Dec.6: The Astros have now formally announced the signing, which brings their 40-man roster count to a total of 38 players.
Dec. 5: The deal is for $5.75MM, Rosenthal tweets.
Dec. 4, 4:31pm: Chirinos himself confirms to Mark Berman of FOX 26 that he has agreed to a one-year deal with the Astros and will be in Houston tomorrow to take a physical (Twitter link).
3:02pm: The Astros are closing in on a contract with free agent backstop Robinson Chirinos, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (Twitter link). A deal is “believed to be in place” and is pending a physical, he adds. Terms are not yet known. Chirinos is represented by MDR Sports Management.
Chirinos will join Max Stassi atop the Astros’ depth chart behind the plate and bring an offensive-minded profile to the table. The 34-year-old somewhat surprisingly had a $4.5MM option declined by the Rangers despite hitting a combined .233/.337/.456 with 54 homers in 1178 plate appearances as a Ranger over the past four seasons. Chirinos’ production did dip substantially in 2018 from a career year in 2017, but he was still a roughly league-average bat per park-adjusted metrics like OPS+ (97) and wRC+ (103).
That said, Chirinos doesn’t come with a strong defensive reputation. He’s thrown out 25 percent of opposing base thieves in his career but saw that mark fall to just 10 percent last season, and while he grades out well in terms of blocking pitches in the dirt, Baseball Prospectus has routinely graded him as a below-average framer — never more so than in 2018.
With each of Brian McCann, Martin Maldonado and Evan Gattis hitting free agency, the Astros had a clear need to add some catching help to pair with Stassi, who has yet to fully establish himself as a big league regular. The 27-year-old Stassi (28 in March) batted .226/.316/.394 with eight homers and 13 doubles in 2018. He’s prevented stolen bases at a roughly league-average clip and graded out as a premium framer, but he’s also never topped the 250 plate appearances the Astros gave him last season. Adding Chirinos to the fold will give Houston at least one additional catching option with notable big league experience.
Of course, it’s not out of the questions that the ’Stros further add behind the plate. Houston has often carried three catching options in the past, with McCann, Gattis, Stassi and Maldonado all occupying space on the 40-man roster in various combinations at times.
He’s a good pickup.
Doesn’t sound like it at all actually. Very questionable pickup. His one positive attribute (offense) took a major dip, and was average at best last year. On the defensive side he presents as a liability.
Eh
isn’t he a poor defender
From what I’ve heard he is.
All I know is that he gunned down 6 of 59 would-be base stealers last season.
With his pop gun arm.
So they out on JT?
If they insist on Tucker then hopefully they’re out.
lol
I wonder if this puts them out on JTR? I would feel like laughing at the Marlins if it did. All the best suiters are going away.
JTR will never leave Miami
Sources indicate Braves discussions with Marlins for Realmuto include a pkg built around 3B Austin Riley & P Michael Soroka. Marlins are still listening to offers from other clubs. Per Craig Mish
Marlins should jump on that if it’s true, which I very much doubt. They ain’t getting more than that.
I read that report. No way to tell if it’s an old offer being reported now or a new one. I’ve heard to many reports to know what the truth is. I read from Tomahawktake that they most recently (3 days ago) went after Albies and then the Tomablog that they wanted Acuna as little as three weeks ago.
These reports may be true but the Braves have done a really good job of keeping a lid on it’s movements. The Donaldson and McCann signings came out of nowhere.
I could see the Braves being in on JTR if the Marlins see the Braves as the final best suitor they have. If I am correctly reading the writing on the wall, I keep Soroka and Wright and offer Anderson and Gohora and maybe a guy on the Fringe of the top 100.
Will that get it done? I don’t know but it looks like the momentum is shifting with the Nationals, Braves and Astros ready and able to move on from the Marlins trying to make up for their terrible trades in the past and passing the bill onto other teams.
Are you his agent? Thanks for the update.
yes
Based on the crap job you are doing, you need fired. But, youre used to hearing that, arent you??
According to my co-worker, who is friends with him and played hs ball with him, he wants to play as close to OKC, his home, as possible. He will be an Astro/Cardinal if either want him in FA.
Or Ranger…
No one wants to play for a losing organization by choice. That’s why he wants out of Miami.
See his know-it-all agent above.
With Yadi retiring after 2020, Realmuto would slide nicely into the Cards lineup.
Because they are asking for even more ridiculous packages than this past season.
a platoon of him and Stassi, pretty good, but not great
Doesn’t really need to be, they are deep elsewhere and still have room to sign an OF/DH. The rotation is the real issue.
They would have been better off keeping Maldonado. The Astros can do a lot better behind the plate
“Keeping Maldonado” was not an option. He’s a free agent. Maybe they tried to sign him but couldn’t agree on numbers.
What do you mean it’s not an option? It’s not like he’s an expensive free agent and the Astros aren’t really that small market of a club, so figuring out numbers would not be so hard that they gave up on him.
unless…..he didn’t want to sign with Houston
Waste of money
Sources indicate Braves discussions with Marlins for Realmuto include a pkg built around 3B Austin Riley & P Michael Soroka. Marlins are still listening to offers from other clubs. Per Craig Mish
Best of luck to him, I enjoyed watching him play and from all the interviews of his I listened to he seemed like a pretty nice guy! Wish the Rangers would have kept him
Depth.
I strongly prefer Grandal, but Chirinos is much cheaper and less commitment. Stubbs should be MLB ready in a year to share time with Stassi, so this could be a nice stop-gap.
Next should be a trade for Goldy and sign Cruz!!! All theyll need is 2 pitchers (Eovaldi+Britton) and theyll be good to go
One of Goldy and Cruz (more likely). Definitely not both
Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes and add Maldonado!
The Astros need a LH bat. The entire lineup sans Reddick is RH.
This doesn’t seem to be a move that would stop the Astros from adding a better catcher if that’s what they want to do. Just from following the Astros it seems they view Stassi as a third catcher option IMO, Charinos could slide in as the backup or platoon to whoever else the Astros have in mind. Can’t really imagine the Astros will go into the season with just these two guys.
I agree. I think this is the same move as the Braves and Nationals. They all would love to have JTR and those three teams are probably the best suitors for him but they are demonstrating that they are willing to move on from him if the Marlins asking price remains as it is.
Pitiful signing. Just another look at the Astros going cheap. Will still win the division one more year with everybody else rebuilding but won’t go anywhere in the playoffs.
They won 103 games last year and upgraded their catcher positon offensively over McCann and Maldonado. BOO HOO HOO..
Stupid comment of the day.
smart move considering he knows the AL west very well and particularly knows the rangers. also we need some pop from the catcher position.
Wouldn’t have expected the Stros Braves and Nats to go cheap in the catchers market.
I think there is more behind this. The Braves, Nats and Astros have probably been the teams connected to Realmuto over the longest period of time with any real legitimacy. This is a way of telling them that they would still love to sign JTR but are prepared to move on.
If any of them WERE to sign Grandal or Ramos then they really would be out on JTR because of the commitment either of those two would take.
Don’t think this would be the end yet. Stassi could always be a throw in for a potential JTR deal.
I still want Maldonado and agree with Astros44, N Cruz, Goldy plus Britton and Eovaldi!!!!!!!!!!
Did you all watch the same Maldanado that I did?? He couldnt his way out of a paper bag and his receiving/skills were very poor in an Astros uniform. He had 4 or 5 passed balls in the playoffs alone that the majority of other catchers would’ve blocked. Instead of dropping his body and glove down on balls in the dirt, he turns his glove to try and backhand them. That’s not ideal for a catcher. They should smother balls in the dirt.
good deal. now sign Matt Harvey, Morton and Eovaldi 2 years contract each
I still want Maldonado on the roster too. Cruz, Britton, Trade for Goldy, and sign Eovaldi would be huge. They could even get by with Happ and Morton. Cruz and Goldy with Britton and see who wants to get fitted for a ring by joining the rotation!!!!
Tucker, James, & Whitley for Chirinos?
I want cruz, goldy, eovaldi, and Britton also, but I also want griffey jr. in his prime. Some things just ain’t gonna happen. One of the 4 would be awesome, all 4 – a pipe dream.
I’m surprised by this signing. I think they must not think too highly of Stassi.
Doubtful, they traded for Maldanado last year when Stassi was a top WAR catcher (at the time of the trade). Stassi is a solid backup and that’s probably all.
has anyone thought of this guy being trade bait for JTR i mean he is a veteran himself and for a rebuilding team that is what you want. Catcher for catcher plus some prospects. Also I really feel the Astros picking up Goldy and Evoladi (sorry for mispell) but I think that Collin Mcghugh gets his spot back in the rotation and Josh James, peacock, and a third potential non ace shoes up the lineup
No. Because you can’t trade free agents you signed until June I think.
Allowing base stealing is just as much on the pitchers and coaches as it is on the catchers. Throwing errors and pasted balls are a more important stat for a catcher and in those areas Chirinos is still high quality. Really like this signing but doesn’t nearly address the loss of McCann’s leadership.
That core has been together for years and they have great chemistry. A non issue.
Astros being like the Angels and picking up Rangers leftovers.
Rangers being like the Angels and staying jelly of the Astros 2017 World Series Champion trophy.
This Astros core will break up in less than three years and the window for championships will close for a while. Houston should go for the gusto now while they’ve got a chance. Give away salary relief in order to bring in Greinke, Votto, and maybe even Holland. Then sign Miller and really give Boston a run for the money.
I agree with you about their window being small and that they should go for it. I disagree on the “who.”. Sign Cruz to DH, and trade Tucker and anyone except Whitley, to bring in Goldschmidt and Greinke. Take on most of Greinke’s salary to lessen the prospect return.
Verlander, Cole, Greinke, Whitley, and McHugh is a very good rotation on paper. A lineup of Altuve, Bregman, Correa, Springer, Goldschmidt, Cruz, Reddick, Marisnick, Chirinos/Stassi is also very good.
Go all in now before the window closes.
I don’t agree with that assessment at all. Lunhow has the choice to either go for it and win another one in the next few years, or build a long lasting powerhouse that may not be able to compete with other super teams.
Lunhow seems to be going with the second option at this time. The Astros have some solid prospects and payroll flexibility. Also, the division is weak. I think they can win the AL West 8 out of the next 10 years.
That’s why the Astros aren’t trading for JTR. They can easily win the division in 2019 without him.
Goldy for one year doesn’t mean an Astros top prospect.
You can’t assume anything and try to win titles over a long period, that’s how a decline like the Royals happens.
The issue is the Astros are potentially losing Verlander and Cole next year, and Springer the year after.
Luhnow should be adding impact players to try and win another title, not ride on his prospects, some of which seem to either be overvalued or can’t make the jump from AAA to the majors.
Astrosfan4life do you hate all LH batters?
Disappointed, both defense and pitcher ERA are poor, plus Stassi isn’t especially good at either. Seems we sold short our ideals at catcher for a few home runs and to save some money and/or prospects.
I’d have brought back Maldonado over this signing.
Title window teams should do better.
as a rangers fan this hurt
What could the Astros give up for Cervelli? Any controllable left handed relievers to complement Vazquez?