Hot Stove

Baseball
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After a season full of injuries to pitchers, the Astros signed a guy with a history of injuries, including elbow issues, a broken arm, oblique, and who knows what else. He hasn’t ever been able to stick as a starter, but that’s what the Astros are looking at.

At least he throws hard when he does play, I guess.

I know they need bodies, so this isn’t really a big deal. It just seems like signing these kind of guys is more consistent with their strategy of shopping the scrap heap and hoping.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they overpay to get Cease after all of the trade deadline talk.

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Yeah, with an ERA over 9….nice signing.

Hopefully they don’t try and use him as a starter….put him in the pen and let him throw 100mph seeds up there.

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Tennessee manager may be heading to the Giants.

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Live footage of Dana in between calls with agents and gm’s.

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Astros could overpay a bit and obtain Imai and it would still be far less than paying Cease or Suarez.

Sell him on the lack of Texas taxes and throw him some more bones for having to be on a plane an extra few hours when he goes home.

Lots of good talent coming in from the far east….gotta stop sitting on our hands with these guys.

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JV back to Astros——-Book it.

Which I don’t mind……as a #4 or 5 starter….he was good the second half of the season.

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I really hope they don’t do that deal at the projected $22MM for one season.

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No way he gets that….maybe a deal he can hit 22M if he pitches 170 innings of sub 3ERA ball.

He would be nice to have in the clubhouse to mentor Blubaugh and a couple of others….i think re rubbed off on HB.

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If we could get another three banged up pitchers Lance could easily move up in the rotation.

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Arenado on the move… should’ve come to the Stros last season!

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Dear Baby Jesus Kyle, please be joking.

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I would’ve taken him at the beginning of last season… not this season.

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The lack of state taxes is a bit misleading.

Athletes are classified as “Entertainers” for tax purposes which means they pay taxes in the state thet are performing in…

so when they play a 3 game series in Anaheim, 3/162 of their salary is taxed per California taxes.

Yes, all of their home games do not incur state income taxes but that is easily offset by the astronomically high property taxes we pay in Texas.

I doubt very few even consider Texas no state income tax when making their decision

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As you pointed out….1/2 the games are in Texas.

And I disagree with property taxes……maybe it doesn’t apply to you but unless you want crappy teachers and inexperienced teachers in your local district you shouldn’t complain about property taxes.

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This isn’t an opinion…its a fact that Texas offsets no state income tax with astronomically high property tax rates which is part of the evaluation

The property taxes on a house in the 3-5 million range, price range for baseball players, are definitely a consideration…even if 81 of your games are in Houston + those in Arlington

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It is 100% your opinion that property taxes in Texas are “astronomical “.

I own two homes in Texas and I don’t find either ( which are in two different cities) to be inordinately high.

That is my opinion.

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Not an opinion…that’s are a fact.

Rates in the more affluent suburbs, like the Woodlands and Katy, are approaching 4%.

Even in the CoH limits, they are in the 2.5% range

Its a serious issue with the post Covid jump in house appraisals which is why it is in the news lately.

The State just increased the Homestead Exemption and they are flirting getting rid of property taxes altogether, as is Florida

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That’s because the governor wants to get rid of public schools altogether. It has nothing to do with a well-reasoned approach to taxation and funding.

But talking about property tax issues in the “Hot Stove” thread isn’t going to lead anywhere good.

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My last post on this Cullen because we are not providing what this thread is supposed to be about.

You cherry picked two different areas….you can’t do that and expect your post to be taken seriously.

And you are also assuming these players are automatically going to live in those areas….100% not the case, I know this for a fact.

My take rates are not anywhere near that and I live in a nice area of San Antonio.

There are many parts of the state whose taxes are more than fair.

And regardless of how high property taxes are in any area….other people may not consider them “astronomical “….

Do you know what your property taxes go towards? Let me know when they drop them altogether….anyone that believes that is naive.

Now , if you want to bring in all forms of gambling including sportsbooks both live and online then maybe that could happen……but without property taxes , Texas will be a freaking slum within a year or two.

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Looks like he has turned the corner and could be a nice BP piece.

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