Back for another installment of my MLB Offseason Breakdown for the 2020 season. If you are new here, what I do is write about all the acquisitions and losses the team had, my projected lineups and rotations, grade for the offseason, and my prediction for the team in the 2020 season. Let’s get into it.
Offseason Acquisition and Loses:
RHP Gerritt Cole signs a 9 year $324 million contract with the New York Yankees
The biggest move of the offseason, as the Astros lose one of their best pitchers to their rivals and it’s going to be hard to move on from this. Cole was a dominant force for Houston but was always second to Verlander. Now I can’t say I know much about the situation with Houston, but it feels like they really had no chance in bringing back Cole as he was destined to be with the Yankees.
RHP Will Haris signs a 3 year $24 million contract with Washington
This is another huge loss for Houston as they lose one of the best relief pitchers from the past couple of seasons. Harris is a former All-Star and probably had his best season last year where he had a career-low ERA of 1.50 in 60.0 innings pitched. Also, Harris had a 2.1 WAR last season.
LHP Wade Miley signs a 2 year $15 million contract with Cincinnati
Houston loses another pitcher, this time Wade Miley who had a fine season with the Astros last year. In 33 appearances last season, Miley went 14-6 with a 3.98 ERA. In my opinion, I think Houston should have brought back Miley because losing two starters in one offseason is pretty difficult.
Projected Lineup:
C: Martin Maldonado
1B: Yuli Gurriel
2B: Jose Altuve
3B: Alex Bregman
SS: Carlos Correa
LF: Michael Brantley
CF: George Springer
RF: Josh Reddick
DH: Yordan Alverez
Projected Rotation
1. Justin Verlander
2. Zack Greinke
3. Lance McCullers
4. Jose Urquidy
5. Austin Pruitt (Opener?)
Offseason Grade: F (Just because of the other stuff)
2020 Prediction:
The Astros lost a lot of their big pieces this offseason, but yet I am very confident in them. They had a tough offseason with losing players and all the other media shit storm they had to deal with, but we are forgetting how good of a team they truly are. Justin Verlander won his second Cy Young award last year. Bregman and Altuve are still some of the best hitters in baseball. I’m saying nothing will change and The Astros will still be one of the best teams in baseball, winning the AL West, and that’s not it. The Astros are my preseason pick to win the World Series. The Astros want to, and will, show how good of a team they really are. With help or with none.
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Previous Offseason Breakdowns:
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Arizona Diamondbacks
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Atlanta Braves
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Baltimore Orioles
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Boston Red Sox
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Chicago Cubs
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Chicago White Sox
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Cincinnati Reds
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Cleveland Indians
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Colorado Rockies
MLB 2020 Offseason Breakdown: Detroit Tigers
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