In today’s column, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe spoke with eight major league officials about the players trending up and trending down as free agency approaches. It probably won’t surprise you to learn that the list of players trending in the right direction starts with Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy.
“Obviously, he’s not going to be as hot as he’s been in the postseason, but he plays positions where his power plays well,” an American League GM told Cafardo. “There are teams like the Dodgers and Yankees who need a second baseman. Others, like the Angels, need a third baseman, where he also plays. He’s going to be sought-after and get a five-year deal at around $75MM. Maybe more.”
Murphy, who can also play at first base, would also have appeal for the attractive to the Orioles, Astros, Padres, and Tigers, Cafardo writes.
Here’s more from today’s column..
- The feeling is that a seven-year, $210MM deal for David Price would be fair, Cafardo writes, though some are concerned that Price won’t live up to that kind of deal unless he goes somewhere that he’s comfortable. The incumbent Blue Jays could be that place, but the Dodgers, Cardinals, and Cubs are also listed as possibilities. Price, 30, pitched to a 2.45 ERA with 9.2 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9 in 32 regular season starts for the Tigers and Blue Jays this past season.
- The group of eight anonymous scouts, managers, and GMs polled by Cafardo would not want to give Orioles bopper Chris Davis more than a five-year deal. Of course, a team out there very well could. “In the heat of the negotiations and fearing someone else will get him, this will likely get beyond what everybody wants. Scott Boras is the agent, so we may be looking at seven years,” one scout remarked. Recently, MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes profiled the two-time home run king and estimated that he’ll be in line for a six-year, $144MM pact.
- Johnny Cueto had a rough second half after being traded to the Royals and one National League GM told Cafardo that a “few teams have scratched him off their list.” Still, that GM estimates that Cueto can net a Jon Lester-type $155MM deal. Recently, we learned that the Red Sox are mulling a serious push for Cueto. The Marlins also like Cueto, but financial constraints will probably hold them back in that pursuit.
- One GM told Cafardo that he wouldn’t give Royals outfielder Alex Gordon anything more than a three-year deal at $36MM-$38MM. In addition to KC, Cafardo recently listed the Indians, Orioles, Mets, Tigers, and possibly the Red Sox as potential fits.
- Nationals hurler Jordan Zimmermann didn’t have a great season, but he was listed by Cafardo as a player whose arrow is pointing upwards. One NL scout praised Zimmermann’s work ethic and toughness. At the end of the regular season, Zimmermann sounded like a player who knows that he’ll be changing teams.
- One AL GM envisions Blue Jays pitcher Marco Estrada attracting attention from “six or seven teams” who could offer up a “four- or five-year deal in the $12MM-$15MM [per year] range.” Last month, MLBTR’s Mark Polishuk checked in on Estrada’s free agent stock. The right-hander posted a 3.13 ERA with 6.5 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 across 28 starts and six relief appearances in 2015.
- Cafardo’s panel indicated that Scott Kazmir could get a three-year deal this offseason, but at a reduced rate because of his struggles with the Astros down the stretch. The group of eight officials sees Kazmir getting $10-$12MM AAV over a three year period. The Tigers are among the clubs with interest in the veteran left-hander, though Kazmir has also expressed a desire to return to Houston.
- At least two teams have their top advisers and scouts looking at Rich Hill’s last four starts with the Red Sox to see if his emergence in 2015 is for real. One AL scout who has done his homework on the left-hander praised the hurler for his confidence.
- Cafardo identified the Braves, Dodgers, Rays, Astros, and Mariners as teams that could have interest in Orioles catcher Matt Wieters. Of course, his market will be impacted by whether or not he receives a qualifying offer. The Rangers will be among the teams with interest, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, but only if he does come with a QO attached. In a recent MLBTR poll, 60% of readers said that the O’s should give Wieters a QO.
Cueto is all but certain to be that contract that everyone regrets. You look at Cueto anx his ERA and think, he’s an ace, but look at his career FIP. Once he left Cincy, he was rough. I doubt he lives up to his contract.
Price on the other hand is unflappable. He has had consistent peripheral and bottom line stats and an intensely low walk rate throughout his career. He can live up to it.
I think Price can live up to a lot of it, but 7 years at $30 mil a year for a 30 year old? It seems to be a given any more that to get some good years from a front line starter, you accept eating 2 or 3 of those years at contract’s end.
Yeah I think that is how teams view it too. If they can get four years of ace level production out of a free agent pitcher, that is great. Afterwards, if they can get that pitcher to consistently pitch around 200 innings a year for the rest of the contract, that represents good value too. I think David Price would be able to do that on a 7 year contract, so I’m all for my Red Sox going after him.
There’s not too many others of Price’s talent to suddenly not be worth it at 35-37. He’s not CC Sabathia, who was a ticking time bomb from day one.
I could see Price ending up as an awesome closer in his late 30s.into early 40s.
Unflappable? He’s won 1 of the 8 postseason games he’s started with a 5.12 ERA. This postseason, he looked pretty flappable. $200 million might look better from a team that rarely gets to the postseason than a team that has its eyes on a ring. He’ll be a Cy Young contender, but not WS MVP.
So for you, 9 starts are more important than 213 starts. Lots of people running baseball teams think otherwise.
For $200M it’s about the complete body of work. I’m just noting red flags, which is obvious when you have someone that looks like a completely different pitcher during the most important time of a season in reply to someone that has called him “unflappable”.
I’m not the one writing the $200M check – so it’s okay if they think otherwise. I won’t lose my job if I’m wrong.
It’s definitely been a mixed back for David Price in the postseason. His main problem has been giving up the long ball.
All things being relatively equal money-wise, I believe he ultimately signs with the Chicago Cubs. He will have a comfort factor there with former manager Joe Maddon and will not have to be the only ace on a team that already features Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta atop their rotation.
In a close FA race for his services, Maddon might just be the determining factor for Price. He showed the utmost confidence in him when elevating a late season rookie call-up to a prominent bullpen role in Tampa’s run to the World Series in 2008 which thus far has turned out to be Price’s greatest postseason accomplishment.
Wow that might be asking a lot of the Cubs. Committing 200-210 to price on top of Lester and the need to fill holes elsewhere. Might be worth it before the Arrieta/Boras bomb hits after 2017
Yes, this is what I think as well. I’m not sure if Price is going to be the Cubs’ #1 priority because as we already know, their rotation is pretty great already. I think they have other holes that they need to address first. If they plan on bumping payroll up significantly however, then it certainly makes them a serious contender for his services.
If the Cubbies pick up a FA pitcher why not Chen. Every other guy they’ve gotten from the O’s seems to flourish there. Jake, Hammel, Strop, don’t know if Wada did anything. I’m forgetting a reliever.
Here’s how his team has supported him, runs-wise: 1,1,3,4,1,3,3,1… I guess he should start hitting to help improve his W/L record so that you consider him a postseason pitcher. Perhaps you’d be more comfortable throwing Drew Hutchison out there?
Correction: Price has never won a postseason start and his teams lost all 8 including a no decision. Both of his wins in the postseason were in relief along with 1 save. Not meant to be a commentary on if he is a good pitcher.
With Cueto it’s all about his prospective health. He had physical issues this season that became more profound after he was traded to the Royals. Up until the trade, he had pitched his entire career with the Cincinnati Reds who play their home games in a park considered more ‘hitter friendly’ than most in MLB. He might actually benefit from pitching for a team who plays their home games in a more ‘pitcher friendly’ environment provided he can overcome the physical issues he encountered in 2015.
Cueto is six months younger than David Price and more than two years younger than another impending ace free agent pitcher this off-season, Zack Greinke. As already mentioned, Cueto has pitched for a team in a park conducive to offense while Price and Greinke have primarily worked for clubs who played in ‘pitcher friendly’ parks in Tampa, Detroit, K.C. and L.A. Like Price and Greinke, Cueto will also not have the stigma of a qualifying offer attached to him as a FA this off-season.
There are real baseball people that think Daniel Murphy should get 5/75M, but Alex Gordon shouldn’t top 3/36M?
I would peg Murphy at at 3/36M and Gordon at 4/64M
With the O’s possibly losing Wieters and Davis from their lineup they would be insane not to rush to offer Gordon a 4 yr deal starting at $60-65 mil and be willing to go higher. He’s worth it and they desperately need his skill set.
I agree but they won’t. They’ll resign Pearce for 4-5 and hope that a minor league guy like Mancini will turn out to be another Machado or Schoop. They’ll resign Parra for 8 or so per. But the O’s need pitching.
That’s where their money should go as Norris, Gonzales and Tillman were bad. 7 more wins from the trio and they were in the post season. 2 ‘capable’ starters will cost them around 40MM. And Wieters, Davis and Chen are gone. I personally would like Wieters back at 3 for 30-35 as a 1b/dh guy but Boras will find someone to throw stupid money his way to catch. Buck played him some at first and his catch and throw days are over imo. He would be a solid guy to have in the lineup. And if he was a stand up guy he’d sign with the team that took special care of him the last 2 years while rehabing from TJ surgery. But loyalty and Boras are 2 big strikes against the O’s.
Murphy, I would think, should be able to match Headley’s 4/50mil.
I have no idea why these “scouts” think Gordon will top out at 3/36. Over the last 5 years he’s been one of the better OFer’s averaging 5 WAR per season. I think he should be able to match Hanley’s 4/88mil.
Headley averaged ~4 WAR leading up to his free agency. Murphy averaged less than 2 WAR over the last 5 years.
Murphy has averaged around 2.5 WAR per fangraphs. But as we’ve seen from Sandoval, an amazing postseason can really boost your stock. Sandoval and Headley were pretty similar caliber of players, but Sandoval got 40mil more.
I guess we’ll see, but I think Murphy should easily be able to land 40-50mil.
Wow Mike! Guess you KNOW more than scouts. Good for you, Buddy.
If those scouts think his skill set is only valued at $12MM per year on a three year deal, then he probably does.
The average cost of a win on the current market is 7mil. Gordon is older (will be32), yes but in terms of production is worth a whole lot more that 36mil. I honestly would be shocked if he got anything less than 60mil
I mean these scouts also think Murphy is worth 75mil, which is drastically overvaluing his value, but I guess we’ll see,
Teams don’t value left field defense the same way as the premium positions. His value is too highly tied to his defense for a giant deal.
Didn’t say “scouts”, it was one GM who wouldn’t go past 3/36-38 for Gordon. Someone will go 5/80 and regret it
The reality is, in that this free agent class, there’s going to be so many $100M+ contracts, by a lot of guys who’s new team will immediately get panned for, but its for good reason: next years FA class is abysmal.
It just might come down to other factors besides overall talent and career productivity. Market factors, position, health and recent accomplishment may all play important roles in the ultimate contracts handed out to Daniel Murphy and Alex Gordon.
Murphy has demonstrated to be a less productive player than Gordon over his MLB career, especially defensively. But Murphy has put up historic postseason numbers leading up to the 2015 World Series and also plays multiple infield positions that lack other outstanding free agent options, particularly at his primary 2B and 3B spots. Gordon has had more physical (and some mental) issues throughout his career and plays corner OF where there will be more elite candidates available this off-season for potential suitors.
3/36M is a little low for Murph. He’s about a 2.5 WAR player if you split the difference between fWAR and rWAR. I’d put him around 4/50-55M.
imo, his best fit is with the Mets when you consider Wright’s injury potential and the transition to Herrera at 2B (Murphy could swing between 2nd and 3rd), but as a Mets fan, I don’t want them to resign him. 3/36 I would consider, but he’ll get more than that.
Gordon give elite defense at a non-premium position while Murphy gives adequate defense at a premium position. Neither one are the prototypical sluggers but Murphy’s tear along with better speed give him the edge. He fits on more teams because of his positional flexibility while Gordon is competing against Upton, Cespedes, and Heyward. Murphy easily gets a bigger deal.
Why would Texas want Wieters only with a QO attached. Typo or would they just be able to get him cheaper with one?
That’s a typo. The original column says Texas would not be interested if Wieters has a QO attached. Clearly that makes more sense.
Dodgers don’t need a second basemen, a back-up utility player who can also lay second base yes, but not a everyday player. Dodgers already have Kike Hernandez and Jose Peraza.
Cafardo is out of his mind if he believes the Rays will be in the market for Wieters. The biggest free agent contract the Rays have ever signed off on was Carlos Pena 3 yr/$24 mil and now Cafardo thinks they’d compete with teams for a guy who could sign for 4-5 years at $12-15 mil per? I don’t think so. Tampa does not sign free agents of that caliber.
I think they’d rather just go with a Rene Rivera and JP Arencibia, both who have some type of upside than break the bank for a guy whos played 100 games over the last 2 years.
My sentiments exactly for ATL and AJ Pierzynski and any catching drifter than can make the flight to Orlando for tryouts.
No one sees Weiters getting 4-5 years though. He has to prove his health first, which he will probably do somewhere on a 1-year deal like Texas or Colorado, and even then, guys like Weiters do not get 5 years having barely played the previous 2 years. Tampa gave Longo 100M so calm down, they can buy whoever they want.
They gave Longo 144M over 15 years, which is like ~9.5M a year.
Even still, Weiters in his uninjured prime was a low avg/lowish obp/decent pop guy, those guys are everywhere. Catchers don’t regress, then get injured, then go back to being good defensively in their 30s. He might have 2 more years of being an average C left in him and then he’s a DH/1B type. He’s just not worth a long term deal.
Wieters before TJ surgery was an all-star caliber catcher. He got the most votes in ’14 and went to the AS game in a cast. He’s a 20-25 home run guy who when healthy who knows? That’s why he doesn’t get a 15.8 QO. We don’t know how he’ll rebound after almost 2 years of being injured.
It’s all about the free agent market conditions with Weiters. Despite his recent injury history, he will be the only catcher on the FA market this off-season who can possibly command a long term contract as a starter at a premium MLB position.
He has to prove he’s an everyday catcher who can throw guys out like he was. So you know Boras would love a one year deal for 15.8. Which is why the O’s don’t offer the QO. If Matt was smart he’d do what Cruz did. One year at 8-9 with the team that paid him for 2 years of rehab. The O’s got to the LCS last year with a double a catcher who’s right now better than Matt. That being Joseph. With lefty batting Clevinger to be his partner.
If that warrants a neg.1 something’s very wrong.
His catching ability remains questionable. Buck didn’t let him catch back to back games. And his arm strength is nowhere near where it was. His % throwing out guys was 35-40. In ’15 it went way down. What does it tell you when Caleb Joseph was the guy who caught the O’s to the LCS last year. If Boras can get him a raise from 9MM when he hasn’t been healthy since’13 God bless him.
Which is exactly why the O’s won’t give him a QO. He has to prove he can throw out 35-40% instead of 25%. When Buck put him at first for some games he looked very comfortable there to me. I will say this until the cows come home. Matt will be an asset as a switch hitting 1b/dh. He can put up solid offensive numbers and though Boras will probably find a suitor to use him as a #1 catcher, I would not be happy if it was my club. He was used every other day in Sept. behind the plate and was not anywhere near the catcher he was.
First off, I believe Dierkes was about 30 MM under what the “Home Run King” will ultimately recieve from someone. Even if he is a risk to say the least. Second, I have to think Heyman said, or meant to say, if Wieter’s comes without a QO attached, Texas would be interested. And in my opinion the O’s won’t offer the QO as Wieters would likely take it. He’s not worth more than 10 MM per after the TJ surgery. His arm strength is still very questionable. The Orioles made it to the LCS in ’14 with Joseph and a suspended Davis who hit .190.
He didn’t get his tue in ’12-’14 according to Encina of the Baltimore Sun. So does he have ADHD or not? The most important FA as far as the Orioles go is Chen as he was their ace this year and only LH starter. But likely to get Porcello type money. So very unlikely to resign with Baltimore.
You think Chen is going to get ~4/80M?
I think he’ll get 5 for 90-100. As a Boras client no doubt.
I don’t agree. I think hes in line for a 4/50Mish kind of deal. His FIP is somewhat high, and nothing about his secondary stats are outstanding.
Very low walk rate (1.93 BB/9, right there with the best in the majors), third highest left on base percentage (80.5%). When he lets guys on base, he strands them a lot.
Downside is the home runs (which play into his high FIP)… which makes me wonder if him playing in a larger park would change things?
Whenever someone uses numbers and “in line for” in the same comment about the free agent market, I shudder. Market and stats do not have any kind of relationship with each other. Chen will most likely get $100-ish million this offseason, his FIP doesn’t matter nor equal projected value.
Stats dictate your market. Not everyone is going to be lining up for Jerome Williams. Why? He is a bad pitcher with bad stats.
No one is going to give Chen 100M when you can go to 130M and land Jordan Zimmermann whos a much better pitcher.
Billy Butler’s 3/30M says hello, bad stats don’t mean a thing. Also, Chen’s stats are very good, but his age and history mean more than numbers. Bidding wars do happen, never discount that.
Zimmermann’s not getting $130, he’s going to get a bunch more than that. Something in the 150-180 region more than likely.
Billy Butler also performed at a 10m/yr level before. Chen never performed well enough to justify a 100M contract. Hes had 1 good year, in which his FIP and xFIP both were ~4.00.
If Ervin Santana (3.58 ERA, 3.67 FIP in 2013-2014) can only land 55M, Chen (3.44 ERA, 4.03 FIP in 14-15) isn’t suddenly going to get 85M+
I totally agree with you here. The going rate for 30 year old mid rotation arms seems to be around 4/50mil, which is right where I would think Chen’s market is.
Plus, there seems to be a surplus of pitching in this FA class. Price, Greinke, Cueto, Zimmermann, Kazmir, and arguably Shark are all better pitchers. Chen has to compete with all them along with the likes of Gallardo, Leake, and Iwakuma. I would think his market should be in the 50-60 range.
Justification. Since when does that enter into it. Listen, the demand for the positives will get him the big money. No question about it. 80, 90, 100 or more. He was the MVP for the O’s last year. They’ll lose him and then good luck finding a capable LHP to replace him. Is Davis worth the 150+ he’s going to get? He’s a guy that had no ADHD exemption from 12-14 with the costliest suspension in O’s history. 2 great halves of seasons. First half of ’13 and second half of ’15. In a homer friendly park. It’s not about justification.
You’re 100% correct. I don’t understand, unless the 3 neg. voters don’t know how solid Chen is. He’s a Boras guy in a year where lefty talent is ltd. 90-100 MM easily.
Average starters are getting 12.5. Chen is a #2 who will likely get 5 years easily @ 18 per. 50 is what Ubaldo got a few years ago. How many lefty’s who’ve been pretty consistent are FA’s. And not talking about Price. I see him going to the NL and being a very solid #2. You may be closer, we’ll see. And by the way I agree he’s worth 4 @ 50-60 but Boras gets his guys paid.
Chen wouldn’t be better than a #3 on a staff that’s actually good, but getting that crazy stupid Boras money certainly isn’t out of the question. Of course, Boras has misplayed his hand on enough middle tier free agents for me to feel like Chen could end up with less years and/or money than he’s worth too. At any rate, it looks like we’re all pretty much in agreement in what we think is his actual value is. I’d feel pretty good if I could get him at 4/55.
Besides Price name a few FA lefty starters better than Chen. With any team he’ll be a solid #2. And 4 @55 is rediculous. With all due respect!
Only way the Cardinals are suitors for Price is if they know something about Wainwright’s health the rest of us don’t. Or they think he’ll have a major decline quickly. I don’t see it, even though he’d be a nice fit. IF they actually sign a FA pitcher I’d probably be more like a Jeff Samardzija or Mike Leake. But my guess is they devote all their money this offseason towards bringing back Heyward.
Does STL have enough for a serious offer to JHey AND Price? That could be $400 million in contracts between the two of them. That’s the type of risk I can’t see STL getting anywhere close to.
They do, but they won’t…and likely won’t sign either as you opined.
Dodgers had 2 productive catchers last season and have a very promising young catcher in AAA – Austin Barnes – but according to Cafardo, Matt Wieters makes sense for them.
Is he speculating or is he reporting known interest?
That makes no sense to me. They’ll have two no.1 catchers in the roster (Grandal, Wieters). Push Ellis out of the picture. As for Barnes getting some playing time, will be minimal.
Wieters has to prove he can still throw. Pretty much 2 years off. Caught every other day towards the end last year. I see him if not this year very soon being a first baseman/DH. He showed some positive signs batting in Sept.
That must be why ATL – with Freeman at 1B, no DH spot, and in need of a C – is interested. (I don’t get it). Wieters looks like the exact opposite of our once-heralded prospects, Bethancourt (great arm, bad fielding skills, no bat, questionable effort, cheap). Just re-sign Pierzynski on a 1 year deal with an option, and maybe a 2 year deal into 2017 and call it a day, unless you can strike a deal with MIL for Lucroy.
He also says Detroit has interest in Murphy. I’m baffled as to where he thinks he would play? Castellanos and Kinsler are unlikely to be traded.
I think both Kazmir and Cueto might have played themselves down to Oakland’s price range, look for them to be in both this winter. If 3/36 is all Kazmir is going to get, or if Cueto could be had for under 100M or even on a 1 year regain value type-deal, I could see Beane ponying up at the buyers table. Oakland has a big place in the rotation to fill, and the quality of player added there may make or break their season. Bartolo probably is on the list, but those two are better.
No way in heck Cueto is stuck taking a one year deal. He doesn’t have draft pick compensation attached to him.
Oh true, I forgot about that.
I think Cueto should avoid the American League as a free agent, unless he’s given a massive deal… If he gets a great deal, of course take the money and run with it. I think he’d be best suited for a team in the NL West. Pitching in those spacious ballparks would be great for a contact pitcher like himself.
Also, it’s funny how GM’s wouldn’t give more for Alex Gordon when just last off-season the Braves overpaid for an aging Nick Markakis. At least Gordon can hit for some power and still play OF defense. Can’t say the same for Kakes.
Overpaid. No! Took a chance on his surgery. Yes! 4 for 44 is looking mighty good right now.
Methinks if the Red Sox sign Cueto, the contract could be outlandish enough to get the fans off of Sandoval and Ramirez’ backs.
Don’t forget Porcello!
So the fans are good with 4.92. And 80 for 4 made sense. My bad. I forgot the predictions from fangraphs are positive.
I really hope they stay away from Cueto. Price, Greinke, and Zimmermann all look like better value to me.
Marco Estrada’s last years FIP are 4.88 and 4.40. Godspeed to any team that goes 4+ years on him.
For once, We can agree on something. I’d top him out at the Volquez 2/20M, personally.
Yeah, a lot of these numbers seem way off. Murphy getting 75mil? Estrada having the upside to get to 75mil? Gordon only at 36mil? Im not sure if I agree on these estimates.
The White Sox would also be a potential candidate for Daniel Murphy, especially at 3B…but definitely not with a 5yr/$75M price tag!
Is carfado secretly Scott boras? This is the overpay for mediocre players column.
The most interesting free agent in my view is Jason Heyward.
He is a low “traditional stats” by high WAR player.
Will he approach Price’s contract level with 18 HRs and a .270 batting average?
Depends on the years. If he gets a 10 year contract which is very possible given his age I can see him going over 200MM.
In terms of AAV, I would think not. I’m sure there are teams out there that value his skill set and high WAR numbers though. I’d be fine with my Red Sox signing him at 10/215MM. I think that is a realistic figure that he can achieve, and perhaps even more. I wouldn’t be surprised to see an opt-out clause in there too, in case he wants to become a free agent at 30 and explore the market once again.
Heck, to cross the $200MM barrier even 12 years isn’t out of the realm of discussion. He would be 38 at the end of the deal.
Alex Gordon anything more than a three-year deal at $36MM-$38MM.
Really???
Then what is Parra going to get?
I mean gimme a break Cafardo!
I would bet Gordon gets double that amount on a 5 year deal. Cafardo’s number are ridiculous.
If Gordon was getting anywhere near that, ATL (and almost every other team) would be in on that.
I don’t mind the Price number for the Cubs. If they get five ace-ish years from that contract, that fits the contention window perfectly. I’d love to see them make a run at Estrada in the suggested range as well. Slot him in at #4 and let Bosio work his magic to make a pretty good pitcher even better. I think the Cubs will spend for pitching. They have plenty of internal options to fill the positional needs for 2016, be it promotions or trades.
No way Yankees sign Murphy with Future Hall of Famer Refsnyder on the team.
I just wish the Yankees had as much optimism for Refsnyder. Instead we got a full year of light hitting “Mr.200” Stephen Drew. Hopefully next year will be the year of Refsnyder.
Price reminds me of another post season choker who was 2-6 in the post season until he was 37. What was his name again? Oh yeah, Randy Johnson. While Price is not Randy freakin Johnson he will help his team GET to the postseason and the success pendulum will more than likely swing his way.
I hope the Astros take a flier on Weiters but offer Kazmir and Gordon a deal. Something that would be good for both sides not one of those contracts that are made out of making sure you beat everyone else out. Players now understand the Astro’s clubhouse is a good place and that the team is legit. I would even pass on Chris Davis unless he came over on a contract that wasn’t stupid high. A first baseman isn’t worth a ransom, especially one that doesn’t hit for average.