At a press conference that is no doubt still going on, the Houston Astros are announcing that they signed both George Springer and Jack Armstrong before the signing deadline tonight. No word yet on the signing bonuses, but they should be pretty good, if the other signings tonight are any indication. UPDATE - Springer signed for $2.525 million, according to @Zoodig through MLB Trade Rumors. Brian McTaggart just tweeted that Armstrong got $750,000 in his deal, which was right around what Austin Wates got last season (and what I totally called for the past week). Springer's deal is also about $500,000 over slot.
In other tangential baseball news, the Pirates signed Texas prepster Josh Bell for a reported $5 million dollars. Bell was the first pick in the second round, despite sending a letter to every team saying he would honor his commitment to the University of Texas. Looks like A&M isn't the only one running away from the Longhorns...bazinga!
That also means Houston did not reach an agreement 14th round pick Gandy Stubblefield, who will head to College Station and play for the Aggies.
No word yet on the contracts each player signed, so what are your best guesses on Springer and Armstrong? Are you surprised either or both got deals done? Has there been a bigger day of Astros news in a while? I know the trades were big, but there have been some big stories compressed all on this Monday. It's a lot to deal with.
1 recs | 46 comments
Springer's bonus
2.525M http://www.zoodig.me/georgespringer/springer-agrees-to-terms-with-astros
auclairkeithbc - August 15, 2011
The system has gotten a whole lot better these past few weeks!!
Jbird911 - August 15, 2011
me haaaaappy
ccislanders - August 15, 2011 via mobile
I don’t really want to keep Ed around ,but he has for sure made a good bid on why he should stay here. Our farm system has taken amazing turn these last few weeks.
DKdio - August 15, 2011
I see what you are saying, but Wade has been for 4 years and only after he had his back to wall and was told by Jim Crane to clear payroll so we could get good young prospects in here, did he actually do it. He should have done this years ago.
BHam2421 - August 16, 2011
His boss didn’t let him. Drayton is the one who refused to accept that this team needed to rebuild. When you have a hands on owner, GM’s aren’t given the reigns of the team.
Subber10 - August 16, 2011
Oh I completely agree with you on that. Drayton has meddled for far too long and run off good baseball guys like Gerry Hunsicker while keeping lesser guys such as Tal Smith simply because tehy are yes men. However, Wade isnt without blame. Drayton is as cheap as a billionaire can be so I know he didnt order the Matsui, Hall and Feliz signings. Nor did he order the re-signing of Myers and Wandy (and put in the trade popper in Wandy’s deal).
BHam2421 - August 17, 2011
Building through the draft
I’m glad/relieved that the Astros got this done and signed Springer and Armstrong, two prospects that could make debuts in the next two to three seasons.
IronM21 - August 15, 2011
No matter what anyone says
Wade does know how to build a farm system IMO. Not as great a GM as the Hun was for us but better than terrible Purp. Wade weakness is Free Agency and picking the correct players for the team
Diomedes05 - August 15, 2011
the only reason I am not recing is because of your BAZINGA!
orangeblood kid - August 15, 2011
EveryHoustonTeamRox! - August 15, 2011
alysonfooter http://t.co/jbFXasC – New vid: Scouting director Bobby Heck discusses signing first and third round picks Springer/Armstrong
StrosSouth - August 15, 2011
EveryHoustonTeamRox! - August 15, 2011
Does he look like a man that knows anything more about baseball talent than me
Shamus - August 16, 2011
didnt bobby heck say that he was gonna let springer rest a cpl
Weeks before signinh him?
ccislanders - August 15, 2011 via mobile
yeah, because of his hamstring injury in the playoffs. He’s rested and has been hitting and workinout out. Heck said he will get some time to get game legs under him and will play this year. Armstrong has pitched recently and he’ll get some innings as well.
Subber10 - August 15, 2011
The Future
it is definitely looking brighter for the astros,and today was a good day to be an astros fans with the addition of george Springer and Domingo Santana. Paul Clemens on a side note pitched another great game for Corpus Christi he looking really good so far. I dont know much about jack armstrong though but i hear good things.
31blur114 - August 15, 2011
EveryHoustonTeamRox! - August 15, 2011
For those disappointed we didn’t take any late round fliers, remember we recently signed Dustin Kellogg and Wallace Gonzalez. Lower profile guys, but probably have similar talent.
Subber10 - August 15, 2011
alysonfooter http://t.co/XCSIAzy – Vid: Ed Wade on signing draft picks
StrosSouth - August 15, 2011
Astros now have some serious bats in the system with the addition of Springer.
Can’t wait to see him play.
Armstrong signing is also great news. Anyone know if he projects to be a starter or a reliever?
bone31crusher - August 16, 2011
Starter if healthy
He could be a innings eating workhorse if he stays healthy.
Patrick Harrel - August 16, 2011
That’s a big if.
jmike - August 16, 2011
One of our writers wrote a detailed Springer scouting report
Perhaps it is of interest:
http://orioles-nation.com/2011/05/29/george-springer-scouting-report/
Jordan Tuwiner - August 16, 2011
How
hard does Armstrong throw?
jman012 - August 16, 2011
According to Keith Law:
clack - August 16, 2011
I feel like he may average as high as 93mph when healthy, but we’ll see. He’s a really big guy with a great delivery and great arm speed.
OremLK - August 16, 2011
Interesting you say he has a great delivery, but don’t you have concerns on Cosarts delivery. They both are inverted W guys.
Subber10 - August 16, 2011
I don't see the inverted W?
OremLK - August 16, 2011
Still haven’t figureout pictures on here but a link to a picture. He has over 90 degree of shoulder abduction with extreme internal rotation to point his forearm down. Comparing this to video, his forearm should at least be parralel to ground or closer to straight up.
Subber10 - August 16, 2011
Right click on the image and click "open image in new tab"
Then click the little photo thing and copy and paste the url of the new tab.
Patrick Harrel - August 16, 2011
Here's the picture for y'all
Patrick Harrel - August 16, 2011
I think that's more of an an "inverted L"
A lesser version of the inverted W. But yeah, it’s not ideal, mechanically. My mistake.
OremLK - August 16, 2011
Brilliant.
And I’m laughing my ass off now at the reports of Atlanta being pissed off because their proposal for Pence was supposedly better.
Singleton/Cosart/Zeid/Santana is a pretty excellent return. Best trade of the Wade era, for sure…though it’s not like he had a ton of opportunities to deal for or deal away players.
jonthefon - August 16, 2011
I don't see how Atlanta could be pissed off
after Wade pretty much gave away Bourne.
RocketsAstros - August 16, 2011
Reports have come out
that Atlanta never wanted Pence. They just wanted to drive his price up so that the Phillies would overpay and they could hopefully get Bourn for cheap.
TexasCommodore - August 16, 2011
Pence didn’t make near as much sense for Atlanta as Bourn did, imo, so I totally buy that.
MadMartygan - August 16, 2011
Well, Atlanta has pretty much benched Heyward right now. So they need a RF as well.
jmike - August 16, 2011
We have Jason Michaels!
Subber10 - August 16, 2011
Clemens is looking pretty great so far.
Could be in the mix for our best SP prospect behind Cosart.
YohannDookeyblue - August 16, 2011
Springer adds to a growing list of elite level prospects who the ‘stros have acquired in the last few years. Villar, Cosart, Singleton, Springer, Ovando and possibly even Clemens could all get top 100 type hype next season. That’s a giant improvement from last year.
Armstrong adds another high upside arm and should be in contention for top 10 in the system along with a group that includes Hinze, Chris Wallace, Wates, Mier, Santana, DeShields, Oberholtzer, Foltynewicz, Velasquez, and Houser.
When a player like DeLino DeShields Jr is fringe top 10, you know the system has legitimate prospect depth.
Snake Diggity - August 16, 2011
That’s a very respectable top 10.
MadMartygan - August 16, 2011
Armstrong
Glad, he signed. Wouldn’t have been surprised if he had gone back to school. He definitely has loads of talent. If he stays healthy, this pick could be a steal.
jmike - August 16, 2011
Bell
$5M? Isn’t that more than Trevor Bauer got as a top-5 pick? Hard to pass up on life-changing money like that.
jmike - August 16, 2011
Starting next season we should be less and less depth picks and hopefully more and more overslot guys. After the 1st 6-8 rounds, we should be drafting guys committed to college and offer them overslot. The farm is at the point that depth guys will only be pushing other quality depth out of the system too soon.
Snake Diggity - August 16, 2011
Whatever they do, keep the 20th round sleeper pick going!
jmike - August 16, 2011
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