Yeah they say that they want Kent back but at a reduced price and don't feel they can afford the 9 Million Option so they are going to renegotiate. BUt as of now he is a free agent.
No one should be surprised Biggio's option was picked up. After getting as close as they did i thought it was a foregone conclusion. No surprise with Kent either; i hope they can bring him back at a reduced salary; a lot which i think will depend on what happens with Carlos Beltran.
Clubhouse poison? Errrr, is your "inside source" Barry Bonds? Kent was quiet & didn't get along with the media, but from everything I have ever read & heard, his Astros teammates LOVED Him. Anyway, the guys over at Orange Whoop Ass - THE cc.net-like authority on the Astros - think that there is more to the story, & 610's report that the Astros are trying to work it out with Kent at a reasonable figure adds credence to this line of thinking. As to Beltran, Berk, Roy, & Lidge weren't gonna go anywhere to begin with. They can't this off-season. I think bringing back both Bigg & Kent wil impress Beltran more than running them off and throwing Lane & Burke in there full-time...
Its now and never anyways for guys like Burke and Lane. Frankly, back in August when things were not lookin so good, I was looking forward to these two getting a chance to show us some good things in September and next year. But, we got hot... and won. Now, they're gonna try and prolong this hot stretch as much as possible, by trying to bring back the old guys... I just hope its not costing these two crucial everyday development time. I'd much rather have Burke get 3/4ths of Biggio's AB's if it means that he's going to turn into a solid MLB player faster.
Confirmation of 610's report: Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1911488&CMP=OTC-DT9705204233 General manager Gerry Hunsicker said the team "made it clear to [Kent] that we had interest in sitting down with him and bringing him back under another contract scenario." Kent's a very, very private guy. Keeps to himself, doesn't ruffle many feathers in the clubhouse at all. He's a weird guy. Some players at times took exception to what they perceived as loafing in the field & on the basepaths. They also have taken issue with Berkman for his repeated space-cadet moments. And with Biggio. It happens. To say that the players hate Kent, or that he's some kind of huge divisive force, is stretching it more than a bit.
All yous guys with inside info, why don't you email me about it. I'll keep whatever you tell me to myself.
Cool. I feel better about this now. I know that Beltran said that Berkman/Oswalt/Lidge were key for him, but I was worried about how he'd take it if our first move out of the box was to let a major everyday player go. Looks like that's not the case, anyway. If Kent goes, it'll be as much his decision as anything else.
Wow. Incredibly classy. " My two years in Houston have been among the most enjoyable years of my career. Our team's run during the second half of the season made me feel like a kid again and reminded me why I love playing this game so much. I am already thinking about spring training. "I consider myself lucky to have played with such a great group of guys who refused to give up, even when others counted us out. Our team made great strides this year and we broke new ground for this franchise by winning our first post-season series. To get so close and then come up short leaves a bitter taste. As I said to my teammates after the tough loss in Game 7 of the NLCS, 'this team can win next year.' I was looking forward to being a part of that effort because there is some unfinished business, and I believe that, at full-strength, we'd have won it all this year." "We'll see where things go from here, but regardless of how it turns out, I am deeply grateful to Drayton, Gerry, and the Astros franchise for wanting me to spend the past two years in an Astros' uniform. "If Game 5 of the NLCS turns out to be my last Astros' home game, I feel fortunate to have finished on a high note in front of the Houston fans. Your cheers and support helped carry the team through the highs and lows of the season and the post-season. We could not have enjoyed the successes that we had at home if it had not been for your unwavering support. Thanks to all of you for the many kindnesses and courtesies that you extended to my family and to me. "
World Series MVP had his moments in the outfield too. Those are things you can live with most of the time. I gotta say Berkman rivals Ramirez tho'. Those guys are nuts out there.
