Recently, it seems that every Houston Astros player is in a slump at the plate. But some guys, such as Evan Gattis, have been in a cold stretch for much of the season. Is he worth re-signing?
The Houston Astros are undoubtedly in their worst offensive funk of the season. And the recent issues at the plate as a team overshadow some players’ uninspiring campaigns altogether.
Marwin Gonzalez comes to mind with disappointing numbers after a breakout season. Yet, fellow upcoming free agent Evan Gattis is in the same category.
But Gonzalez, because of his versatility, could be worthy of keeping. Gattis’ only argument is his hitting prowess. However, his only argument stems from a torrid stretch across May and June.
Gattis’s stats are borderline atrocious for the rest of the season. The designated hitter owns a .217/.283/.391 triple-slash line since the All-Star break.
Needless to say, the 31-year-old provides pop. But he ultimately lacks consistency, something most of Houston’s hitters possess.
The Astros must decide whether the power is worth it. For a team filled with depth and talent in all levels, it shouldn’t be. There are several other options in the farm and on the market worth looking into.
Gattis’ biggest milestone so far is clocking at least 20 home runs in a season in five of his six career seasons. He also routinely slugs better than .450 every season.
Nevertheless, since the Astros cannot play him in the field, it limits his playing ability overall. The former catcher no longer is relevant in interleave matchups. And as Houston as seen, he’s no longer useful when catchers get injured.
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More than a handful of players on the big-league roster will be free agents this winter. Unless the Astros can get Gattis for a cheap price, it seems he may be last on their wish list. And it boils down to his volatile nature at the plate.
It’s not difficult to find power on the market, especially from seasoned veterans. Guys like Carlos Gonzalez, Steve Pearce and Matt Adams all are examples of short-term investments that can offer a similar productivity.
Nevertheless, Tyler White could easily slide into the position, now that the front office knows he can hit against MLB pitchers. He would be much cheaper, too.
Moreover, it would allow Houston to be more flexible with its roster. Should the Astros choose to keep three catchers on staff, they could do so without Gattis.
Furthermore, his departure opens up a spot for more multifaceted players, such as Tony Kemp or Gonzalez, if he remains. Players like Kyle Tucker and White might not be on the everyday roster – they are now due to injuries.
But that might change for Houston after this offseason.
Nevertheless, the positives seemingly outweigh the negatives when it comes to Gattis. And while he may reach the 20-homer mark for several more seasons, his next one might not be in an Astros uniform.