2012-2013 Astros Offseason: Trade & FA Speculation

Why not? SS is a position of depth in the organization, trading Lowrie while his value is surprisingly high would be a smart move.

 

I wouldn't say his value is high considering he finished the season on the DL. He is getting a lot of interest though and with the lack of SS in the market I hope Luhnow can pull off another great trade

 

I believe he (Lowrie) was playing the last 2 or 3 weeks of the season.

 

Sounds like Lance loves Houston enough that he's willing to DH, even after all his previous statements against it:

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/story/2...-crane-meets-with-lance-berkman#ixzz2CQ747DFk

 

Man, I'd love that.

 

damn...guy truly loves the stros and houston. gotta respect the man.

bring back roy and lidge too. and roger, of course.

 

Only if he's taken the last 7 years to learn to throw lefty...but then we'd have a left handed 3B.

 

Mark Berman ‏@MarkBermanFox26
Wayne Graham & Lance Berkman tell FOX 26 Sports Berkman is the new volunteer baseball coach @ Rice while he considers his future as a player

 

Sounds like he wants $7-9M to me.

 

Can his knees handle it? I don't want to see him go out struggling like many others have. It's hard to watch.

 

well, i can't imagine they'd expect him to consider less that $5MM. i'd imagine he'd take $7 or maybe a little less as a hometown discount.

what is our current payroll? ~$15MM? sure would be strange to get paid 1/3 of a team's payroll.

 

That's the question. I recently found out that the pain and stiffness in my left knee is the result of progressing arthritis and a torn meniscus. The meniscus can be fixed and they'll clean some of the crap out. But the arthritis from 32 years of soccer is there to stay. I was the extra hitter for my softball team last weekend. What I realized is that I cannot step into my swing because of the pain and when I did make contact, I couldn't push off to even slowly jog to first. By the way, I'm only 37.

If he's dealing with anything like what I am, he should call it a career. If it's something he can manage and be successful as just a DH, then I think it's worth it. He'd be great for the players and great to have back for the fans.

 

The issue for Lance, as I understand it, is with general stability (or lack thereof). I don't think this is anything new. I know someone who saw his spring training MRI back in 2010 (with the Astros), and they said Lance basically had the knee of a 50-year-old. But he still played most of that season, and in 2011 ended up with one of his best years ever.

From what I've heard, when he's healthy, he can still step into his swing and drive the ball without pain. The issue is just that the instability makes him prone to random injuries, such as the meniscus tear that happened this year on a routine stretch from first. Taking a DH role doesn't completely absolve him of injury-risk situations, of course, but I do think there's a chance that it could work for him and he could still hit very effectively.

 

Mark Berman ‏@MarkBermanFox26
Free agent 1st baseman/DH Lance Berkman says he's been contacted by Astros, Rays, Red Sox, & Phillies. Berkman now volunteer ass't @ Rice.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Astros set 40-man roster…add RHP Jose Cisnero, RHP Jarred Cosart, OF Robbie Grossman, RHP Chia-Jen Lo, LHP Brett Olberholtzer (1 of 3)</p>&mdash; Houston Astros (@astros) <a href="https://twitter.com/astros/status/271014961260670976" data-datetime="2012-11-20T22:19:36+00:00">November 20, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>RHP Ross Seaton, IF Jonathan Villar. Also, RHP Mickey Storey claimed off waivers by NYY. IF Scott Moore outrighted to Triple A. (2 of 3)</p>&mdash; Houston Astros (@astros) <a href="https://twitter.com/astros/status/271015086141894657" data-datetime="2012-11-20T22:20:06+00:00">November 20, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Astros 40-man roster now at 36. (3 of 3)</p>&mdash; Houston Astros (@astros) <a href="https://twitter.com/astros/status/271015214353358848" data-datetime="2012-11-20T22:20:36+00:00">November 20, 2012</a></blockquote>
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Seaton was waived?! Nooooo

 

No, he was placed on the 40-man. There's still time to fill in the remaining 4 spots, but I think the Astros will do that through waiver claims.