Sportsradio 610 is reporting the Biggio extension is done, and will be announced at a press conference later this afternoon. The length and dollar amount of the contract remains unknown.
01/31/2003 3:15 pm ET Astros to announce Biggio deal By Alyson Footer / MLB.com HOUSTON -- After several meetings this week between the Astros and Barry Axelrod, the agent for Craig Biggio, the two sides have reached a deal on a contract extension, the Astros will announce at 5 p.m. Biggio, who in the final year of his contract is moving to center field to make room for Jeff Kent at second, had wanted some assurance that he'd be around beyond this season. "It looks like we're making pretty good progress," Axelrod said earlier in the day. "We've asked for a few more tweaks and changes, minor adjustments. Then hopefully that'll be the end of it and we can get this done." It appears that the deal has gotten done, although Axelrod declined to comment on terms of the agreement or length of the new contract. After numerous meetings this week between club owner Drayton McLane, general manager Gerry Hunsicker, Axelrod and Biggio, the Astros submitted a proposal Thursday and expected Biggio to accept or reject it no later than today. Biggio and his wife, Patty, already have left for an anniversary weekend to California's wine country. They have had these plans for a number of months and considered cancelling the trip in light of the contract negotiations, but Axelrod encouraged them to take the trip. "I assured them I'll be able to handle things here," said Axelrod, who has been in town since Wednesday and will accompany Darryl Kile's widow, Flynn Kile, to tonight's baseball dinner.
What age do most baseball players who are inury free retire at? I mean, I respect the clubs decision to take care of one of their great all time (regular season ) players, but I just hope they didn't open the bank much at all.
2004 - 3 Million 2005 - Astros option at 3 million or a 1 million buyout. Plus the opportunity to earn another 1.5 million in incentives in 2004 and 2005. http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASAp...131&content_id=195184&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp
Biggio is not going to play well in center field and I will predict that Berkman is starting in CF by June. Bidge is a bench player now. He may start out well in CF but it won't last. This is a mistake. Year in and year out we pick through the scrap heap to get relief pitchers. The scouts have done a good job keeping the bullpen respectable. $4.5 million a year will buy a couple of the top set up guys in the game. McLane is spending fan money as he will recoup his "losses" when he sells. While everyone wishes Bidge well the overwhelming sentiment here and on Sportstalk and in the sports mags is that he ain't worth this much. I do not want to hear another word about this team losing money.
I disagree. Despite the latest awakening by most owners and GMs - Wait a minute, you mean we DON'T have to spend large amounts of money on completely replaceable players? If only we'd known sooner! - a top set-up man will generally run you a lot of money, mostly because you're partly paying them not to go somewhere, be a closer, rack up saves, and parlay those saves into a bigger contract.
Not talking about closers How would you like to have Remlinger or Weathers or any of two dozen fireballers to pitch us to Dotel and Wagner time. You could have at least two of the top ten set up relievers in the game for what Biggio (4.5 mill) will make next year. Never mind improving the bench or getting a good young 4 or 5 starter for that money. He won't even be a good bench player. He'll have his flashes, but when in the last 5 years has he been what you would call clutch for this team. It's just not a sound investment. He already got his golden parachute contract with his current 4 yr 33 million. We don't owe him anything more than a warm thanks and a place on the coaching staff. I would love to eat these words but Biggio has always left it on the field. He has little or nothing left to leave on the field and so will be an albatross. I will be very dissappointed when he gets booed by hometown fans this year and next. He doesn't deserve it but this contract weakens our chances of a ring.
If you think they overpaid for a player in the twighlight of his career look at what the reds gave larkin (9mil yr) Its really no to much to pay one of their better players in club history and prevent him from going out on bad terms. They also didnt make the mistake and sign him for more that one year with a buyout for the second. Plus as a cardinals fan i really like the idea of a 37 yr old infeilder playing CF
Im actually satisfied because I thought the Astros may dish out more money. 3 million a year is nothing. Im happy he can end his career as an Astro.
Okay, I'm going to go out on a limb here and make a silly prediction that I don't really believe...but Biggio is going to turn it around next season. Don't get me wrong, he is not going to bat .300 again or steal many bases, but he will be a very capable CFer, and he will be a solid bat at the beginning of the lineup (maybe .350-.360 OBP). And we will all be glad that he was extended...and then he will choke the next season (2004) and retire.
I guess this means Jason Lane won't be getting a chance to show his stuff now. The Astros are signing way too many mediocre players to decent-sized contracts(Biggio, Merced, Hunter, etc.). Replace them with minimum salary players and we could've come up with enough money for another big stick.
Biggio should retire this year. Man, the guy has no arm. He couldn't complete a relay play from right field; they think he can all of a sudden throw home from center. This will not work. The Astros are fooling themselves.
