I've been kinda out of the loop this offseason so i have a few questions about the stros offseason plans. Any trades or free agents the astros are looking at? Any prospects that are expected to come up or are on the fringe of big-league stardom? How is carlos hernandez's shoulder? Can we expect him to be healthy this year?
Astros report: Inside pitch Dec. 2, 2002 Now it's time to be realistic. After RHP Woody Williams decided to stay with the St. Louis Cardinals, thus ending any hope the Astros had of stealing him away and getting a "hometown discount" as well, Houston turned its attention to RHP Shane Reynolds. Reynolds, a former No. 1 starter for the Astros, spent the final four months of the season on the disabled list after undergoing back surgery but appears to be fully recovered. Reynolds has said he'd like to return to the Astros, but the club wants him to accept a deal with a lower base salary in case his back is not as healthy as he believes. With Wade Miller and Roy Oswalt at the top of the rotation, the Astros don't need a No. 1 starter anymore. But if Reynolds is healthy and can't attract any attention elsewhere, he could be a solid No. 3 starter in Houston. When the Cardinals came through with a two-year offer plus an option year for Williams, the Astros were left far behind. Sources indicated the Astros offered only around a $2 million base salary with tons of incentives. By comparison, Williams' salary with the Cardinals will be $6 million guaranteed for next season and $8 million for 2004, and 2005 would be for $8 million with a $900,000 buyout. Because Williams was on the disabled list three times last season, the Astros wondered if the market for him might be depressed. "We're disappointed," Astros GM Gerry Hunsicker said, "but I can't say I'm shocked." Given the constraints of a $65 million budget, the Astros had hoped to shore up a shaky rotation with two bargain-basement signings. Now they're focusing on one -- Reynolds. Here is an excellent site to keep up to date with the Astros: http://www.astrosdaily.com/
I think Saarloos is going to be a really good pitcher in this league. He isn't going to be as good as Miller or Oswalt, but he is going to be better than Redding and probably Hernandez since he gets hurt so darn much.
