Astros Free Agent Process Begins

[liamrock]

I heard Tim Purpura on 610 this morning and he said that the Astros had begun contacting free agents that they were interested in. He mentioned that the Astros were fortunate in that he felt they only needed upgrades at a couple of spots. When are the Winter Meetings? I'd like Giles, but I bet we get a cheaper hitter. We'll see!

[RocketJedi]

Here's the rundown on the offseason.


Key Dates:
The day following the conclusion of the WS: For next 15 days eligible players may elect free agency by filing the necessary paperwork. During this period, players eligible to demand a trade may also do this. Also, all contract options, whether held by team, player or mutually by both, must be exercised or declined during the first 10 days of this period.
November 7-11: GM Meetings in Indian Wells, CA
November 10: Waivers secured on/after Aug. 1, 2005, expire at 5:00 p.m. ET
November 11: New waiver period begins. Waivers (exclusive of Special waivers) secured today and after shall be in effect until February 15, 2006
Nov. 16-17: Owners' Meetings in Milwaukee
November 18: Day to file reserve lists for all Minor League levels and Major Leagues (In other words, all players must be removed from the Disabled List or any other similar inactive lists.) Today is also the last day to protect a player from the Rule V Draft. Any player signed out of high school who has completed four full professional seasons or any player signed out of college who has completed three is subject to being lost to the Rule 5 draft if not on a 40-man roster.
Last date to make an off-season outright assignment of an injured player to the Minor Leagues if the player does not meet the requirements listed in Article XIX(C)(b) of the CBA.
December 5-8: Baseball Winter Meetings in Dallas, TX
December 7: Last date for former club of player who declared free agency under Art. XX (B) to offer salary arbitration. If Club does not offer, then it loses all rights to negotiate with and sign the free agent until May 1st of the next season
Dec. 8- Major League Rule V Draft
Dec. 19: Last date for player, who declared free agency under Art. XX (B), to accept an arbitration offer of former club. If player rejects offer to go to arbitration, his former club may still negotiate with and sign him until January 8th of next season
Dec. 20: Last date to tender contracts for 2006 season to unsigned players
Jan. 5-15: Salary arbitration filing period
Jan. 8: Last day until May 1 for free agents who rejected arbitration offers to re-sign with their former teams
Jan. 18: Exchange of salary arbitration figures
Feb. 1-21: Salary Arbitration hearings

http://www.mlb4u.com/leagueinfo.html

[Svpernaut]

I heard Tim Purpura on 610 this morning and he said that the Astros had begun contacting free agents that they were interested in. He mentioned that the Astros were fortunate in that he felt they only needed upgrades at a couple of spots. When are the Winter Meetings? I'd like Giles, but I bet we get a cheaper hitter. We'll see!

Giles would be a perfect fit (hey, he's white!) and is all we would really need to solidify ourselves as contenders... unless Roger doesn't come back, but we can get 1 or even 2 good pitchers with the salary we'd be paying Roger in the first place.

[NJRocket]

I'd love to land Giles (although he is like 34 and will probably ask for 10 per yr or so)....I wonder if he would consider playing here.

I think he plays RF... so unless Bags retires or sits, it means Lane sits or gets traded.

[RocketMan Tex]

I'd love to land Giles (although he is like 34 and will probably ask for 10 per yr or so)....I wonder if he would consider playing here.

I think he plays RF... so unless Bags retires or sits, it means Lane sits or gets traded.

Bags should sit. Berkman should be our everyday 1B next season.

If we get Giles, he plays RF, Lane plays LF, Berkman plays 1B, and Bagwell either retires or becomes the highest paid pinch hitter in Major League Baseball.

Personally, I hope he retires. The man's right shoulder is al dente, and it ain't gonna get better.

[DieHard Rocket]

I'd love to land Giles (although he is like 34 and will probably ask for 10 per yr or so)....I wonder if he would consider playing here.

I think he plays RF... so unless Bags retires or sits, it means Lane sits or gets traded.

Well, LF and RF are typically interchangeable...especially in MMP, where if you have the range to play RF you can easily play LF. The only tough part is learning to play the bounces off the wall in left.

Even so, I'd take Giles in this lineup over Lane anyday. Giles has about 100 times the plate discipline that Lane does. Not sure about Giles power at his age, but I think it's about the same as Lane.

[RocketJedi]

I'd love to land Giles....I wonder if he would consider playing here.

I think he plays RF... so unless Bags retires or sits, it means Lane sits or gets traded.

During the NLCS it was said on FOX that Giles wanted to go to St. Louis. Considering how few really good hitters there are in free agency this year, I think Giles will command a pretty penny. He's an on base machine.

[NJRocket]

Even so, I'd take Giles in this lineup over Lane anyday. .


Ideally, if bags would retire, we could have them both in the lineup

Biggio
Willie
Giles
Berkman
Ensberg
Lane
Everett
Ausmus

[Desert Scar]

I say get Petite and Roger to give a tour to Matsui. Either Giles or Matsui would be the next best thing to trading for Manny. Drayton is going to have to open his pocketbook, hopefully Bags retires/renegotiates.

Lane or Burke might have to be traded for the best pitcher/prospect you can get for them.

[RocketManJosh]

Living here in San Diego I hear a lot about Giles on the radio. Apparently the rumor is that he wants to stay and play here in San Diego, but if they don't at least get within the ballpark of other teams in terms of salary, then he would prefer to go to either St. Louis or Atlanta. I really don't think we have much of a shot at him because all things equal I think he'd pick another team and we are not going to overbid to get him.

[Hakeem06]

i've been wondering about matsui too. i think his bat would be great in our lineup. i don't know if andy and roger are close to him at all, but there is definitely that yankee connection there. giles would be nice too. but i think we have to keep lane for power alone. you can't take his bat out and replace him, because that leaves us in the same situation as this last year.

[DaDakota]

I think we should wait and see how Bagwell's shoulder responds.....he may in fact be better next year.

He said it is mostly pain free, and he only has normal soreness now....he just has not thrown a ball.....

I think his stature mandates that we give him that chance.....

No one wants him back with a bad shoulder, but what if it is better?

Would you want him then?????

We would instantly be a MUCH more dangerous offensive team.

DD

[Aceshigh7]

I agree, Godzilla would do awful well manning left field for us for the next several years. Matsui has a great bat and his defense is good too. Don't know why I don't hear more people talking about the possibility. I think he would be a great addition.

[Rule0001]

I predict we sign none other than Jesus Christ this offseason.

He'd be an instant differencemaker for sure.

That my friends, is my 1000th post.

-Rule0001

"Quality posting since 2003"

[jopatmc]

We need more hitting at the SS and catcher positions than we do the outfield. We have to improve on 2 to 3 automatic 1-2-3 innings from the bottom of the lineup.

[DieHard Rocket]

We need more hitting at the SS and catcher positions than we do the outfield. We have to improve on 2 to 3 automatic 1-2-3 innings from the bottom of the lineup.

The thing is there just aren't many SS and Catchers that hit well. It is obvious that these are the weakest hitting positions in the league (especially since A-Rod moved to 3B).

The perfect solution would be if Burke can play SS...which we aren't sure of. I think this team was so set on grooming him as Biggio's heir that they didn't even open up that possiblity. The team felt they were pretty set with Everett at SS. First we need to find an OF bat regardless of Baggy's situation...if he comes back Lane can sit or he and Lane can alternate in the lineup, provided that the new OF is better than Lane (Berkman plays first when Lane starts).

I'm actually fine with Ausmus at catcher. If we can make the middle of the lineup stronger, it helps the bottom of the lineup out...Ausmus would be in more situations where he can bunt or move runners. Then you get to the SS situation...if Burke can play there, it makes the lineup even stronger obviously, which helps cover up Ausmus' weaknesses.

I just don't want to see this team throw money at Furcal or Garciaparra if there are better hitters in the OF available. We've got a little flexibility here...if we're going to spend a lot of money get the best hitter possible, not just someone who is better than Everett.

[jopatmc]

I understand your points but you want to spend money for an incremental offensive upgrade to the outfield. Lane is on the upside start of his career. So is Willy. They will be better next year. If we do get a bat out there, we are gonna have to drop some serious cash on them and Luke Scott, and the other youngster we got won't get to develop. But if we drop some money into the SS position, we get more than an incremental offensive upgrade. Everett is inept. Furcal or Garciapara is a major offensive upgrade and allows us to improve run production.

By the way, I wouldn't mind giving Burke a shot at the SS position. If that would actually work, we should take a run at A.J. and see if we can lock him up for 4 years. Then package Everett and along with a couple prospects and draft picks for a left handed fifth starter.

[DieHard Rocket]

I see all of your points...really the only OF guy I see in free agency is Brian Giles, or maybe Reggie Sanders. Both are up there in age, so Luke Scott wouldn't have to wait too long to get his chance.

The problem with Furcal is that he doesn't drive in runs. He's definitely an improvement in the lineup, but not necessarily what we need. Plus, he'll probably be the most expensive free agent all winter. Garciaparra is a real gamble...the 'Stros better know his health status well before going after him.

And I have to disagree about Lane. I really don't think he will get much better. His numbers may go up depending on who else we have in the lineup, but his plate discipline is terrible and I don't see that improving much if it hasn't already. Hopefully he'll prove me wrong, but I just don't see it. It's kind of like the Francis/Mobley situation...he's too much like Ensberg and most of the other guys in the lineup to make it work. Ensberg and Lane both strike at a high rate...something you can't have with two of your top three guys. If we got a guy like Giles, then we've got a guy to balance that out.

[Desert Scar]

We need more hitting at the SS and catcher positions than we do the outfield.......

I disagree. Compared to you average catcher and SS, Ausmus and Everett are not that horrible in average or pop. They are below average offensively, yes, but above average defensively, especially Everett, and this more than compensates in your 7th and 8th spot in particular.

But in the OF (Berkman in a 1B, and would and should play there every day, except that out OF is weak offensively) and heart of the line-up (2-6) we very much are hurting in offensive punch, discipline and on base average compared to playoff peers. Burke and Lane have very poor averages, and Taveras has no pop and his OBP% isn't as good as it should be based on average. These guys together make a weak offensive outfield, unless they make radical, unrealistic (IMO), progress in hitting skill and discipline. One of these three probably needs to go to make room for a more skilled, more disciplined and more efficient hitter.

A Matusi, Giles or dream (Manny Ramirez) would be by far the most cost effective way (about 10 mil for the 1st two, maybe if Jeff retires/renego we could bring in MR) to radically improve the offensive output, and it would help the defense by keeping Berk at 1B and allowing catcher and SS positions to focus on defense.

[NJRocket]

Interesting that the chronicle said that 2 of the targets are Ramon Hernandez and Benji Molina.....love to get Molina.

[xiki]

Interesting that the chronicle said that 2 of the targets are Ramon Hernandez and Benji Molina.....love to get Molina.

Those are moving targets, but they ain't moving here. I do wish i were wrong, but...

[NJRocket]

Chronicle also mentioned that Purp got calls from several free agents with an interest in playing here....I'd love to know who they were. Also mentioned that we were interested in Scott Eyre.

[Roxfan73]

Chronicle also mentioned that Purp got calls from several free agents with an interest in playing here....I'd love to know who they were. Also mentioned that we were interested in Scott Eyre.

I also read that article. This bodes very well for the stros this offseason. I'm hoping this will be a Rockets like offseason, where FA's want to join the Astros for a run at the WS and not just for $$$$. Maybe Purp needs to call up CD and get some pointers.

Scott Eyre would be an excellent pickup. We would have the best bullpen in the NL with him on board. Look at his stats:

G IP H R HR BB SO W L Sv P/GS WHIP BAA ERA
Season 86 68.1 48 21 3 26 65 2 2 0 0.0 1.08 .200 2.63

Of course all of this hinges on Roger's decision. Hopefully, he really did notify management of his decision and has not left them hanging. I would like to go into December with all of our questions answered for once.