in place to bring him to Houston, and it
was going to be very interesting because of the seventy
four million left on his contract, the Astros were only
going to pay him like fifteen million of that. So yes,
Aging Superstar who you knows, numbers have dipped a little bit,
but it wasn't gonna call much. But it was also
the next sign of ross of oh they're bringing Paradus
(15:04):
and the Tucker trade and now they're looking at Ronado.
These reports of still talking with Bregman seemed to be, hey,
we're we're still talking to Bregman, but we're also kind
of turning the page here.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Yeah, I think the page turned, especially with not only
the Aeronaudo talks and with the Christian Walker signing that
that certainly has changed. Are the page has turned, as
you said, But it also just begs the question like
what is the Astro's aim? What are they trying to do?
Because trading when Kyle Tucker says, all right, we're not
necessarily trying to compete this year. We'll see you in
(15:37):
a couple of years, because you're trading away an all
Star caliber player thirty thirty threat gold Glover, but then
signing Christian Walker says okay, we're going all in for
this season, so and then trading for all oh Nolan
Arnado says, okay, we're going all in for this season.
But as you said, I if they if they're getting paid,
I think Colorado paying some of it for Saint Louis
and then maybe Saint Louis paying some more as well.
(15:59):
Then that means you're probably giving away prospects. So are
you trying to gather prospects and compete in the next
couple of years or you're trading them away like fel
They're zigging and zagging this offseason. So I don't know
exactly what's going on with these Astros team, but the
bottom line does seem like they are trying to compete
next year while giving away Kyle Tucker, which is pretty crazy.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
By the way, this is the Crawford Box Cast presented
by Carbock Brewing. Make sure you guys are loaded up,
a plenty of plenty of Crawford Bach, great events always
going on over at Carbock Brewing. The beer garden. It's
actually right now it's a little too cold to be outside,
but it's going to start to get nicer again. Timp's
in the fifties and sixties and way better than those
ninety eights we were getting in the middle of the
summer to be out there.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
Car Bach is a great cold weather beer.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
Yeah, no, I agree, Stile And look, you put a jackey,
go sit out in the beer garden. You can go
inside in the restaurant. They got the new pizza place
over there as well, pizza and pints. So plenty of
great stuff going on over there Carbock Brewing. All right,
So then we get to Nolan Arnatto declines the trade.
He had a what do you call it? No treuse? Yeah,
And ultimately from people I talked to was it wasn't
(17:04):
he was opposed to coming to the Astros. That's what
people jumped the headline off. See he knows the Astros
that are dumpster fire. He didn't even want to come here. No,
he was more taking a hardline the Cardinals going, wait,
you guys didn't even talk to me about this. Y'all
went and talked to Jim Dana Brown, who worked out
this deal, and you didn't even ask if I was
okay with it, ignoring the fact I have a new
trade clause. So the rumor was like he was still
(17:26):
open to talk talking about going to the Astros. He
just wanted to have a sit down and talk with
the Cardinals, going, look, let's talk about this, guys. You
don't go behind my back and make a trade. I'm
on vacation with my family right now. So the Astros
avery quickly pivot and go all right, if there are
Nino things not going to go down. Christian Walker's name
comes up, and he's a guy who's been very successful,
great hitter, and it's a pivot, right. They put out
(17:47):
the qualifying or not qualifying offer, but they put out
an offer for Bregman that they thought was pretty reasonable, which,
by the way, what were the dollar the last offer
that they had for Bregmant?
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Was it for sure?
Speaker 3 (17:58):
Was? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Six fifty six or five? And that's one.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
People were like laughing at that offer, and I'm going, wait,
you can laugh at it, but at the same time,
we can acknowledge it. Would be the biggest deal the
Astros have ever given out as a franchise. So, like,
I think we poop poop some of this stuff because
we get these numbers and these fingers in our heads
because why because Scott Boris puts it on our head.
Scott Boris goes, yeah, that guy will make this. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
But just because it's the biggest contract in Nationals history
doesn't mean it's a good deal. It's that deal is
a slap in the face. He's gonna get much more
than that, I think. I don't think it's but he
still sits here waiting it's five Yeah. Well, I could
have just about guarantee you he's gonna get more what
you're gonna get more from somebody else. I mean, come on.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
But also, let's consider when he signs that deal, what's
he paying in state taxes to that team and all that.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
You know, the A's just signed their biggest free agent
contract too, and it was like sixty million dollars. Just
because they're spending the biggest they've ever signed doesn't mean
it's good money.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
Saying we have to put it in perspective sometimes.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Too, he's gonna get more from somebody else.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
It would have been goody. It's life changing money regardless.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Yeah, well that's up to Alex Present to decide how much.
You know, he signed it.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
But I did say when I saw he was buying
the race horses in Kentucky and private jetting up pensive,
I said, he ain't taking no hometown and the second
baby on the way. He needs as much money.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
You got to feed these things, yes, stud fees, I mean,
my god, horse he loves. Also, got that guy Bafford,
whatever was that guy Bafford is like training his horses.
You know how much that guy probably cost.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
Bragman's also a huge UFC fan. Loves to hop on
private jets to Vegas all the time, get the fights in.
He's got to move around, you know, trips to Albuquerque.
You know, I gotta fly into the private airport.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
They hittling mid salsa.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
And you got the Hey, it's decent, it's mid it's decent.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Sorry soul.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
Yes, well it was Bruggy Baum.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
And then it was taking off so hard they changed
the name.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Well it's because they borrowed from the lady in Albuquerque.
It was her recipe or something. Well, she needs to
spruce it up and then I think that Paul walls
Tequila in at some point. I don't know, but regardless,
Bragman's doing very well. We'll see where he ends up.
But anyway, they asked to us bring in Christian Walker,
who also the I feel like this doesn't got talked
to often about enough. He declined a qualifying offer from
the Diamondbacks. With the deal getting done, Houston will lose
(20:10):
its second and fifth highest draft picks in the twenty
twenty five draft, but they will get a cop pick
after their fourth round once pregnant signs with somebody. But
you're gonna lose your second round pick for Christian Walker.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
Okay, Like that's like, why do we make sense? Why
couldn't they kill I got it? I got a crazy theory.
How why didn't they keep Tucker ansign Christian Walker? I
would really feel good about this team coming.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Up this year, But then you let Tucker walk for
nothing after this year?
Speaker 1 (20:38):
Get you get a compensatory pick? Yeah, but it would
be down the road.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
If Cam Smith is a future star, then yeah, but
three years sixty million for Christian Walker? Look I like
it again.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
This is it's fine.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
This's a guy who can hit. You need and especially
this was the big takeaway Ross. Did you see the
spray charts for both Christian Walker and ESOC Paratus. Oh,
let's go baby boxes in they call a short portion
and left field it is short in that it's in,
not short in that it's three feet off the ground
like the Yankees right field is it's yeah, it's it's
(21:14):
the projection, say Parites and Walker should be crushing bombs
to left field this year.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
Love it. Well, that's what Alex Bregman did. Yep, he's not,
you know, not a super high exit vl O guy.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
Not.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
I don't think he hit a whole lot of four
hundred foot bombs. But hey, so Isaac, He's like, Paratus
can do it, Christian Walker can do it. Let's go
get home field advantage of the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Yeah, so twenty million each of the next three years
for Christian Walker. I feel like it's pretty sid Like,
if you're an Astros fan you had a Bregman jersey
or Tucker jersey, I think you can pivot for Christian
Walker jersey. I think it's a pretty safe bet he's
going to be here for the next three years years.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
No, you want Jersey long term? Can do you do
aw two of age where it's the rest of your life.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
Well, that's actually smart investment. Should have been that. Yeah,
I mean if you really wanted a player for the Verlanders,
whatever jerseys you've bought over the years, the Altuve was
always the safe one. Now granted Brugman was too. In
twenty seventeen, I bought a Bregman and got nice seven years.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
Yeah, he got some good years. And that's also he's
Astro for life to me. I mean, he'll he'll be.
You can put him in the Astros Hall of Fame.
So that's a fun question.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
But if he comes back here as a Yankee, you
boo the hell out of him.
Speaker 1 (22:21):
I guess you go with jord On if you're picking
a year, Well he's twenty seven.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Yeah, probably still a safe bet though, is No, he's
gone after arbitration.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
Signing him long term.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
Sure, but he'll be around here because after catching he
can be a first basement or DH.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
How old is how old is Hunter Brown? You can
get a Hunter Brown jersey.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Yeah, probably probably a safe one there as well. So
those are the big acquisitions that have happened for the
Astros since since we last talked here on the Crawford
Box Cast. Uh, some other questions still prevail. And here
we are a couple weeks from the Astros hitting spring training.
What do you think happens with Ryan Presley? As of yesterday,
Chandler Room said the CBT remains an issue for the Astros,
(23:03):
who are still shopping set up man Ryan Pressing. If
they can't move him, there are a couple other players
they could make available to create some space and then
at externally. That's what sucks, is like this whole luxury
tax thing you're trying to avoid, you're still in the CBT.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Yeah, that's that's what I said, Like, that's why I
was confused why they keep zigging and zagging this offseason
and trading away Ryan Pressy. You're gonna have to offer
some money with that, and that doesn't matter to the CBD.
So as long as you get him off and you
get him off the books and you go with cash
considerations and all that type of stuff, they're gonna have
to pay somebody for some for like a low level prospect.
(23:40):
So they if they want to get him off the
payroll bad enough, they're gonna to pay somebody to take
him and get very minimum coming back.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
Yeah, it just sucks because he's still he's still a
good picture good but man, it was like there were
a few moments last year I was like, God, you
knew him coming in. I think you would always tweet
it out how we feel it's not good ross because
we know he's giving up a run.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
He was normally good if it was a three run.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Lead and he gives up a solo homer and he
leaves with a two run lead, Okay, I feel good. Yeah,
but when he came in in a tie game or
one run lead, suddenly that one run lead, you're in
a tie game.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
Yeah, he's thirty five years old. Didn't trust his fastball
the last two years. Curveball is still elite, one of
the best in baseballs for in terms of coming out
of the hand of relievers and spin rating, all in
shape and all that stuff. But he just to me, yeah, good,
not great. Maybe you feel you're feeling a little bit
better about the back end of the bullpen with what
Brian a Bray, who has done back to back years
(24:35):
now with Josh Hater, I think he'll stabilize, he'll be
he'll have a bounce back year for the Astros. You're
getting Kendall Graveman back Bennett Sue's other guys in the
back end of this bullpen.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
And.
Speaker 1 (24:47):
You're trying to say under the CBT. So Ryan Presley
like you don't love you, he's got to go.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
And Josh Hater need you to be nails again. He
had a nice long stretch last year where he got
back to being.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
Seven six twenty seven. Save opportunity, he saves it. He
wasn't as bad again. He wasn't as bad as people said.
Ryan Presley wasn't as bad as people said either, but
he has to They both would have to have be better.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
This is from Chandler Roum at The Athletic. He said,
the Astros trying to control payroll this year, which is
bloated by thirty one million in dead money to Rafael
Montero and Jose braw Thank you Jeff Bagwell for that one.
But he goes on to say, I mean, he says,
where the Astros would want to buy out majority of
Presley's fourteen million dollars salary, they could, and some other
(25:29):
teams would be interested. But it should be noted the
Astros wan to be contenders this year and they are
still in search of another leverage reliever. So like if
you get rid of Ryan Presley, you still have to
replace him. We have to find another high leverage reliever.
So just kind of an interesting one. And then of
course the quandary with the outfield. I've seen so many
people bring up, you know, names like Anthony Santander and
(25:52):
pieces that are out there. Guys, what part of they
were up against the CBT? Do you not understand? You
can't just ask a does Santander want to come play
for free? Then yes, let's at him. But there's no
way to shift this thing. I mean, if you could
find a way for jose Bray, you to, hey, do
you mind cutting to check the Santown Darra off the books?
Just to get him over here brace. But that's just
the tough part. And I think ross the reality of
(26:14):
as we'll talk about as we get in the spring
training here for real soon, the reality is there going
to be leaning on Jake Myers and Chas McCormick to
perform this year yep.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
And the question is going to become when does Jacob
Melton become ready? And how much cow productive can Zach
Dezenzo be in the outfield and then Mariso Dubon in
the mix. I mean, you've got bodies.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
Oh and the other party they brought up. They don't
want your on playing left field. They think his injury
history here is marked to him playing more outfield, so
they want to pull way back on that.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
Yeah, but deservedly so. You need him in the lineup.
Somehow he was hurting the playoffs and you gotta do something.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
It's not the same man, Like there was a stretch
where he was the most feared, Like when that dude
came up to the bat in the postseason, you just
knew good things were going to happen.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
And get him back at DH, let's go.
Speaker 3 (27:02):
I think that's I think that's the move. Some other
moves here the Astros in recent weeks. In fact, just today,
the Astro signed infielder Zach Short to a minor league
deal as two hundred nineteen games a major league experience
across the past four seasons with Detroit, Boston, Atlanta. The
Mets Chandler says, presume the deal conteens and n R
I to big league non roster, invite you a big
(27:25):
league spring training and the Chandlers say confirmed, it does
include that. So Zach Short could be a guy. They're
just yeah, they're looking for well that's his last name.
They're looking for extra bodies. And to me, God blessed
John Singleton. It was a good story for a good
stretch last year. But like, if we got to rely
(27:45):
on him as the primary backup to Christian Walker at first,
I don't know, man, I'd almost rather be giving the
Shay Whitcombs and the those Zach Dezenzo and those guys opportunities.
Because here's the thing, we know what Singleton is at
this point in his career. We don't know what some
of these pro specs are.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
Zach Short is twenty nine years old. I'm just looking
up now because I you know, i'd heard the deal,
but I hadn't really looked him up. Twenty nine years old,
career war of negative point two and career average of
one sixty seven with a five sixty five fifty six
ops and about five hundred and thirty eight played appearances.
That's that's about a season's worth.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
Well, I just looked back on last year's.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
Spring bas is decent for a guy that doesn't hit
at all.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
Look back on last year's spring training roster, there was
one body. There were some guys they took chances on
and you know it didn't really.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
What's been gamble up to he coming back. He's a
free age Jason Heyward.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
Who was the guy that we liked that they got
from the Angels that Dana Brown really liked.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
Oh, Trey Cabbage.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
Cabbage, Yeah, he's he's signed elsewhere.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
Dana Brown was talking up Jake Trey Cabbage in the
off season. The guy had a thirty thirty season in
the minor leagues, but he's quadruple a player.
Speaker 3 (28:54):
And you know, you just kind of look back at
it hindsight. Look, you say Kakuchi was awesome, You really
would like to have low Praffito in this mix. Wouldn't
you kind of be competing for that outfield.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
Strikeout king I'm not talking about Cocucci. Yeah, look, we'll
see what happens and what works out with that. But
they had to do something. They don't make the playoffs
without you, say, Kakucci, you had to get into the playoffs.
You had to step one to winning our world's areas
is getting into the playoffs. They wouldn't have done it
without him, So I understand why they did what they did.
I'm still not going to crush that deal and we
(29:26):
we unfortunately have to move on life post Joey Loperffito,
who struggled mightily as a as a Toronto Blue Jay.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
What if pedro Leone crushes in spring hacking?
Speaker 1 (29:37):
Speaking of quadruple players, thanks for bringing him up.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
I mean you lost Corey Joelks.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
He was I got a week up here and they're like,
oh yeah, never mind, we're good.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
The good news is And just kind of thinking back
on this time, literally your ago ross was we were
talking about. Yeah, probably at some point this year we'll
see Spencer Arraghetty. Look at what Spencer came for you.
I mean, I'm at a disastrous first month, but man healed.
And the same thing with Hudner Brown, the disaster start
to the season, but really locked in it became very Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
Right now, if you're going with fromber Renel Blanco Arraghetti
Hunter Brown, as you mentioned, that's a start one that's
a solid one through four.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
This point a year ago, we did not know what
he was going to be.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
So yeah, I feel like I feel like starting pitching
can be good and then hopefully get better. Of course,
what's gonna happen with Lance mcullors junior than than Luis
carci is of the world, those guys, but you're not
necessarily counting on those.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
The sad mccullors. His name has become a punch line.
But if he comes back, dude, and he's ready to
go from spring, he could be back in.
Speaker 1 (30:37):
The Colors Island.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
Baby.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
You could come to mc collor's island with me, baby,
And when he when he's healthy.
Speaker 3 (30:42):
He's good.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
It's just been a couple of years. Of course, that's
a big win. He's been healthy is the big if
we can get to that. We got plenty of time
to talk of the offseason. But then Hayden was an esky.
I mean you have Dana Brown saying he is going
to be a starter.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
Yeah, and he was. He was a starter slash bullpen guy,
and he was pretty good as a starter.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
Like early. He's got one I think I can't remember
what breaking ball. It is really good. He's got a
good sinker. So, I mean, the Astros have transformed pictures
in the Astros, I trust when it comes to bringing
pictures with good stuff, having them make the right pitch
mix and Dana Brown saying we're going to put him
in the plug him into a starting role. I'm excited
to see what Hayden Wizness can do.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
All right. Two more things as who were app up
is January seventh prediction on where Bregman ends.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Up Detroit Tiger's.
Speaker 3 (31:27):
It sounds like Detroit and Boston have still kind of
been They kept lines of communication going. Some people thrown
out there. Maybe the Mets, you know, could make a
move because they just have stupid, unending money. But to me,
I love the poeticness of aj Hinch reuniting with Bregman
in Detroit while they've got this upcoming team.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
Now.
Speaker 3 (31:45):
I don't like that they outsaid the astrosut of the
playoffs last year. I wasn't down with that crap, But
it is kind of funny. It looks that looked a
little bit like fifteen astros Ross where it was like, oh,
they're starting to bring up some of these prospects. Everything's
starting to click. The bringing the veteran Bregman the pair
with that Detroit might have something.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
Yeah. I also think it's no accident those two are
in the mix. When we've we've talked about Alex Regman's
value on the field, and is off the field. We
I mean Taylor Scott with you the comments about how
he does better things in his his scouting reports against
with opposing hitters than he had seen even from the
team themselves. Being the guy that goes into those mound
visits that leadership setting the tone in the clubhouse. No
(32:24):
accident that aj hanch and Alex Korra are big on
bringing Bregman to their clubs.
Speaker 3 (32:28):
Yeah, and by the way, this was from Bob Nightingale
said the Astros they offered Bregman six years, one fifty
six and those talks stalled. But he is drawing plenty
of interest, but not at that two hundred million dollar
price range that he had out there. So Red Sox
and Detroit Tigers could certainly sign him. They're not going
to sign him to that much, but they're in the mix. Lastly,
(32:50):
Ross one Jack Peterson Journeyman has played for many of
different teams. He was signed last week by the Texas Rangers,
and at his press conference, as they introduced to Man,
he put on his Rangers jersey. New Texas Ranger Jack
Peterson said, quote, you know, we played the Astros in
the World Series in twenty twenty one. When I was
with the Braves. They put together a nice little run.
(33:10):
But it's coming to an end. It's time for us
to take over the West. Are you buying that the
Texas Rangers are about to take over the Ale West?
Speaker 1 (33:20):
It could happen. They almost won it two years ago.
I mean, if their arms get healthy. They signed Nathan
Valdi back. De Gram should be good. Maybe you get
a Doulas Garcia back on that good stuff. Corey Seeker
has a bounce back year. I don't know about Marcus Simian,
he's too old. They'll be they'll be West contenders. But
(33:40):
coming out and saying yeah, it's time to whatever take
it over from them, that's that's we'll see.
Speaker 3 (33:45):
Yeah. And just for accuracy accuracy sake, the Astros have
won the Al Wes four straight years at seven of
the last eight. Really, the only one was that stupid
COVID you know where the A's won it.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
Sixty game season doesn't count.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
But last the last seven full seasons, the Astros have
won the AL West. Uh. The Rangers last one in
fifteen and sixteen, so it has been quite a while.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
I'm feeling feeling very spoiled right now. That's awesome.
Speaker 3 (34:11):
Yeah, and look and everybody the way some Asters fans
are talking down about this team, It's like, dude, like,
can we take a step back and appreciate what you've
had here like this, Like it's like that New Rich
where we're like, oh, we don't al wes, we crap
on those titles. Who cares about.
Speaker 1 (34:27):
Fans are somehow already spoiled, wanting them to make big
trades to win the championship. Texans fans are already spoiled
ten and seven and and oh ten and seven and
come in division champions This team sucks. Like all right,
let's everybody relax and remember the bad times we went
through with all of these franchises.
Speaker 3 (34:43):
Oh, I'm just learning that essak Paratus's nickname is Lt. Gray.
I like that tiger.
Speaker 1 (34:47):
Oh we al you guys, gotta like that.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
We replace Alex Bregman the Tiger with.
Speaker 1 (34:51):
Oh with a literal L. I like that.
Speaker 3 (34:54):
Let's go appreciate it. Can't wait to hear his first
appearance on The Matt Thomas Show with you guys.
Speaker 1 (34:58):
I should be fantastic.
Speaker 3 (35:00):
Do you speaking Spanish? Uhito, We'll have to work on
that if we're gonna have By the way, Frobber has
gotten better with it. Day ought to Robert. Let's push it, man,
let's get you, Let's get you on the radio doing
an interview. He could do it.
Speaker 1 (35:20):
That's not hold our breath.
Speaker 3 (35:21):
I'm gonna miss my guy host Arkety though. He was
our well, he was our first guest that ship Spanish speaker. Yeah, no,
Katy was great. Man, he was. He was awesome and uh,
we're gonna wish him.
Speaker 1 (35:31):
Which the MARTINELO would come on.
Speaker 3 (35:33):
Yeah, he was good. Not so much yet mm hmm. Yeah,
we need to brush up on the sports.
Speaker 1 (35:42):
Brian bred you came on. He said he's been working
on his English.
Speaker 3 (35:44):
Brian Brady is really good. He doesn't like doing interviews though.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
A nice guy though.
Speaker 3 (35:49):
Yeah, but he's a nice guy. I'm like, why you're good?
He's good. We'll see.
Speaker 1 (35:52):
Will he be on Astro's Fan Fast in a couple
of weeks.
Speaker 3 (35:54):
We'll see. So that's the last thing I wanted to
plug and promote to you guys. We will be out
at Astro's FanFest in just a couple of weeks. We'll
be interviewing some of these players, and of course we'll
bring you some of the best of those interviews right
here on the Crawford Box Cast presented by Carbrock Burwing.
January twenty fifth, out at Astros fan Fest at Minute Mate.
If you have not gotten your ticket yet, they're doing
things a little bit different this year. You have to
claim your ticket online. I think it's two dollars per
(36:16):
ticket and all proceeds will go to the Astros Foundation.
And then anything else, any of the add ons you
want to do. It's like, I don't know, forty bucks
to take BP or you know, thirty five bucks to
take a picture or all this. So they got all
kinds of add ons you can do, but they are
charging two dollars this year for the ticket, but again,
proceeds go to the Astros Foundation. So check that out
(36:37):
or at astros dot com. And certainly while you were
checking out and get ready for the start of spring training,
make sure you guys are loading up on plenty of
Crawford Bock from our friends at car Bock Brewing. And
if you're looking for a spot to watch some of
the NFL playoff games or enjoy some of the great
festivals they've got going on over the next couple of weeks.
All these great bands and entertainment and fun stuff going
on over there at Carbock Brewing and their beer garden,
(37:00):
And certainly if you haven't tried pizza and pints yet,
you need to do that. Some really good tasty pizzas
with all the great delicious beers that they have, including
the Crawford Bock on tap out there at Carbock Borrowing.
Make sure you go check them out and have a
little fun as we get in the new year. It
is twenty twenty five, an all new edition of the
Crawford box Cast for Ross Varel. I'm Chris Gordy. We'll
(37:20):
talk to you guys very very soon right here on
the Crawford box Cast
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