Covered a whole bunch of stuff last night in the Rumor Roundup, but there are a few items of note this morning...
*How Luhnow prioritizes the needs of 1B and LF could determine the course of the off-season (think position flexibility), but whichever way he goes, Luhnow knows the players on the roster want a plan. Luhnow:
I think players want a plan. So as long as we have a plan and we communicate it...ideally, we would have a set position for each player, but we also want to maintain their flexibility because it helps us in a long season where we need to give guys breaks.
*Jake Kaplan threw a bunch of cold water over that "Miggy to Houston" talk. Luhnow:
I was asked, 'Would we consider a trade for a Hall of Fame-caliber first baseman,' and we're considering everything. I think the media kind of ran with that...Whoever started that rumor, it wasn't us...
...But my broader point is we're open to a lot of different things this year that we weren't necessarily open to in the past.
Let's also not forget that the source of the "story" was written by Jon Paul Morosi, who is from Michigan and loves the Tigers like we all love the Astros. That doesn't diminish his work as a writer, but the possibility remains that perhaps the Tigers planted it with him, or Morosi was just dreaming about how to most efficiently rebuild his team.
*The Detroit Free-Press notes that the Tigers are actively trying to reduce payroll while remaining competitive.
*Ken Rosenthal writes that the Astros are in on all these rumors because they're trying to capitalize on an "open competitive window." He notes that Edwin Encarnacion isn't a great fit for Houston, and that Brian McCann might be more of a possibility because he wouldn't have to catch as much.
*Joel Sherman says Cashman is exploring options that would entice Brian McCann to waive his no-trade clause (no West Coast teams, contenders only). Atlanta, Washington, and Houston are all options for McCann. His agent:
I don't think this is a slam dunk that it happens, I really don't. (McCann) made a choice to be in New York because that is where he wants to be and he got a full no-trade clause because of that.
*If you're dreaming about maybe Joey Votto at 1B, stop doing that.
*Check out WTHB's Astros Farm Report for this morning. And every morning.
*Call it the Padres Rule, MLB will standardize the disclosure of medical information regarding players across the league.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
