Polanco's deal with Seattle was one year for $7.75M with a player option next year. I wonder if the latter is what kept the Astros from signing him knowing Crane doesn't seem to like going that route.

*Could've been the CBT threshold as well, obviously. The 2023 offseason was such a disaster in hindsight.

The Sun said:

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Drunken Overseas Bettor said:

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That's all well and good but it doesn't answer my simple question.

If Yordan hit 61 after never hitting more than 37, would you think he was on steroids?

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To add, I wonder how the roid-promoters feel about this career.



Does anyone think this guy was on steroids?

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1961 -- Maris (batting 3rd) had Mantle hitting behind him (4th). Mantle -- at the time -- had already won the triple crown, been named an all-star 9 times and had 2 MVPs. You would think he'd get more pitches to hit as pitchers didn't want to face Mantle with guys on.

In 1960, Maris was batting 4th and Mantle 3rd. So, Maris was protecting Mantle.

It's conceivable that the additional protection in the lineup, along with the competition between the two guys, led to the uptick in HRs.

In 1962, Maris was dropped to 6th in the lineup and Mantle 7th. Mantle also only played about 120 games in 1962.

My brother in Christ, you are stretching harder than a heretic in the Spanish Inquisition.

Girardi, not Boone.

The Sun said:

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Drunken Overseas Bettor said:

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That's all well and good but it doesn't answer my simple question.

If Yordan hit 61 after never hitting more than 37, would you think he was on steroids?

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To add, I wonder how the roid-promoters feel about this career.



Does anyone think this guy was on steroids?

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Who knows what those guys were on back then. He was almost certainly taking greenies.

1961 was the year the AL moved to 162 games and added two new teams. Total home runs in the AL increased 41% that season. Maris and Mantle hit 39 and 40 in '60 and then 61 and 54 the following season. Jim Gentile from the Orioles went from 21 to 46 and never again sniffed 40, topping out at 33.

Ag_07 said:

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Y'all do realize you all sound like Yankee fans who swore we were wearing buzzers?

Just wanted to point that out while we're talking hypocrisy.

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I believe that was the point?

MosesHallRAB04 said:

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Man he was out by a mile if Sanchez could catch.

And those ABs were long as hell.

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I was just watching that thinking how much I appreciate the pitch clock now when I go back and see old games where each AB just drags along. Helps when the hitters don't swing at every pitch too.

Also, if Yordan could stay healthy, it wouldn't shock me at all to see him hit 50+ home runs. I just don't think he'll ever play in enough games to do it.

Mr. Awesome Time said:

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Polanco's deal with Seattle was one year for $7.75M with a player option next year. I wonder if the latter is what kept the Astros from signing him knowing Crane doesn't seem to like going that route.

*Could've been the CBT threshold as well, obviously. The 2023 offseason was such a disaster in hindsight.

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The Mariners are bringing back Jorge Polanco. They announced Monday that they've re-signed the veteran infielder to a one-year deal with a vesting/player option for the 2026 season. Polanco, an Octagon client, will reportedly be guaranteed $7.75MM. That comes in the form of a $7MM base salary in 2025 plus a $750K buyout on a mutual option. That mutual option can become a $6MM player option if Polanco reaches 450 plate appearances, and the option price would climb further, to $8MM, if he gets to 550 plate appearances. Polanco, who'll move across the diamond and play third base for Seattle in 2025, can earn an additional $3.5MM worth of incentives. If he hits all of those incentives and picks up the player option, the contract would top out at $18.5MM over two seasons.

With the incentives, it ended up being a 1/10 M deal with year 2 moving from mutual to player option. I assume he'll test the market again. He should be able to secure a deal worth more than a 1-year, $8 M contract in 2026.

I think the Astros and the fanbase thought he wasn't worth that. You can go back to last year's offseason thread to see it. Good for Seattle for taking their shot and hitting it.

iBrad said:

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Also, if Yordan could stay healthy, it wouldn't shock me at all to see him hit 50+ home runs. I just don't think he'll ever play in enough games to do it.

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The physical nature and previous performances make Yordan hitting 60+ much more reasonable than Dumper.

The Sun said:

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My brother in Christ, you are stretching harder than a heretic in the Spanish Inquisition.

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I've been very clear on the Cal thing -- I'm not saying he is cheating, using 'roids or doping.

I'm asking the question, "Could it be a possibility?" And that answer is, "Yes,it could be possible."

It is also entirely possible -- and most likely probable -- that nothing nefarious is going on, and it is all on the up-and-up. I've stated in previous posts that the power surge could be due to change in approach. He's hitting more fly balls this year and pulling the ball more.

But when I see a guy who has never hit more than 34 HRs in a season, playing a grueling position like catcher for 120 games, all of the sudden hit 60 HRs -- it seems suspect and I automatically question it.

What makes you think with all we've seen since the 90s -- 'roids, BALCO, electronic sign stealing by the Yankees, Red Sox and others, the Astros system and players like Robinson Cano (with the M's in 2017 and Mets in 2020), Jurickson Profar, Fernando Tatis, Jr., and our buddy Jose Alvarado being busted recently for PEDs -- causes Cal Raleigh and the Mariners to be beyond reproach? Because they are supposedly the feel-good story for MLB this year?

Jorge Polanco -- the big-time winner for the Ms in the playoffs this year -- was suspended for 80 games in 2018 for the steroid, Stanozolol: Polanco Suspension. What's to say he isn't using them again or shared with his teammates?

The Mariners have already been called out for blatantly stealing signs in the playoffs during a broadcast (not that there is anything wrong with what they were doing): Naylor Blatantly Stealing Signs

Think back to 2017 when we thought they were on fire and amazing -- and it turned out they were stealing signs with a pretty intricate system. The system ultimately turned out not to matter -- but it still happened.

Questioning what's going on isn't being hypocritical. It's a valid question.

Honestly, I don't care either way -- and we likely won't get any testing on it.

If you want to keep your rose-colored glasses on -- that's fine. But I take what I see with a grain of salt.

Cal had had interviews where he's talked about the approach change. The org told him your here to hit homers and drive in runs, not high average.

Nothing is impossible. I do understand people who might question it.

txags92 said:

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MosesHallRAB04 said:

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Cal had had interviews where he's talked about the approach change. The org told him your here to hit homers and drive in runs, not high average.

Nothing is impossible. I do understand people who might question it.

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Can we tell Yainer and Walker that they are here to drive in runs, not K, and get some similar changes made?

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Well, to make it happen they will also need to mention it in interviews, but that aside, easy peasy

MosesHallRAB04 said:

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Cal had had interviews where he's talked about the approach change. The org told him your here to hit homers and drive in runs, not high average.

Nothing is impossible. I do understand people who might question it.

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Agreed. iBrad's response with Cal's career avg being .220 is irrelevant. And the reply about Yainer and Walker not K'ing as much is silly as well.

Raleigh changed to focusing on lifting and pulling the ball exclusively. He has always had plenty of power. THe new approach worked for him this year because clubs refused to adjust to him. They kept challenging him right in his wheelhouse over and over and over. His approach change led to a career year power-wise, and also in strikeouts with 188.

I guess my only issue with the whole conversation is that everyone is so quick to throw out the "he/they are cheating" card nowadays. It's like fans all collectively turned into a bunch of third graders which is a product of past scandals but damn, just enjoy some baseball and stop lobbing bombs when good/fun things happen. If it comes out later that someone cheated, so be it.

Ex-Astros GM James Click among those who have interviewed for Rockies’ top job: Sources https://t.co/udweuhxniK

— Britt Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) October 14, 2025

Man, I don't know that I would want working there in my resume. Doomed to fail no matter who gets that job.

Just to be clear, I am not denying that Raleigh might be roidng up, I just speculate we as a Houston fanbase are particularly eager for it to be the case because he had a landmark season that was at least an indirect contributor of the Astros missing the playoffs this year.

Gotcha, missed the sarcasm or whatever.

I do agree about past transgressions tainting current and future performances. I try to look at it from the innocent until proven guilty perspective otherwise what is the point in watching any sporting event anymore?

I also completely with DOB, not just about our fanbase but all of them. Every fanbase nowadays thinks someone else's guy is cheating someway somehow. Similar to how every fanbase hates every commentator because the fans think they favor the other team.

The sad reality is we have reached the point where there are billions of dollars up for grabs and everyone has an incentive to do whatever it takes to get a share of that bag.

Except for Aroidus Garcia. **** that guy. He is psycho AND a caricature of the human form. He just isn't good enough to take advantage of his help except when he plays the Astros. See what I did there?

Click would be an absolute home run hire for the Rockies. He's a really smart guy who worked successfully in a high-pressure situation with the Astros, and he'll be able to help get the Rockies up to speed in their R&D department https://t.co/FVi0pGSzTt

— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) October 14, 2025

You can win in Colorado. The Rockies made the playoffs in 2017 and 2018 because they could pitch, and they built it the right way, but you could see cracks starting to form in player development back then, and the decision making since has been awful, but you can win there https://t.co/CP7zGPD6SV

— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) October 14, 2025

Eventually somebody there might succeed. I'll just be happy if they knock the Dodgers down a peg by 4-5 wins

also this would likely take big resources (Cam Smith+ I assume) but maybe get another Hunter to top the rotation, with team control...

Reds writer @m_sheldon speculates that Reds ace Hunter Greene could be available for trade this offseason, with the goal of getting Cincinnati more offense at the MLB level.

Greene is controlled through 2028 with a team option for 2029. Count me all the way in. pic.twitter.com/z3WB24HW0x

— Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) October 14, 2025

linkdude said:

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also this would likely take big resources (Cam Smith+ I assume) but maybe get another Hunter to top the rotation, with team control...

Reds writer @m_sheldon speculates that Reds ace Hunter Greene could be available for trade this offseason, with the goal of getting Cincinnati more offense at the MLB level.

Greene is controlled through 2028 with a team option for 2029. Count me all the way in. pic.twitter.com/z3WB24HW0x

— Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) October 14, 2025

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Honestly not a bad idea. I still love Cam's potential but we have too many position players and if we want to get an extra lefty bat in the lineup then Sanchez in RF is an easy fit. With Cole in CF that allows you to regularly get 3 lefties in the lineup. Granted you would need to be comfortable with a Yordan / Jose LF / DH setup because the infield is still crowded. Greene has 4 more years of control.

Kris Bryant under contract thru 2028

as of now he is 35% of Colorado's 2026 payroll

good luck James

this feels like a deal for the Dodgers or Padres

Astros don't have enough young hitters to get 4 years of control

MaxPower said:

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linkdude said:

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also this would likely take big resources (Cam Smith+ I assume) but maybe get another Hunter to top the rotation, with team control...

Reds writer @m_sheldon speculates that Reds ace Hunter Greene could be available for trade this offseason, with the goal of getting Cincinnati more offense at the MLB level.

Greene is controlled through 2028 with a team option for 2029. Count me all the way in. pic.twitter.com/z3WB24HW0x

— Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) October 14, 2025

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Honestly not a bad idea. I still love Cam's potential but we have too many position players and if we want to get an extra lefty bat in the lineup then Sanchez in RF is an easy fit. With Cole in CF that allows you to regularly get 3 lefties in the lineup. Granted you would need to be comfortable with a Yordan / Jose LF / DH setup because the infield is still crowded. Greene has 4 more years of control.

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Are we trusting Cole to be a quality contributor because he had a good 2 weeks?
Cam is the shiny puzzle piece of the Astros future.

yes, Cam is the only returning player who could take a huge jump in year-over-year OPS

the other guys will do about the same again -- and that wasn't enough

Chas for Greene straight up

If it's MLB level offense they want then we can give it to them.

Ag_07 said:

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Chas for Greene straight up

If it's MLB level offense they want then we can give it to them.

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Throw in Walker to make it fair

txags92 said:

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MosesHallRAB04 said:

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Cal had had interviews where he's talked about the approach change. The org told him your here to hit homers and drive in runs, not high average.

Nothing is impossible. I do understand people who might question it.

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Can we tell Yainer and Walker that they are here to drive in runs, not K, and get some similar changes made?

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Yes, just inject them with the same substances that Cal is receiving.