What are the odds Hamilton leaves the Rangers? They are letting him test the market before offer (according to ESPN). I fear having to face him as often as the Astros would otherwise have to. EDIT: Saw the Hamilton thread.....
Mlbtraderumors is linking to reports that the Angels are considering picking up option years on Dan Haren and Ervin Santana in order to trade them. Previously it's been reported that the Angels were considering declining options on both pitchers in order to save money to make a run at signing Grienke long term. Since it's unlikely that they'll decline the options and then make a qualifying offer on either, trading them allows the angels to get salary relief and some prospect/s for either player. Depending on the prospect cost I hope the Astros are considering this kind of deal. It would be a low risk way to improve the major league team in the short term and obtain an asset that can possibly be flipped later in the season for the long term. For instance, let's say the Astros traded for Haren. You'd eat his 15.5 million option year in exchange for sending over discounted prospects in the trade. Haren would then fit in at the front of the rotation for the 2013 season. If the Astros are out of it, he can be shopped at midseason for a bigger haul, assuming the Astros are willing to eat a significant portion of his salary in the later trade. If he's a bust it's only a one year deal and shouldn't hamstring payroll going forward. Santana might be a safer option since he'll likely cost less prospects to obtain. Since the Astros aren't likely to commit payroll to big time free agents, I hope they use their payroll flexibility in creative ways to improve long term.
Unless we were sending garbage, I wouldn't have any interest. I'd love the idea of signing Dan Haren if he were a FA.
Anybody who thinks they won't lose 95 gms or more next yr needs to put the crack pipe down. They're not going to spend any money on FA this yr so there's not going to be an upgrade in talent. And I agree that they shouldn't spend any as well. Go look at what they have returning, and you think they're going to win 70 gms? They're not going to be in the NL Central any more. They have very little talent and their pitching sucks. No more Pirates + Cubs.... Can you say Rangers...Angels....A's? It amazes me how freakin' clueless some of you are!!! That is all.
Actually, we do play the Pirates & Cubs next year. FWIW, the NL Central did have 3 good teams as well.
Thought id look at the predictions again. Back when, I thought 100-104 losses was about right. But now that the off season moves seem mostly done, 108-110 seems quite doable.
It seems Astros offseason movement is over... This team will be another 100 loss team. My prediction is 58-104 team because Astros don't have Carlos Lee,Wandy Rodriguez,and Brett Myers to start the season...Plus we go into the best division in baseball and the first year in the AL will be an adjustment...Astros only SOLACE is a big one in if they give us Houston fans one more #1 pick there that will give the Astros a chance to draft a freak of a prospect MAYBE the best ever prospect if Carlos Rondon out of NC St...Dude was 9-0 1.57 era against top college competition with Aluminum bats...His SO to walk ration was silly too...He will be a Franchise changer...
I think it's entirely possible we lose 100 games again...I think it would be the first time a franchise has ever lost 100 games in 3 straight seasons. but I'll say this: 1. I actually feel better about the starting rotation heading into this season than I did last season. 2. Losing Carlos Lee and replacing him with another bat is not a loss. 3. Last year Myers was the closer. I don't think it matters that he's not on the team, frankly....not for this team. 4. I don't know what to say about the adjustment. These guys were young anyway. It's not as if they had the book down pat on the NL and are having to make some huge adjustment.
if this team was in the NL Central, I'd book them for a solid 10 gm improvement over last year. Moving to the AL West...hard to see them losing less than 100 barring a late move. Or I guess at least 2 players breaking out in an All Star kinda way (maybe the old Pena, maybe the kids...who knows)
They use BBCOR composite/metal bats in NCAA that are designed to perform like wood bats. These aren't the aluminum bats of the past. The impressive thing about him is that he did that as a freshman.
Top of the rotation last year was Wandy, Budly and Happ. Top of the rotation this year is Budly and Harrell. The rest of the rotation is youngsters (Lyles/Ely/White) and reclamation projects (Bedard/Humber/Edgar Gonzalez). I am excited to see Ely and White develop, though neither are locks though to make the team. My expectation is that this year's SPs will struggle a lot, especially the back end of the rotation, since they are not quite as good as last year's. And the SPs will to compete in a much harder division.
It's going to be ugly. On top of how bad we were, our pitchers now face a DH. They will definately be moving in the wrong direction for a while. This is one of the worst teams I could ever imagine. I don't mind it. If your going to be bad be epic bad. Get some good picks, and build.
Based on their winter signings, I dont see them adding anyone that actually is a lock to get us more wins. Too early to open the wallet I guess, or the wallet doesn't have much in it
https://twitter.com/JimmyTraina/statuses/304295117915836417 59.5 wins for 2013 huh? Hmmmm. 102-103 losses might be about right An 11 game improvement for the Cubs I'd bet against that.
Only team projected to lose 100 games. I'm hopeful we can win 60, and maybe even go 63-99 while still having the worst record in baseball. Keep me on suicide watch if we are going through a 42-120 season.
