[Chron] Astros interested in outfielder Gary Matthews Jr.

Even though I tend to be a Willy T apologist, I would love to see Gary in center. I do think this year was an aberation. He'll probably hit around .275 with 15-20 HR, 65+ RBI but also strike out around 90 times. Not bad but I wouldn't overpay just based on what he did this year.

 

Wow Matthews is 32 !

I thought he was still a young prospect.

I'd take him but prefer a few other high dollar free agents out there.

 

At least this way well get double the homeruns - the ones he hits and the ones he doesn't rob from Mike Lamb in the 9th?

 

yuck.

 

Wasn't he the guy with the catch of the year?....against us.

EDIT:

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he had a nice season..... his contract year.


he's a prospect the rangers have been talking about for years, and he finally got his break a couple years ago, and had a big year this year.

his D is pretty good, the catch was no fluke

 

Matthews wont fit in.

 

lmao. i had no idea he was already 32. i don't know, he probably wants and will get more than he's worth. he doesn't have the consecutive years of success like soriano or lee so it's a bit risky. i'd certainly take him but it'd be settling in the long run.

 

I'm ok with GM Jr. as a "plan B".....but he's not my 1st, 2nd, 3rd or even 9th choice for a FA acquisition.

 

Gary Matthews.... no thanks.

 

If they trade Willy, GMJr would be a great replacement if the price is right.

 

Guys he is black.

Uncle Drayton won't sign off on that.

 

Although I dont agree with it, I bet it is something the astros would do. i heard Purpura on the radio the other day and he said he thinks it would be better to bring in 2 or 3 B level players as opposed to on A level player. I think he thinks our offensive will turn around somehow and we dont need a big bad. He'll probably go for a level B player like he did last year with Preston Wilson

 

A Gary Matthews and Aramis Ramirez offseason would be real nice.

 

i agree!

 

I don't know if you were citing it as a negative or not, but 90 K's isn't bad at all anymore - looks to me like Gary's strikeouts per at-bat was about as good as any Astro's.

I think he'd be a good pickup based on his performance of the last several years. He looks to me from the stats like a #2 hitter, though, so he still wouldn't solve the leadoff "problem." But a switch-hitter who hits pretty well against both lefties and righties and is a good defensive CF is a useful player, and a great guy to have on your free-agent radar.

 

This guy would be a good value... switch hitter, good defense, good mix of average and power.

Comparing it to Preston Wilson is ludacris... we already knew Wilson was a strikeout machine, but we still expected decent power (which we never saw).

Saying the guy is "old" is also ridiculous... guys like Frank Thomas and Steve Finley ended up being really quality value players at a later age (albeit Thomas was just this past year). Obviously the guy won't be getting Beltran money... but he's definitely a step up over Willy Taveras in all facets of the game (wasn't neccessarily true with Wilson, where his replacement... Luke Scott... performed better).

 

Yeah, I agree. Doesn't look like a #1 hitter to me either. So, what do you do if he is in the lineup and Willy T is gone? Move Everett up to lead off????