Not quite sure what to think about this ... If it's the best we can do to improve the team than go for it. Better than nothing I guess. http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASAp...622&content_id=776884&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp Astros think about free agent Boone Infielder plays three positions, has power, speed By Jim Molony / MLB.com In 54 games with NY, Aaron Boone batted .254 with six homers and 31 RBIs. (Preston Mack/MLB.com) HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros are considering making a pitch for free agent infielder Aaron Boone. According to sources with the ballclub, Boone's name has come up internally in discussions, but no decision to pursue the 31-year-old has been made and Houston general manager Gerry Hunsicker has not contacted Boone's agent, Adam Katz, regarding his client. "I have no comment on that topic," Hunsicker told MLB.com Monday evening when asked if the Astros were considering making an offer to Boone. Boone, an All-Star whose home run in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series against Boston vaulted the New York Yankees into the World Series last fall, has been out all year while recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered playing basketball on Jan. 16. The Yankees subsequently voided Boone's $5.75 million contract and traded for Alex Rodriguez, making him their third baseman, while Boone became a free agent. Boone underwent surgery on Feb. 16 and is currently rehabilitating in California. He is expected to return to action in late July or early August. Several other teams have been monitoring Boone's progress. Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro visited with Boone recently in California. The Anaheim Angels, who lost third baseman Troy Glaus to injury, are a potential suitor. Pittsburgh, Boston, Atlanta and Los Angeles are also reportedly interested in Boone, once he demonstrates that he is healthy. The Astros, currently in fifth place in the National League Central, have been looking for ways to improve. Last week Hunsicker dealt struggling right fielder Richard Hidalgo to the New York Mets for reliever David Weathers and right-hander Jeremy Griffiths. But bringing Boone in the fold would necessitate even more shuffling of the roster. The Astros have very little room in the payroll, perhaps $3 million, and Boone is seeking a team for 2005 as well as the final two months of the current season. The Astros also already have a pair of third baseman in the right-handed hitting Morgan Ensberg and the lefty hitting Mike Lamb. Boone, however, can also play shortstop and second base and could be used much the way the club used Mark Loretta when Hunsicker obtained him from Milwaukee two years ago. Loretta hit .424 in 21 games with Houston after he was acquired on Aug. 31, 2002, in a trade for Keith Ginter and Wayne Franklin. Boone hit .254 with six homers and 31 RBIs in 54 games with the Yankees after they obtained him in a trade with Cincinnati on July 31, 2003, for left-hander Brandon Claussen. Boone's combined output for the Reds and Yankees last season was .267 with 24 homers and 96 RBIs. During his seven years in the Major Leagues, Boone, a career .270 hitter, has averaged 21 homers and 88 RBIs. Boone's best season was 2002, when he hit .241 with 26 homers, 87 RBIs and 32 stolen bases.
why? we already have 2 third baseman....a left and a righty.....why do we need Boone.....i guess we can use him as an utility man.....ill take him only for cheap though......
Malony is a writer with sources on Astros. He covered the 'stros for the old Post. Perhaps Boone is part of a plan in case Ensberg is traded? (In a larger Beltran deal?)
why? we already have 2 third baseman....a left and a righty.....why do we need Boone.....i guess we can use him as an utility man.....ill take him only for cheap though...... Cuz one of our third basemen sucks.
I really thought Morgan would be our future 3rd baseman but has sucked so far this year... anyway, Boone would be great if healthy...
You gave your password to Major so that he could skirt the rules and read the board during peak times despite being a non-contributing member? Dude, that's just wrong. You need to familiarize yourself with the tragedy of the commons. If everyone did that this BBS would crash. It is deliberately defying the framework Clutch has in place to keep this board available for the people who love to use it. You are not above the rules around here. What you did was disrespectful to Clutch's board. Is it that hard for someone with over 5,000 posts (major) to chip in $20? That's less than half a cent per post. It costs a lot of money for Clutch to run this site, and this isn't even taking into account compensation for his time. If this board isn't worth $20 to you or to Major, then you shouldn't be here.
Looks like Boone is off the market: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BBA_INDIANS_BOONE?SITE=TXHOU&SECTION=SPORTS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP: Indians, Aaron Boone Reach Deal CLEVELAND (AP) -- Free agent third baseman Aaron Boone has reached a tentative agreement on a two-year contract with the Cleveland Indians, The Associated Press learned Friday. Boone, whose 11th-inning homer in Game 7 of the ALCS last season put the New York Yankees in the World Series, hasn't played since injuring his knee during a basketball game in January. The Indians, who outbid several other teams for Boone, plan to announce the signing this weekend if Boone passes his physical, according to two baseball sources who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. The 31-year-old Boone, a career .270 hitter who spent seven seasons with Cincinnati, was already in Cleveland undergoing medical tests and could be ready to play in a few weeks, the sources said. That's just in time to help the surging Indians (35-36), who have won nine of 14 and entered the weekend four games out of first place in the AL Central. Boone went from hero-to-goat in a New York minute. Just two months after beating the Boston Red Sox with his homer off Tim Wakefield, Boone tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the pickup basketball game. Boone's injury led the Yankees to pursue and eventually sign All-Star Alex Rodriguez. Boone had surgery before being released in February by the Yankees. He agreed in December to a one-year $5.75 million deal with New York, but the contract prohibited him from playing basketball. So, the Yankees only had to give Boone 30 days termination pay - $917,553. The Indians will benefit from Boone's versatility. He can play third base, second base and shortstop. With shortstop Omar Vizquel in the final year of his contract, Boone gives Cleveland some depth and options for 2005. Boone batted .254 with six homers and 31 RBIs last year for New York, which acquired him from the Reds last July for left-handers Brandon Claussen and Charlie Manning. Overall, Boone hit .287 with 24 homers and 96 RBIs last season and was named an NL All-Star.
I still think Morhan can be as good as Boone if not better. Beside's, Boone didn't do squat for the Yankess last year. He just got 1 lucky HR against Boston in game 7. Granted that was 1 darn big lucky HR.
