I know, I know, with all that's going on in AstroWorld, it's tough to think that they should be focused on things like this winter's free agent market. I mean, they don't even have an owner right now. They're stuck in this quasi-limbo between two guys.
↵But, FanGraphs started a series breaking down the top markets at different positions and it got me thinking. Specifically, their center field market had a name that jumped out at me as a guy Houston should make an effort to sign.
↵That guy is Grady Sizemore.
↵Assuming Cleveland turns down his $8.5 million option, the Astros could really use Sizemore in the lineup. I don't think he'd take Jordan Schafer's spot in center field, because his knees probably won't let him cover enough ground in Minute Maid Park. However, he does make some sense in right field.
↵There, his power would play well, assuming he returns to form. Plus, he's a buy-low option that Houston could pick up on a one-year deal and then deal him at the deadline for prospects. Or, they could lock him up for a few more years and let him transition over to the Ariel Ovando's and Domingo Santana's of the world.
↵There are a couple of downsides to my plan. For one, Sizemore is 30, which means his best offensive years are most likely behind him. Couple his age with his injuries and there is a chance he's no longer an impact player. Plus, if Houston put him in right field, he'd be blocking Brian Bogusevic. While I'm okay with that in theory, Bogey has the second-best power on this team, so to justify taking him out of the lineup, Sizemore would have to bounce back offensively.
↵It wouldn't be a cheap decision, but bringing in Sizemore to see if he can redeem himself is exactly the kind of move Houston should be making. What's the worst that could happen, they lose 100 games?
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