(Ken Rosenthal) Astros going to be "Aggressive"

[rcoleman15]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5820522

Agressive Astros looking to add more 'punch'

Ken Rosenthal / FOXSports.com
Posted: 14 minutes ago

The defending National League champion Astros plan a major push to add an impact hitter before Monday's non-waiver deadline.

How major?

The club intends to be "super-aggressive," one major-league official says, pursuing trades for big names such as Nationals left fielder Alfonso Soriano and Brewers left fielder Carlos Lee and making virtually everyone on their roster available.

Astros owner Drayton McLane surely doesn't want to take the team's $106 million payroll much higher, but now that he has gone this far, there's no turning back.

The addition of Soriano, Lee or Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada would appear a longshot. But just two years ago, the Astros stunned the baseball world by acquiring center fielder Carlos Beltran in a three-team trade. If general manager Tim Purpura makes struggling closer Brad Lidge available — as he did last off-season in a deal for Tejada — the possibilities could get interesting.

The Astros already have made two significant additions, spending $12.6 million to bring back right-hander Roger Clemens for little more than half a season and trading two prospects to the Devil Rays for infielder/outfielder Aubrey Huff. But they've gone 5-7 since the All-Star break, falling 101/2 games behind the Cardinals in the N.L. Central and five behind the Reds in the wild-card race.

The team's front office has spent the last two days in meetings trying to figure out how to fix the team's sagging offense. Only the Cubs have scored fewer runs in the N.L.; the Astros' center fielders rank 10th in the N.L. in on-base/slugging percentage, their catchers 13th and their shortstops 14th. Catcher Brad Ausmus and shortstop Adam Everett are defensive stalwarts, but offensive burdens.

The problem for the Astros in any trade pursuit is that they are unwilling to trade their top position prospect, Class AA outfielder Hunter Pence, and reluctant to move their top pitching prospect, Class AAA right-hander Jason Hirsh. Both Clemens and left-hander Andy Pettitte are unlikely to return next season, making Hirsh an important part of the team's future.

The Astros, however, could take on future payroll; their financial flexibility will improve next season if Clemens, Pettite and injured first baseman Jeff Bagwell — three players earning nearly $50 million — no longer are with the club.

[desihooper]

Today in his blog (http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/), Richard Justice said he wouldn't be surprised if a "closer" got traded by this weekend.

By the way, Fernando Nieve was sent to Round Rock to pitch late in games. Phil Garner intends to use him late when he returns to the big leagues. That's probably an indication the Astros expect to trade a closer by Monday's trading deadline.

Gee, how many closers does a team have?!? I don't think Soriano is the answer for this team. I can see a scenario where the 7-8-9th inning guys are Nieve-Qualls-Wheeler if/when Lidge is moved.

[Zac D]

Isn't Ken Rosenthal the one who's on Fox Saturday Baseball in the stands on occasion? If so, I seem to recall him saying during the Mets game that the Astros were unlikely to make any move, period.

Glad to hear he's changed his tune, and I definitely prefer his reports coming in the order they came in rather than vice-versa.

[Austin70]

Timmy P has got to know that we need one more stick. If not, someone replaced his rock candy with crack.

[MadMax]

Timmy P has got to know that we need one more stick. If not, someone replaced his rock candy with crack.

everyone knows that. the question is whether someone's available for a price we're willing to pay.

[NJRocket]

Interesting. The only guy I can see us parting with for a big time prospect is Tejada though...seeing as how he is signed.

Also...one of the stumbling blocks in Soriano staying with the Nats and signing there (aside from the money) is that he wants a no trade clause. If we didnt give Beltran one, I wonder if we would change our tune on that seeing as how the front office got flamed for it the first go around.

Glad to see things are cooking though!

[SWTsig]

this seems much more appropriate (and true) than that ESPN Insider nonsense that supposedly has the astros "backpeddling at the speed of sound" from an everret, pence, nieve for tejada deal... you'd have to be retarded to "backpeddle" from a deal like that.

espn is trash.

[The Real Shady]

If the Astros trade Lidge, Pense, and Everett for Tejada that eliminates $6 million off the payroll. Then if the Astros trade Preston Wilson for prospects that eliminates another $4 million.

Lidge $4 million
Everett $2 million
Wilson $4 million
Pense $0

Tejada $11.8 million

Do you think uncle Drayton would be okay with adding $1.8 million to the payroll?

[rcoleman15]

If the Astros trade Lidge, Pense, and Everett for Tejada that eliminates $6 million off the payroll. Then if the Astros trade Preston Wilson for prospects that eliminates another $4 million.

Lidge $4 million
Everett $2 million
Wilson $4 million
Pense $0

Tejada $11.8 million

Do you think uncle Drayton would be okay with adding $1.8 million to the payroll?

What we would be paying is actually less than 11.8 million. As there are two months left on his owed salary for this year. So whateve he has left owed to him in the final two months is what we would be taking on. Next year is a different story as the above article mentioned we would be close to freeing up 50 million in payroll so we could more easily absorb his entire yearly salary.

[MadMax]

If the Astros trade Lidge, Pense, and Everett for Tejada that eliminates $6 million off the payroll. Then if the Astros trade Preston Wilson for prospects that eliminates another $4 million.

Lidge $4 million
Everett $2 million
Wilson $4 million
Pense $0

Tejada $11.8 million

Do you think uncle Drayton would be okay with adding $1.8 million to the payroll?

given that this is true.

and given that the astros know this is true, as well.

if a move isn't made, i don't want to hear..."drayton wouldn't spend the money!!" because that's not what it's about.

[Uprising]

Now that was much better than the last article I read on the BBS.

I really hope we do make a splash this weekend.

[Groogrux]

My only question is how did Drayton get Ken Rosenthal on his PR payroll? We all know this is a ruse by this corrupt and cheap owner of ours.

[Uprising]

Cheap, and yet he continues to waste the teams money on reporters.

[Nick]

If we didnt give Beltran one, I wonder if we would change our tune on that seeing as how the front office got flamed for it the first go around.

You're still going to beat that dead horse, huh?

Yea... we better get all our ducks in a row... and make sure the no-trade clause is in big bold letters. After all, that's definitely the sole reason why Beltran didn't sign here ;) .

[NJRocket]

You're still going to beat that dead horse, huh?

Yea... we better get all our ducks in a row... and make sure the no-trade clause is in big bold letters. After all, that's definitely the sole reason why Beltran didn't sign here ;) .

I'm not trying to rehash the whole Beltran thing..Im just saying that I read that Soriano has asked Washington for one and its definitely one of his demands. If its not an Astros policy or whatever to give them, then I dont see us going after him...unless we can get him on the cheap as a rental.

But, I've been surprised before ;)

[Buck Turgidson]

this seems much more appropriate (and true) than that ESPN Insider nonsense that supposedly has the astros "backpeddling at the speed of sound" from an everret, pence, nieve for tejada deal... you'd have to be retarded to "backpeddle" from a deal like that.

espn is trash.
Why believe Rosenthal and not Stark?

Why not assume that both articles are b.s? Not saying that espn is the cat's ass or anything (or maybe I am?), but 99% of what you read this time of year is crap.

Detroit Tigers general manager David Dombrowski simply laughed, knowing there was little substance to the trade report but realizing it's simply the nature of business this time of year.

The latest trade rumor had the Chicago White Sox on the brink of acquiring slugger Alfonso Soriano from the Washington Nationals, the same player the Tigers have targeted.

The White Sox vehemently denied they were close. The Tigers, in fact, are still talking to the Nationals. And when Dombrowski awoke Tuesday morning, Soriano hadn't gone anywhere.

"It's amazing the stuff you hear this time of year," Dombrowski said. "I generally don't believe what I read and hear. I read so many things about us that I know are inaccurate, I take it for granted things about other teams are wrong too.

"I've never understood what the benefit is of saying what you're trying to achieve, anyway. If you play poker, you don't want to show everybody your cards, do you?"

...

"I'm sure when that news got out about Soriano," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said, "it caught the attention of the Tigers and Twins. It might be a case where all three of those teams just hope that he goes to the Angels. I wouldn't put it past some of my counterparts to slip a trade rumor out there just to raise the stakes.

"A few clubs have surprised me calling for Carlos (Lee). I'm not sure if they're interested, but they're in the same division and want to make sure that if somebody else gets him, they're paying a steeper price."

Said Dombrowski: "You keep a close eye on what everybody is doing. You don't want to see teams getting better that you're competing against, but you have to determine what value you're going to pay for someone and don't overpay."

John Schuerholz, vice president and general manager of the Atlanta Braves who suddenly finds his team in the wild-card race, said he tries not to get preoccupied with the competition. Not this year. Not when 23 teams entered Tuesday night within five games of the division or wild-card lead.

"I've never seen anything like it," Schuerholz said. "There are so many teams in the race, you can't worry about everyone, and I can't control what the 29 other clubs do.

"Our game is so public now. So much information is shared and spread. And once it hits the airwaves, it takes on a life of its own. I'm from the old school. I'm not into text messaging or blogging or learning baseball from the Internet. We just don't operate that way. The less people know what we're thinking internally, the better we are.

"I'm going to do what we've done in the past, keep my blinders on and do what's best for the Braves."

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2006-07-26-trade-rumors_x.htm

[MadMax]

buck, today you're the cat's ass.

[rikesh316]

Buck, Ken Rosenthal is modern day Peter Gammons when it comes to baseball trades. Most of time he is the first to report a trade like he was the first to know the Astros got Huff. He won't make a BS up. I think Lidge and Wilson are gone by the deadline.

[Buck Turgidson]

Buck, Ken Rosenthal is modern day Peter Gammons when it comes to baseball trades....He won't make a BS up. I think Lidge and Wilson are gone by the deadline.
I'm not saying he's making stuff up. I'm saying that the vast majority of info put out by "mlb sources" this time of year is complete b.s.

[rrj_gamz]

I hope something happens as we all know we need a bat...But at what price is the question...Ausmus and Adam are great defensively, but suck at the plate...We need an impact hitter not only now, but for the long term...With $50MM going away next year, we should have some flexibility...

[kaleidosky]

sucks that lidge had the outing he did (and got pulled) if we plan to deal him..

[rcoleman15]

"A few clubs have surprised me calling for Carlos (Lee). I'm not sure if they're interested, but they're in the same division and want to make sure that if somebody else gets him, they're paying a steeper price."

Out of all that I find this quote the most intresting due to the fact he is talking about teams in the NL Central and due to the fact that he mentioned "clubs" as in plural and the fact that the Reds are probably done trading one would have to assume he might be talking about the Cardinals and the Astros.

add that to the fact that Rosenthal says the Astros are now monitoring the Carlos Lee situation:

msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5820714 (http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5820714)

and you have the makings of something very interesting to say the least.

(although rereading that article for the second time he could be talking about two teams for another division so nevermind)

[rikesh316]

Nieve is nasty as a reliever. He had a 2.95 ERA as a reliever and opponets only hit .245 against him. He never get rattled. Qualls has been nasty this past month and so has Wheeler. Borkowski, Springer, Miller are all solid end of bullpen guys. This enables them to trade a Lidge. Get a bat or two and this team will be a lot better.

[spence99]

We really need to replace Ausmus or Everett to significantly upgrade this offense, so I hope we can get Tejada. If we get another outfielder to replace Wilson, that's not as much of an upgrade as upgrading from Everett.

[Buck Turgidson]

Out of all that I find this quote the most intresting due to the fact he is talking about teams in the NL Central and due to the fact that he mentioned "clubs" as in plural and the fact that the Reds are probably done trading one would have to assume he might be talking about the Cardinals and the Astros.
He says the inquiring clubs are in the same division - not necessarily in the same division as the Brewers - which dovetails into his point about teams leaking bogus info to drive up the acquisition price.

[rcoleman15]

He says the inquiring clubs are in the same division - not necessarily in the same division as the Brewers - which dovetails into his point about teams leaking bogus info to drive up the acquisition price.

reread the article before you posted this and went back and put that in my post as you can see. ;)

[SWTsig]

Why believe Rosenthal and not Stark?

i think you're looking a little to deeply at my comment. i don't necessarily believe either report, it's just that the ESPN one made absolutely no sense whatsoever. although starks is easily my favorite baseball writer.

besides, past experience tells us when the astros feel like they need to improve the team at the deadline, they will... and with the way we've been playing you know there at least looking.

[Nick]

At this point, Qualls has the most value (and could get you the most in return). He's young, has a great arm, and hasn't been exposed to failure in the closer's spot yet (despite his affinity for giving up 7th inning grand slams).

[DieHard Rocket]

I think Nieve has the stuff to be a great closer, as long as the mental makeup is there. I wouldn't hesitate to trade Lidge...maybe a change of scenery will help him. He is nowhere near what he once was...he just can't keep the basepaths empty.

[Stack24]

We honestly need a bat and we all know it. So what if we have to give up defense or Lidge. If you we score a lot of runs we can afford a few mishaps on the defensive side or even giving up a run in the 9th. I could care less as long as we put up some runs.

I am sick and tired of our pitchers pitching Complete Game and getting a lost (see Roy O) or even better about 15 "0" run games when the Rocket is on the mound. If we can't win games where our pitchers are lights out then what's the point of having great defense.

The game is still to score more runs than your opponent no matter how you do it. If we get a hitter that can bat before or after Berkman that will make a huge difference. They can't sit there and pitch around both without putting 2 men on. Right now who the hell do we have other than Berkman that a pitcher is scared to pitch too. Biggio is still putting up numbers but he's lead off so he's going to get pitched to. Once we get to Berkman they can walk him and go after our great hitters after him....give me a break.

Make a deal happen, bring in a bat..not just an average upgrade of a bat like HUFF (which i still like) but i mean a monster bat...we need that plain and simple...our lineup is like a AAA team right now...if that.

[MadMax]

We honestly need a bat and we all know it. So what if we have to give up defense or Lidge. If you we score a lot of runs we can afford a few mishaps on the defensive side or even giving up a run in the 9th. I could care less as long as we put up some runs.

I am sick and tired of our pitchers pitching Complete Game and getting a lost (see Roy O) or even better about 15 "0" run games when the Rocket is on the mound. If we can't win games where our pitchers are lights out then what's the point of having great defense.

The game is still to score more runs than your opponent no matter how you do it. If we get a hitter that can bat before or after Berkman that will make a huge difference. They can't sit there and pitch around both without putting 2 men on. Right now who the hell do we have other than Berkman that a pitcher is scared to pitch too. Biggio is still putting up numbers but he's lead off so he's going to get pitched to. Once we get to Berkman they can walk him and go after our great hitters after him....give me a break.

Make a deal happen, bring in a bat..not just an average upgrade of a bat like HUFF (which i still like) but i mean a monster bat...we need that plain and simple...our lineup is like a AAA team right now...if that.

if you score, you might win

if they never score, you'll never lose.

defense and pitching are paramount. i'm not willing to put a fantasy team out there. the rangers have tried that for decades and it's never worked.

[JayZ750]

if they never score, you'll never lose.


If they never score, and you never score, you get some boring ass games, and are likely to lose as many as you win.

What's more, it's not like the Astros have had the model for success in baseball, well, ever. Sure, they've been a successful regular season team, and now finall yhave 1 pennant to claim, but still no World Series.

Pitching, hitting, defense, etc. are all important. The WS winner is usually a very well-balanced squad. The current Astros are anything but.

[MadMax]

If they never score, and you never score, you get some boring ass games, and are likely to lose as many as you win.

What's more, it's not like the Astros have had the model for success in baseball, well, ever. Sure, they've been a successful regular season team, and now finall yhave 1 pennant to claim, but still no World Series.

Pitching, hitting, defense, etc. are all important. The WS winner is usually a very well-balanced squad. The current Astros are anything but.

i agree with you. but i've seen below average offenses make it to the world series and win with great pitching and defense. i don't recall ever seeing a team get to or win a world series with mediocre pitching/defense and great hitting.

they weren't balanced last year...and they went to the World Series.

[weslinder]

i don't recall ever seeing a team get to or win a world series with mediocre pitching/defense and great hitting.

Sure it's been a while, but the Big Red Machine did just that.

[Nick]

What's more, it's not like the Astros have had the model for success in baseball, well, ever. Sure, they've been a successful regular season team, and now finall yhave 1 pennant to claim, but still no World Series.

Having a successful regular season team is ALL you can strive for in baseball. After that, the playoffs are simply an utter crapshoot... if your team is hot, you win... but if another team is hotter, you lose... REGARDLESS.

For instance, neither of the last two year's Astros teams could ever have matched up in a series against the team we had in 1998... but neither of the last two year's teams ever had to face vintage Kevin Brown either. Same goes for all those teams that lost to Smoltz, Glavine and Maddux while they were all in their primes.

You play 162 games for a reason... so that all the stuff that can happen RANDOMLY in a season (ie- Pirates sweeping the Cardinals in St. Louis, Clemens-Pettite-Oswalt all losing consecutively) are eventually balanced out.

But, in a 5 or 7 game series... you don't get balance... and the "better" team doesn't always win.

[bobrek]

Sure it's been a while, but the Big Red Machine did just that.

The 1976 Reds (the penultimate "Big Red Machine") led the league in fielding percentage and fewest errors comitted and were 5th in the NL in runs allowed.

[Buck Turgidson]

Sure it's been a while, but the Big Red Machine did just that.
From '72 through '76, when they won a division, a pennant and 2 WS (and won 98 games & missed the playoffs), they were 3rd, 4th, 3rd, 3rd, and 5th in runs allowed. They had a huge dropoff in this department (while finishing 2nd in the league in runs/game) in '77-78 and, not surprisingly, missed the playoffs both years.

They were also an excellent, excellent defensive team, pretty much across the board but especially up-the-middle (Bench/Morgan/Concepcion/Geronimo).

[MadMax]

The 1976 Reds (the penultimate "Big Red Machine") led the league in fielding percentage and fewest errors comitted and were 5th in the NL in runs allowed.

they had bench, morgan, concepcion and geronimo up the middle. wow.

[liamrock]

John Lopez's blog for today

Astros trade talks heating up again ... ... but does that mean Miguel Tejada, Alfonso Soriano or Carlos Lee is on the way? Still not likely.

The buzz emanating from Union Station today is all the cell phones working overtime. The Astros are determined to find some kind of spark. They're trying to hammer out a deal for more offense.

However, it seems there is a growing sense of frustration within the Astros offices on two fronts:

One, all of the teams with whom the Astros are talking today are asking too much in the Astros' view. For the likes of a Tejada or Soriano, teams are expecting big-time return. You can probably interpret that as Hunter Pence and Jason Hirsch, neither of whom the Astros want to let go. Willy Taveras and Brad Lidge also have been talked about today.

And secondly, ESPN is a four-letter word among front-office types right now. Some of the rumors being talked about -- Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte being on the market, for example -- are viewed as complete fabrications by the Astros braintrust.

One baseball executive who called to inquire about a rumor involving the Astros was told, "Where are you hearing this?"

When he responded that it was on ESPN, the caller was told, "They've got a lot of time to fill right now. Don't believe it."

Still, the likelihood of a deal being swung today or tomorrow has grew exponentially overnight.

[gunn]

defense and pitching are paramount. i'm not willing to put a fantasy team out there. the rangers have tried that for decades and it's never worked.

The Rangers have never had in their history a top three in the rotation as good as the Astros currently have. Just because you want to upgrade an Adam Everett or a Brad Ausmus doesn't mean that you have to sacrafice a Roger Clemens or a Roy Oswalt to do it. You can have both.

[MadMax]

The Rangers have never had in their history a top three in the rotation as good as the Astros currently have. Just because you want to upgrade an Adam Everett or a Brad Ausmus doesn't mean that you have to sacrafice a Roger Clemens or a Roy Oswalt to do it. You can have both.

i don't disagree with anything you just said. frankly, if they were going to upgrade either position, i'd hope it would be catcher....because ausmus probably won't be around much longer anyway. i see 3 guys in the lineup who are there because of defense: willy, adam and brad. of those 3, i think adam is the most important. partially, because you wouldn't be asking him to bat leadoff like you would with willy, anyway. and partially because i just think he's THAT good at SS.