Astros outfielder Colby Rasmus, who accepted a qualifying offer from Houston this November rather than test the free-agent market, tells Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle that he’d like to remain an Astro until retirement. “As I stand here right now, I’d like to see myself in Houston for the rest of my playing career,” said Rasmus. “I would really like that. I think that would be great for my family. I enjoy it here. I think there’s great people, great atmosphere that they’re trying to create — the organization as a whole wanting to win and putting good players on the field.” That may seem a lengthy goal for a player on a one-year deal, though it’s worth remembering that Rasmus has previously expressed that he may not want as lengthy a career as many players. Early in the 2015 season, Rasmus said he may only want to play through the 2018 season, voicing a desire to leave time in his life for his wife and daughters. It’s not clear if Rasmus has rethought his future following a seemingly very positive first year in Houston, but his comments will certainly be worth recalling come season’s end as he prepares to re-enter the free agent market.
Here’s more on the Astros and their division…
- The left wrist and index finger pain that plagued Astros infielder Marwin Gonzalez over the final month of the season and into the playoffs has subsided this winter, he tells the Chronicle’s Evan Drellich. The switch-hitting Gonzalez’s swing was severely hampered when batting as a left-handed hitter, he explained, but he was able to hit for the first time this offseason yesterday and expects to be good to go when Spring Training rolls around. Gonzalez, a former Rule 5 pick, has emerged as a very solid utility option for Houston and had his best season in 2015 when he batted .279/.317/.442 with 12 homers while playing all four infield positions and left field as well. He avoided arbitration by settling on a $2MM salary last week.
- John Hickey of the Bay Area News Group explores the parallels between Andrew Lambo’s arrival in the Athletics’ organization and the arrival of Brandon Moss several years ago. As Hickey notes, both were 28-year-old left-handed hitters that had converted from the outfield to first base and had consistent track records of power in the minor leagues. Lambo spoke to Hickey and acknowledged that he’s aware of the comparison, noting that it’s hard not to be, considering the fact that he knows Moss from the pair’s days together in the Pirates organization. Lambo tells Hickey that he feels recovered from the plantar fasciitis that plagued him in 2015. He’ll hope to earn a 25-man roster spot in Oakland, though as Hickey notes, the presence of Yonder Alonso as a left-handed-hitting first baseman and Coco Crisp in left field could cloud his chances to break camp with the club.
- The removal of Efren Navarro from the Angels’ 40-man roster to clear space for right-hander Al Alburquerque creates a potential path to a roster spot for Rule 5 pick Ji-Man Choi, writes MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez. The 24-year-old Choi lost his 40-man spot with the Mariners last spring when he suffered a fractured leg in Spring Training but remained in the organization and returned late in the season to bat .290/.388/.406 in 89 minor league plate appearances. Choi, a left-handed bat, has a lifetime .280/.379/.401 slash at Triple-A and has gaudy numbers against right-handed pitching throughout his minor league tenure. As Gonzalez notes, however, the acquisition of a left fielder — either via free agency or trade — would likely push Daniel Nava into the role for which Choi could currently vie.
If Choi’s spot on the team is hinged by tbe future acquisition of a LF…..welcome to the Big Club Choi….haha
I love when players express their interest in wanting to play for a team that’s winning for the rest of their career. Of course there’s a great atmosphere when you’re winning. The Astros weren’t “the place to be” a couple of years ago while they were building. 5 years ago a lot of guys wanted to play in Philadelphia for the rest of their careers. As soon as the winning stops, everyone wants to jump ship.
Very frankly what’s gone on with the Astros is (a) tremendous accumulation of talent by Jeff Luhnow – his master plan – which is far from done seems to be working and (b) I think the real difference maker was A. J. Hinch’s managerial style last year. He let the players “breathe’, the veterans do their thing, and had his coaches focus on teaching the younger players….the approach led to a great clubhouse and I think is a large part of why Rasmus would like to stay. Luhnow and Hinch are both on the same page, a difference between when Bo Porter was manager.
Actually the players in Philly still wanted to stay. Even when the team started losing they wanted to stay in Philly. Papalbon and Utley basically had to be begged to accept trades. Rasmus has been a journeyman and has found a place he likes and wants to stay….So now is when Houston finds out just how much he “wants to stay” and see about a possible extension if Houston is interested in having Rasmus around long term. They obviously can’t offer him a qualifying offer because he will accept it.
Rasmus can’t be offered another QO because he accepted one already. That’s a plus for whatever team signs he next year as they can’t lose a draft pick.
I don’t think that’s true … I’ve never heard of that rule and don’t see it anywhere in the CBA.
@sabermetrics…not true. Houston can offer a QO to rasmus as many times as he accepts.
Agreed, but don’t forget Rasmus had issues with the clubhouses in St Louis and Toronto. This is the first time he has said positives about a clubhouse and would like to stay. St Louis was winning and Toronto was trending upward when he left both those clubs, respectively, so I don’t completely buy the “he only wants to stay because the Astros are winning” argument. It might be that his personality fits well with the Astros clubhouse vibe.
You guys are overlooking that it’s basically impossible for a player to come out and say they dislike their current clubhouse, and saying stuff like “I love this team, I want to stay with them” is just due diligence by the player to other teams to show that they are not disruptive and a good clubhouse guy. Rasmus is a FA next year and probably will be traded at the deadline this season.
That’s how weird MLB is: he’s strictly doing this for selfish reasons, not because he actually loves the team. He wants to be viewed as a good clubhouse guy, like Alex Gordon and Chris Davis, two guys who got extra money for being professionals and good people to be around.
I would disagree. Greinke was very vocal about issues he had in LA and frankly I think he was glad to leave as that clubhouse is a mess. Players mention wanting to get traded or hint at it all the time when they are unhappy.
If you watch Rasmus’ personality in interviews you get a sense that he is looking for a laid back atmosphere. He didn’t get along with LaRussa in St Louis because LaRussa didn’t breed that type of atmosphere (Hinch highly encourages that type). Toronto was full of a bunch of primadonna players who he had trouble getting along with.
Contrary to many fans beliefs, players driving forces are always monetarily driven. Players turn down larger contracts all the time to go play for certain teams, managers or just bc they have ties to the city.
that waant the case for Phills dude. Chooch and Howard are still in the team and Utley, Rollins, Pap all wanted to stay. they were traded, that wasnt their decision and they did it to benefit the phills. Those are the type of players a team wants. Loyalty.
Sadly for Rasmus, being a non-superstar means he has no choice whatsoever in the matter. The Astros have about a half dozen excellent OF prospects in addition to Springer in RF. Strange Rasmus come out and say this, he’s on a one year deal and will probably in line for more money than he deserves in next years weak FA class, from someone else.
He’s earning more then he’s worth this year b/c of QO. he would at best only get $15aav even in a weak OF market next off season.
If he performs well this season(to make Houston want him back) I could see him signing a team friendly extension to stay in Houston….
Navarro’s dismissal in Anaheim was a fairly clear indication that the club favors Choi. Like SoCalShu said, the Angels are not going to sign a LF. Sadly, this IS the team.