Report: Wagner Thinks He Will Be Gone from Astros

[Manny Ramirez]

Wonder what you guys think about this, if it happens:

Closer thinks club will reduce payroll

HOUSTON -- Astros closer Billy Wagner expects to be traded before next season because he thinks owner Drayton McLane wants to reduce the team's payroll.

Wagner has one season remaining on a three-year deal that pays him $24 million and is due $9 million for next season. Richard Hidalgo is due $12 million next season in the final year of his contract, and Wagner thinks the two big contracts will force general manager Gerry Hunsicker to make trades.

"I think it will happen, I really do," Wagner said Sunday after the Astros finished the season with an 8-5 win over Milwaukee. "Gerry's got his hands tied with this whole budget for salaries. We're just in a wanting-to-compete situation, it's not a get-better situation.

"If that's the case, they're probably going to have to cut me and probably Hidalgo. If they can get the trade, we'll definitely be gone next season."

Astros owner Drayton McLane, who began this year with a $70 million payroll, was surprised at the remarks.

"You have to evaluate every part of the team, and the financial side of it is the most important," McLane said. "But it's way too premature to make any kind of statement or even consider anything like that. We would like very much for Billy to be part of the Houston Astros next year."

Hidalgo said he knew there was a possibility he could be dealt.

"I've got in my mind that they might do it," he said. "I don't think about it. I'm going home, relax and wait, work out and wait for the season. I'd love to be here, but if they make the decision, there's nothing I can do about it. I just have to do my best."

Wagner thinks it would be a good business move, especially with Octavio Dotel available to replace him as a closer.

"I hope I will be here. I hope things change," Wagner said. "I know my contract allows me to be trade eligible, and I have a lot of value based on this year. This team could get younger and better with me being gone."

Wagner thought the Astros should have made a bold move after the All-Star break to improve the team for the stretch drive.

"This year we had an opportunity to really do something special," Wagner said. "We had a lot of kids overachieving. When it came time to get somebody to really help us, they wouldn't. There wasn't much out there, and there wasn't much we could do."

McLane said the organization had not even started its evaluation process.

"Billy came up through the Astros organization and we're extremely proud of him," McLane said. "This is probably the best season he's had, and I'd hate to think of the Houston Astros without Billy."

[rrj_gamz]

I would hate to have them both go, but I definitely think Dalgy will be gone, but I'm not so sure about Wags...

We need another quality arm, and I think Lane can pick up were Dalgy left off...

[codell]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1626125

HOUSTON -- Astros closer Billy Wagner expects to be traded before next season because he thinks owner Drayton McLane wants to reduce the team's payroll.

Wagner has one season remaining on a three-year deal that pays him $24 million and is due $9 million for next season. Richard Hidalgo is due $12 million next season in the final year of his contract, and Wagner thinks the two big contracts will force general manager Gerry Hunsicker to make trades.

"I think it will happen, I really do," Wagner said Sunday after the Astros finished the season with an 8-5 win over Milwaukee. "Gerry's got his hands tied with this whole budget for salaries. We're just in a wanting-to-compete situation, it's not a get-better situation.

"If that's the case, they're probably going to have to cut me and probably Hidalgo. If they can get the trade, we'll definitely be gone next season."

Astros owner Drayton McLane, who began this year with a $70 million payroll, was surprised at the remarks.

"You have to evaluate every part of the team, and the financial side of it is the most important," McLane said. "But it's way too premature to make any kind of statement or even consider anything like that. We would like very much for Billy to be part of the Houston Astros next year."

Hidalgo said he knew there was a possibility he could be dealt.

"I've got in my mind that they might do it," he said. "I don't think about it. I'm going home, relax and wait, work out and wait for the season. I'd love to be here, but if they make the decision, there's nothing I can do about it. I just have to do my best."

Wagner thinks it would be a good business move, especially with Octavio Dotel available to replace him as a closer.

"I hope I will be here. I hope things change," Wagner said. "I know my contract allows me to be trade eligible, and I have a lot of value based on this year. This team could get younger and better with me being gone."

Wagner thought the Astros should have made a bold move after the All-Star break to improve the team for the stretch drive.

"This year we had an opportunity to really do something special," Wagner said. "We had a lot of kids overachieving. When it came time to get somebody to really help us, they wouldn't. There wasn't much out there, and there wasn't much we could do."

McLane said the organization had not even started its evaluation process.

"Billy came up through the Astros organization and we're extremely proud of him," McLane said. "This is probably the best season he's had, and I'd hate to think of the Houston Astros without Billy."

----------------

Billy is now officially, the most outspoken person on the team.

[codell]

Here is another excerpt from the Chronicle:

"We'll be looking at a tape job and fill-ins and no marquee additions in the offseason," said Wagner, whose no-trade clause expired Sunday. "I can see myself being here, but only if they have to keep me if somehow they can't get the trade they want. I don't think it's something they want to do. I just think it's something they need to do to fulfill their budget. Of course you have Octavio Dotel or (Brad) Lidge, who have shown that they can fill my shoes and pitch in my role.

[xiki]

The ONLY good thing that can come out of trading Wags would be if the 'stros received three good, solid studs, including at least one strongly established plus two on the verge.

[ChucklesG]

Originally posted by xiki
The ONLY good thing that can come out of trading Wags would be if the 'stros received three good, solid studs, including at least one strongly established plus two on the verge.

Wagner's a great closer, but he's just that, a closer, and a 9 million dollar closer at that. Getting one stud prospect is a given, 2 is a possibility, but any team giving up 3 stud prospects for a closer, no matter how good, would be completely mind boggling.

[Buck Turgidson]

Originally posted by codell
"You have to evaluate every part of the team, and the financial side of it is the most important." -- Drayton
Well, he just perfectly summed up his attitude towards baseball.

[tierre_brown]

Originally posted by ChucklesG
Wagner's a great closer, but he's just that, a closer, and a 9 million dollar closer at that. Getting one stud prospect is a given, 2 is a possibility, but any team giving up 3 stud prospects for a closer, no matter how good, would be completely mind boggling.

Actually, as desperate as Boston is for a closer (they actually took Byung-Hyun, the notorious Yankee choke artist, as their closer?!), I tihnk they'd be willing to give up 2 studs and a very good prospect for Wags. Maybe we'll get another Jeff Bagwell?

[ChucklesG]

Boston doesn't have 2 stud prospects in their farm system.

[Raven Lunatic]

Originally posted by tierre_brown
Actually, as desperate as Boston is for a closer (they actually took Byung-Hyun, the notorious Yankee choke artist, as their closer?!), I tihnk they'd be willing to give up 2 studs and a very good prospect for Wags. Maybe we'll get another Jeff Bagwell?

I wonder what position they would trade for if they got rid of Hidalgo or Wags. Probably SP. I mean, where else do we have a player that isn't pretty well dug in? Lane will likely fill in if Richard is traded. Biggio will play CF for at least one more year, I imagine. Berkman is a lock. At first you have Bagwell, Kent at 2nd, AE at SS, Ensberg at 3rd. Perhaps they would let Ausmus go and get a different catcher, but I doubt it. So it comes down to SP (or maybe just prospects that could fill in for Bagwell or Biggio when they retire.

Actually, if we could get a legit, "true" CFer that can hit for Wagner, I would be more than happy. But I don't see that happening.

[ima_drummer2k]

Originally posted by codell
"This year we had an opportunity to really do something special," Wagner said. "We had a lot of kids overachieving. When it came time to get somebody to really help us, they wouldn't.
Sure, Billy. It's not the player's fault, it's management's fault. :rolleyes:

BTW, nice game against the Giants last week...

[tierre_brown]

Originally posted by Raven Lunatic
I wonder what position they would trade for if they got rid of Hidalgo or Wags. Probably SP. I mean, where else do we have a player that isn't pretty well dug in? Lane will likely fill in if Richard is traded. Biggio will play CF for at least one more year, I imagine. Berkman is a lock. At first you have Bagwell, Kent at 2nd, AE at SS, Ensberg at 3rd. Perhaps they would let Ausmus go and get a different catcher, but I doubt it. So it comes down to SP (or maybe just prospects that could fill in for Bagwell or Biggio when they retire.

Actually, if we could get a legit, "true" CFer that can hit for Wagner, I would be more than happy. But I don't see that happening.

I was just saying get a Bagwell as in: get a prospect who turns out to be great for someone who isn't quite as good. I agree that SP is the position with most need; I heard even our farm system is depleted of SPs for the most part. I just think that Boston would be willing to give up a lot for a Wags type of player, a very good closer. If they don't have prospects (I don't know much about their farm system, but Chuckles says they have nothing), there are plenty of other teams in the same situation where they'd love to have a closer. I'm sure we'd get at least 2 quality prospects out of the trade.

[A-Train]

The Astros paid Wagner $93,023 per inning this year...That has GOT to be some kind of record...

Your closer is definitely somebody that shouldn't be one of the highest paid players on your team. The Dodgers had the best closer in baseball history, and look at where they ended up...

[Manny Ramirez]

Hey codell,

No fair! I posted this story first but I get no respect in this forum!;)

[codell]

Originally posted by Manny Ramirez
Hey codell,

No fair! I posted this story first but I get no respect in this forum!;)



Holy cow. Thats the 2nd time in 3 weeks that I posted a dup thread. I had an unblemished record before that. :p

Mods, please take away my thread starting priveleges.

[payaso]

Lopez's column in the Chronicle this morning was disturbing...
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bb/2126133

Especially the part about Drayton's #195 ranking on the Forbes 400, when the likes of Steinbrenner, Colangelo, and Cardinals and Red Sox ownership are nowhere on the list.

All he would have to do is spend the money one year for starting pitching and some clutch hitting to punch up the roster, win a World Series, and he could get a sweeter TV deal, and the money that goes with it, and probably do better than break even on the effort.

I mean, c'mon- Drayton's no spring chicken and you can't take $1.2B with you when the Reaper comes calling.

It is what it's always been with Drayton- the Astros are no more than a cost center for his grocery store empire. He will continue to run them like Wal-Mart- I expect self-serve will-call kiosks and one-wash-and-done team gear next.

[MadMax]

payaso -- i wouldn't expect ANYONE to intentionally run a business in the red. these guys didn't get to be rich by throwing their money away.

by the way...spending more money does not necessarily mean world series titles...ask the cardinals, orioles and rangers.

[pgabriel]

Originally posted by MadMax
payaso -- i wouldn't expect ANYONE to intentionally run a business in the red. these guys didn't get to be rich by throwing their money away.




Thank you,

I love how everyone wants to spend Drayton's money. I'm just glad Steve Francis never makes statements like these about the Rockets.

But I know the real reason you defend Drayton Max, you Bears have to stick together.

[MadMax]

Originally posted by pgabriel
Thank you,

I love how everyone wants to spend Drayton's money. I'm just glad Steve Francis never makes statements like these about the Rockets.

But I know the real reason you defend Drayton Max, you Bears have to stick together.

1. the more billy wagner talks, the sicker i get. the guy needs to learn when to be quiet....particularly in a town that has treated him very well. he'll never have to worry about money ever again in his life...and that's drayton's money he's living on.

2. i knew drayton's son at baylor...we had a few classes together. my closest friend from home and i sat next to him during the referendum. the day before the referendum my friend looked at him and said with a smile, "if your dad moves the astros to virginia, we're gonna kick your ass"....drayton's son kinda laughed uncomfortably...and my friend looked at him very seriously and said, "no...i'm serious." it was so funny!

[payaso]

Originally posted by MadMax
payaso -- i wouldn't expect ANYONE to intentionally run a business in the red. these guys didn't get to be rich by throwing their money away.

by the way...spending more money does not necessarily mean world series titles...ask the cardinals, orioles and rangers.

Hey Max- if your team payroll is 7% of your net worth, and you're pushing 70, and your family is taken care of well into the 22nd century, WHY THE HELL NOT spend the money for Houston Joe Six-Pack, who plops down a piece of paycheck to fill a seat in your downtown palace, who pays airport prices for mall food-court food, to put a championship team on the field? It's a BASEBALL TEAM, for cryin' out load- he didn't need no damn SBA loan to buy it!
IN spite of his book-cooking and poormouthing, Drayton has not lost money since buying the Astros. He needs to give something back. He could win back the confidence of his long time players, who might actually then go out and win a meaningful game, knowing that their owner has, in his words, "done what it takes to be a champion".

[Nomar]

Originally posted by ChucklesG
Boston doesn't have 2 stud prospects in their farm system.

Hanley Ramirez, Kevin Youkilis.


The Reds are a terrible team.

At least I make points that you can't refute.

[Major]

All he would have to do is spend the money one year for starting pitching and some clutch hitting to punch up the roster, win a World Series,

You mean like adding an Alou and a Randy Johnson?

[Major]

He could win back the confidence of his long time players, who might actually then go out and win a meaningful game, knowing that their owner has, in his words, "done what it takes to be a champion".

Yes, because the players only play hard if they like their owner.

[MadMax]

Originally posted by payaso
Hey Max- if your team payroll is 7% of your net worth, and you're pushing 70, and your family is taken care of well into the 22nd century, WHY THE HELL NOT spend the money for Houston Joe Six-Pack, who plops down a piece of paycheck to fill a seat in your downtown palace, who pays airport prices for mall food-court food, to put a championship team on the field? It's a BASEBALL TEAM, for cryin' out load- he didn't need no damn SBA loan to buy it!
IN spite of his book-cooking and poormouthing, Drayton has not lost money since buying the Astros. He needs to give something back. He could win back the confidence of his long time players, who might actually then go out and win a meaningful game, knowing that their owner has, in his words, "done what it takes to be a champion".

i remember the mcmullen days all too well. drayton is a good owner. the astros have seen the best days of their 40 some-odd years history under Drayton McLane.

again..money doesn't guarantee anything. they've had teams that had enough talent to win...and they haven't even won a playoff series.

[ChucklesG]

Originally posted by Nomar
Hanley Ramirez, Kevin Youkilis.


The Reds are a terrible team.

At least I make points that you can't refute.

LOL, Nomar, look up sarcasm in a dictionary. And yes, the sarcasm was painfully obvious, as every team at least has 2 good prospects. BTW, thanks for taking Williamson off our hands.

[ima_drummer2k]

Originally posted by Major
All he would have to do is spend the money one year for starting pitching and some clutch hitting to punch up the roster, win a World Series,

You mean like adding an Alou and a Randy Johnson?
Exactly. Billy and the rest of the players need to stop blaming management for their own failures and look in the mirror. Drayton has yet to ground into an inning ending double play or blow a save the last week of a division race.

[DaDakota]

You can not run a sports team by just the bottom line, that is ignoring the appreciation of it entirely.

Drayton is cheap, has been cheap, and will be cheap.

I remember him saying the Astrodome was a perfect place to watch a football or baseball game, then the Oilers left, and the next year he was whining about a new stadium for himself.

Hypocrit.

DD

[MadMax]

Originally posted by DaDakota
You can not run a sports team by just the bottom line, that is ignoring the appreciation of it entirely.

Drayton is cheap, has been cheap, and will be cheap.

I remember him saying the Astrodome was a perfect place to watch a football or baseball game, then the Oilers left, and the next year he was whining about a new stadium for himself.

Hypocrit.

DD

tell ya what...you come up with $70 million for payroll, and then you will earn the right to call Drayton cheap. that's laughable, da da

[Smokey]

The only way to get Scrooge's attention is to hit him where it hurts - the pocketbook. I hope he got the memo on the drop in attendance.

But he's too busy paying off Baylor athletes to care about what happens to the Astros (I just went there ;))

[Nomar]

Originally posted by ChucklesG
LOL, Nomar, look up sarcasm in a dictionary. And yes, the sarcasm was painfully obvious, as every team at least has 2 good prospects. BTW, thanks for taking Williamson off our hands.

Anybody else see sarcasm?

I sure didn't.

Nice try.

[Smokey]

Originally posted by Smokey
But he's too busy paying off Baylor athletes to care about what happens to the Astros (I just went there ;))

Before anyone gets upset, I'm just joking. We all know someone affiliated with a university like Baylor would never do anything like this.

[bigtexxx]

I would love for us to get somebody like Casey Fossum, Byung Hyung Kim and maybe a speedy center field prospect from Boston for Wags.


...ok, I'm biased, I played with Casey in high school, but still he has potential. He has had some tendinitis that has held him back this year.

[Uprising]

Drayton doesn't want to pay that huge contract of Wagner's. Look for him to be traded. I believe Dotel is going to be our future closer. He wants to be.

[redgoose]

Why would Boston have to give up any great prospects to take a 9million dollar bill off Drayton's hands? The most they offered in rumors last summer was Shea Hillebrand for Wagner. If we could get Kim to be a starter for us i would consider that a steal.

[HillBoy]

Originally posted by Uprising
Drayton doesn't want to pay that huge contract of Wagner's. Look for him to be traded. I believe Dotel is going to be our future closer. He wants to be.
Now that's the best recipe for disaster that I ever saw!

[tierre_brown]

Being a Korean, I'd love to have BK on the team. Being an Astros fan, I wouldn't touch him with a 10 foot pole. Kim as a starter wasn't disastrous this year, but it definitely isn't what we want/need in the rotation. His inconsistency and propensity to give up HRs is just NOT what we need in the juice box. I'm sure there's some other team we could trade with if that's all the BoSox were offering.