The Astros may have just picked up another All-Star caliber player in an MLB offseason. It is being reported and confirmed that Michael Brantley will be signing a two-year, $32 million deal to head from Cleveland to Houston.
#Astros closing in on free-agent outfielder Michael Brantley, sources tell The Athletic. Rival executives expect deal to be in two-year, $32M range.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 17, 2018
The 31-year-old Brantley is coming off of a very productive season with Cleveland. In 143 games, he slashed .309/.364/.468 with 17 home runs and 176 hits in 143 games. A career .295 hitter, injuries have plagued him over the past few years. When he is on, however, Brantley can become one of the most dynamic role players in the game today.
Michael Brantley swung at 1008 pitches last season and only missed 111 times. His 11% whiff rate was 3rd lowest in @mlb. Alex Bregman was 7th lowest.
https://t.co/469CiJXhZ0— Daren Willman (@darenw) December 18, 2018
The Astros are already set with established players like George Springer and Tony Kemp in the outfield. As a result, it appears Josh Reddick is the odd man out in this situation.
A name to watch out for is outfielder Kyle Tucker, the Astros’ top prospect. Chosen in the fifth round of the MLB Draft, Tucker made his major league debut in 2018, playing in 28 games and slashing .141/.236/.203. The 21-year-old may need some seasoning before he is brought back up to the big leagues for good, hence the push for Brantley.
An outfielder and a DH, some may be skeptical of the move, until realizing bulking up a team who lost a plethora of talent can open the doors for various possibilities.
Are you a fan of this move by the Astros?
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