Doesn't seem possible. Unless you count Feluz, wehave no starting pitching depth whatsoever right now outside of the 5. Somebody will be acquired before the season.
Probably but I wouldn't be shocked either way. Wojo, Stailey, Feliz and Musgrove all could get some playing time. I find it telling that the Astros wouldn't go 3/48. There are legitimate budget issues and I suspect they want to add a corner infield bat.
I would have no issues going into the season with the starting 5 + these guys as potential fill-ins (assuming the budget is spent to fill other holes). I mean we've said that Obie was irrelevant in the trade because we have plenty of AAAA #5 starters like him...this is where they matter. If a major injury came up, we could look at a trade at that point--or address at the deadline as you (Nook) said earlier.
I don't either...... Especially if it allows us to get a bat now. At the deadline elite pitchers are available, and would be better than anyone we would sign now. The farm system at this minute isn't as good as 6 months ago, but a lot can change in short order.
Kazmir disappointed me to no end last season. I rather give someone like Fister/Gallardo a shot. I like the Astros moves have basically been addition by subtraction with the departure of Conger, Carter, and now Kazmir.
I'm for signing Fister or Lee (or the extremely long shot of Kenta Maeda). I don't want Gallardo at all.
I hope that they have plans for a major acquisition or Kazmir just preferred LA, because that was a very reasonable and fair deal - probably on the lower end of what people realistically thought he'd get. The last 2 years, he's given 20+ starts of Cy-Young caliber pitching. Even if he falls apart at the end of the year, that's a pretty good investment.
I agree with Major. He's a good pitcher at a fair price, that wouldn't have cost draft pick compensation. And the Stros still have one of the lowest payrolls in the majors. Not the worst loss ever, but I can't see how this is "addition by subtraction."
I suspect that part of it was the opt out that Kazmir got. Also, while the amount of money Kazmir got is fair (IMO), it is still a major financial investment for the Astros, which would potentially limit them making other moves. They didn't expect to be paying Colby Rasmus $16,000,000.
I think it is a mistake by the Astros not signing Kazmir The only reason I would not go after him is if he wanted 4 years, but a 3 year deal at 16 millions is good value for a nice number 2 starter and a great number 3 in a great rotation
The payroll is still minimal, even with Rasmus (who's one year-only contract really shouldn't be hampering payroll flexibility... if anything it enhances it). Of course there's a budget... but they have a ways to go to simply get to league average, let alone slightly above average (which is what this market size should dictate). Seriously don't want them to be crying poor at this point... its not going to go over well nor will it be believed.
Definitely agree on opt out being a big deal. Basically, it limits deal to one year if things go well, but is three years if things go bad. Without opt out, deal seems spot on.
Addition by subtraction by not having a pitcher who was inconsistent. That's the 2nd year in a row where he started off well then wet the bed down the stretch. I don't want to think "let's cross our fingers this 2nd half for Kazmir" when they will likely be chasing the division title.
I said it from the end of the season that Kazmir would not be worth resigning if his cost was around 15+ million per year. Having to go to a 6 man rotation at times in order to rest his arm is a silly thing to do for someone making that much money. If you are going to pay him that kind of money, you need to be able to have some faith that his arm would be strong through the entire season without sacrificing other things.
Reds had Charlton Dibble Meyers We had Lidge Dotel Wagner KC was great last year but wasn't the first 3 man dominant pen
But he's specifically NOT inconsistent - his decline seems predictable, which means you can take advantage of that and only get the best of him. You start him for 4 months and get Cy-Young level pitching and then once he starts to struggle, you can bench him. $15MM for 2/3rds of a season of elite pitching is a great price. Even with the decline last year, he finished 4th in the AL in ERA - because he was amazing for 4 months.
Kazmir postseason: 1W-2L, 5.18ERA, 41.2 IP, 1.66 whip Cliff Lee postseason: 7W-3L, 2.52 ERA, 82 IP, .93 whip
I wouldn't mind taking a chance on Cliff Lee and see what happens, but I'm not sure the relevance of these stats. 115 of the 120 innings were 4+ years ago. Neither of them are the same pitchers today that they were in 2007-2011.
