Lackey has proven he can be a great #2 or even ace, and would be a nice pickup for an Astros team looking to find rotation depth behind Roy Oswalt. The Astros appear to be headed back to the old ways of pitching and defense (which is good). Signing Lackey with a healthy Oswalt, and Rodriguez would show the fans that the team is doing its best to improve and create a fairly dominate front 3 in the rotation. A rotation of Oswalt Lackey Rodriguez Norris Moehler Would be a huge upgrade over what we had last year, and with our mediocre offense, allow us to even contend in the central. Lackey will probably be pursued by a multitude of teams, but Lackey is a Texas grown boy, who would surely love to come back for the right price.
I think it has zero chance of happening. He will cost way too much. Astros will lower payroll this coming season. Would be a great signing but I think he will get somewhere close to $82.5M, five-year deal AJ Burnett got last year.
Why would he come here? We will suck next year. He is from Texas but not from Houston so I think he is more likely to go to Texas Rangers. I just don't think we can spend the money needed. Don't get me wrong I would love to have Lackey but I just don't see us spending the money required. He will require 4yr/60mil
Pitching wins so I am down if were not rebuilding...Always said Uncle D isn't cheap just hasn't allocated his money in the right spots since 2005, this would be the right spot.
More likely a Ranger than an Astros...Rangers always overpay and have the balls to spend the kind of $$$ that Lackey is looking for...would be a nice addition though...
Biggest problem for the Rangers is in the ownership. I'm sure ole' Nolan would love to have Lackey. Problem is, I believe MLB has given ownership a mandate to sell by a certain point not in the distant future. Hicks is probably going to be hesitant to take on any salary until a sale is complete. It would certainly be worth the Astros time to at least inquire as to what Lackey's demands are. I doubt they'll be involved at the end, but it would be worth it to try. He'd certainly make the rotation better.
Rangers are not going to spend any money until they find a new owner. I think MLB is running this team for all intents and purposes.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/11/rangers-wont-pursue-top-free-agents-will-deal.html The Rangers don't seem like players for Lackey. I'd like to see him in Houston but don't see how they can come up with the money after all they have said publicly about keeping the payroll about where it is currently. they won't be ble to outbid some of the bigger spenders that will be looking at him.
I know! You guys really think Drayton is going to get one of the top pitchers on the FA market? Maybe if we were close, and the only hole was pitching but this team is in the gutter for a couple years
