This is a project where 30 people got together to act as the GMs of the 30 MLB teams with the idea of conducting the offseason in one week. This is what happened in this simulation, not a prediction of what will happen in real life.
By Brian Mullen
Well, it was difficult to decide to make any moves with my Astros team during the week they were contending for their first World Series championship in franchise history, but in the spirit of the GM project, I did my best.
Tough to make changes in the roster, a team I watched develop as this is my third year having the Astros in the project. With three players (Verlander, Keuchel and Gurriel) making almost 53M, it was tough to keep payroll under the 140M cap. I made a series of trades and found a willing trading partner in the White Sox, acquiring both Yoan Moncada and catching prospect Zach Collins. I traded Alex Bregman early and probably overpaid for Todd Frazier to fill the 3rd base/DH spot, after losing Carlos Beltran to free agency. I always thought Frazier would be a nice fit with the real Astros as well.
2018 HOUSTON ASTROS 25 MAN ROSTERPLAYERS POS. 2017 Salary Arb Elig? 2018 Salary Payroll Limit
Dallas Keuchel RHP 9.15M Arb3 12.6M 140M
Justin Verlander RHP 28M No 28M
Brad Peacock RHP 541,500 Arb1 2.9M
Michael Wacha RHP 2,775,000 Arb2 5.9M
Lance McCullers RHP 548,000 Arb1 2.6M
Mike Fiers RHP 3.45M No 3.45M
Chris Devenski RHP 554,500 No 554,500 ACTIVE PAYROLL
Carlos Rodon LHP 600,000 Arb1 2M 137,668,450
Reymin Guduan LHP 535,000 No 535,000
Tony Sipp LHP 7M No 7M
Randall Delgado RHP 1,775,000 No 1.75M TOTAL CURRENT PAYROLL
Joe Musgrove RHP 543,400 No 543,400 137,668,450
Evan Gattis C 5.2M Arb3 6.6M
Kevan Smith C 535,000 No 535,000
Zack Collins C 535,000 No 535,000
Carlos Correa INF 535,000 No 535,000
Todd Frazier INF 12M No 23M
Rio Ruiz INF 535,000 No 535,000
Yoan Moncada INF 535,000 No 535,000
Nick Delmonico INF 535,000 No 535,000
Yuli Gurriel INF 14.4M No 12.4M
Josh Reddick OF 13M No 13M
George Springer OF 3.9M Arb2 8.9M
Marwin Gonzalez OF 3.725M Arb1/Opt 7.7M
Derek Fisher OF 535,000 No 550,000FREE AGENTS TRADED ACQUIRED NRI
Carlos Beltran Alex Bregman Mike Soroka Jake Marisnick
Francisco Liriano Will Harris Rio Ruiz
Luke Gregerson A.J. Reed Michael Wacha
Tyler Cilppard Tyler White Zack Duke
Cameron Maybin Jose Altuve Junior Fernandez
Rhiner Cruz Charlie Morton Zac Gallen
Reid Brignac Brian McCann Yoan Moncada
Colin McHugh Zack Collins
Ken Giles Todd Frazier
Nick Delmonico
Randall Delgado
Matt Koch
Carlos Rodon
Kevan SmithCLUB DECLINED ARBITRATION
Jake Marisnick (Then re-signed him as NRI)STILL ON THE BOOKS FROM PREVIOUS SEASONS
NoneBUYOUT
None
You probably should have had more salary to work with here.
At least that’s what I thought until I saw the Frazier bid. Going into the project, I was planning on bidding on him but I got my 3B elsewhere. I wouldn’t have come close to your bid.
Brian, the Tigers are giving you $14MM towards Verlander. You traded a rising young star for a young prospect, and I don’t say that because of last night, but Bergman was the #2 pick, had a nice year for a first year player and played SS when Correa was out. Then, you sign Frazier for no reason when DH is the easiest position to fill and you have Derek Fisher and a full minor leagues? Sorry Brian, you hurt this team badly.
The Astros need a couple of pieces for the bullpen – one of them being a good lefty, as they were in on Hand with the Pads until the last day of trading – and a reliable starter, a #2 type. That’s it. They have tons of offense.
I dont think this was Brian in charge of teh Astros. I agree, I dont like any of these deals.
Brian Mullen, it says it on top.