*Big news of the day in AstroWorld was Colby Rasmus accepting the Astros' qualifying offer of $15.8m to play outfield in 2016. This means the Astros are now set in the outfield, with Gomez in center, Springer in right, and Rasmus in left - with Jake Marisnick and Preston Tucker in the wings. I don't know if the Astros made Rasmus the offer expecting him to turn it down, seeing as how he's the first player under the new CBA to accept a qualifying offer, but cross that need off whatever list there might be.
*Ken Rosenthal thinks the decision makes sense for both parties
*Jose Altuve can add a second Silver Slugger award to his cabinet, in addition to the Gold Glove he won earlier this week. Altuve is the first Astros back-to-back Silver Slugger since Biggio did it in 1997-98 (and previously in 1994-95).
*Evan Drellich says that the Marlins' Mike Dunn could be a cheaper late-inning option than Aroldis Chapman.
*Luhnow said that the process of negotiating contracts is now split up.
*What The Heck, Bobby has an updated Astros Rule 5 draft primer
*The hell are the Barves doing?
*Chalk up one vote for Jeff Bagwell, courtesy of ESPN New York's Adam Rubin.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
