Justin Verlander sounds more driven than ever.
Jose Altuve insists he is already 100 percent.
Carlos Correa still could end up sharing a locker next to Marwin Gonzalez.
And Dallas Keuchel’s name was mentioned multiple times Saturday at Minute Maid Park.
The faces you know so well and the rising legion of Astros fans shared center stage for the club’s annual FanFest, which was saturated in orange and blue, displaying the power of 204 combined wins the last two seasons.
Football city. Baseball town.
But on a buzzing day devoted to autographs, selfies and children casually throwing baseballs with parents in the outfield — in late January, inside a stadium with an open roof — the still-frozen state of MLB free agency rested beneath the surface of everything.
“We’re in a difficult part of our game. I think things need to change. … The biggest detriment to our game right now is the non-competitiveness of two-thirds of the league. I think that’s why you’re seeing free agents not get signed,” said Verlander, who’s set to become a free agent after this season and has yet to begin contract-extension negotiations with the franchise that he helped deliver a World Series title to in 2017.
“I don’t know what their organizational plans are,” Verlander said. “It’s something I wouldn’t be opposed to.”
Altuve, Correa, Verlander. Alex Bregman, George Springer and Gerrit Cole. Despite an offseason filled with change, the 2019 Astros are still loaded with stars. Heck, Bregman unveiled a video-game cover Saturday and hyped up another trophy.
But the name that could have the biggest impact before Opening Day arrives?
Jeff Luhnow, of course.
“We have financial resources and prospect resources to make some deals. But do we make them January 27th or do we make them July 31st?” the Astros general manager said. “I don’t know the answer to that. We’re looking at all alternatives.”
Love to have them back
Could Gonzalez and/or Keuchel — still unsigned and openly available to all 30 teams in the sport — actually end up returning to the Astros?
Keuchel felt like a goner as soon as the Astros fell 4-1 to the eventual-champion Boston Red Sox in the American League Championship Series. Gonzalez was hugging teammates and whispering goodbyes as the Astros’ clubhouse slowly emptied out. Both would look great in orange again — at the right price.
“We’ve talked consistently about the fact that both of those players were so important to our success and we, of course, would love to have both of them back,” Luhnow said.
Could the organization that was ahead of the curve with this crazy analytics thing end up as one of the biggest winners of a, thus far, boring MLB offseason?
Luhnow said during the 2018 FanFest the Astros weren’t up to much. Then they turned Pittsburgh’s tear-down into a stunning trade for Cole, giving the Astros the best starting staff in The Show and capitalizing on a slow, shaky free-agent market.
Sell high. Buy low.
A year later, everyone from Bryce Harper and Manny Machado to Keuchel and Gonzalez remain there for the taking, despite the start of spring training being less than three weeks away.
Some clubs are going to steal top names, maximizing on modern opportunity.
Ex-Astro J.D. Martinez went through a prolonged free-agency process last season, finally signing with the Red Sox in late February. Martinez hit .330 with 43 home runs, 130 RBIs, 111 runs and a 1.031 OPS, finishing fourth in American League MVP voting. Boston won a franchise-record 108 games, then powered past the Astros on the way toward another parade.
I won’t be surprised if Luhnow makes your Astros’ heart beat faster again.
“Because there are so many free agents still out there and because there are still a lot of teams talking trade, there is a decent likelihood that something will happen, but I can’t tell you what … nor do we absolutely have to have it,” said Luhnow, who made it clear that Houston’s pro baseball team is dealing from an advantageous position.
He was bold.
“A healthy Correa, a healthy Bregman, a healthy Altuve, we win the division (in 2019). No question about it,” Luhnow said. “If they stay close to 100 percent this season, watch out — we’re going to be tough to beat.”
The GM, who initially endured tiny crowds and constant criticism, also was thankful of the unifying power of the present day.
“I was thinking back to my first FanFest in 2012. We’ve come a long way,” Luhnow said. “The energy out there, the fans — just walking through the concourse, walking around, people are excited. I really give a lot of credit to our players for stepping up and coming out here. Because they don’t have to do it — they do it because they want to do it.”
Huge decisions ahead
There is clear potential in this moment. I’ve often written that the Astros had to lose a lot of games to be this good. They’re January favorites for their third consecutive AL West title, and there’s room on Minute Maid’s lightpoles for a couple more golden banners during the Luhnow era.
The big decisions also never stop when you’re near the top. The 2017 Game 7 World Series winner now pitches for Tampa Bay. The best 1-2 starting punch in MLB is set to enter free agency after this year’s Fall Classic.
“Verlander and Cole both becoming free agents … at some point we’re going to have to either try and sign them or deal with the consequences of them moving,” Luhnow said.
Many in MLB have followed the Astros’ lead.
With so many big names still waiting to find out which teams they’re playing for in 2019, Luhnow has another shot to stay ahead of the game.
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