Chron: McLane says trade winds are blowing...

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/lopez/3536349.html

McLane says trade winds are blowing
By JOHN P. LOPEZ
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

Always available for a photo op, Astros owner Drayton McLane was standing in front of a bulldozer Monday afternoon, keeping a promise to ace pitcher Roy Oswalt.

Like any kid from Weir, Miss., Oswalt always dreamed of someday moving dirt with his very own Caterpillar model D6N XL, which is considered the Red Ryder Carbon Action 200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle of bulldozers.

McLane told Roy O he would buy him the dozer if Oswalt won Game 6 of the National League Championship Series last season. Sure enough, he was true to his word.

But while it was a nice if somewhat bizarre event — Oswalt saying he even thought about the dozer around the third inning of the clinching Game 6 — the rest of us are more interested in other farm equipment.


All quiet on the front

Let's talk about backing up the tractor, Drayton, sowing some seeds, making some moves and being true to other promises. Let's talk about those promises always made to fans about doing something to be a champion.

Let's talk about how this Astros team still has done nothing to improve its offense and, while left with little choice but to not offer arbitration to Roger Clemens, could be without maybe the greatest pitcher of all time throughout 2006.

When's the next big press event?

"We're working every day," McLane told the bank of cameras Monday. Later, he was as candid and adamant as ever about answering the wishes of Astros fans by juicing the offense and keeping the good feeling of a 2005 World Series berth rolling.


Maintaining a vigil

In fact, McLane was supposed to be traveling this week attending to other business matters, but he canceled the trip in order to stay abreast of potential trades with general manager Tim Purpura, assistant GM Ricky Bennett, team president Tal Smith and director of scouting Paul Ricciarini.

"We've got to make a deal," McLane said. "My role is to really ignite Tim and Ricky and Paul Ricciarini and Tal to get something done."

In recent weeks, the Astros have seen a couple of potential trades fall apart and lost out to the Dodgers for free agent Nomar Garciaparra. So much for getting better?

In past years that might have been the Christmas story, McLane more worried about making a splash and selling tickets — posing at events like Monday's — than putting in extra hours in the offices of his baseball operations staff. But after the pictures and posing Monday, McLane went into a meeting with Purpura, Smith and the baseball staff.

The Astros are involved in ongoing discussions with as many as four teams, McLane said, but the club does not want to settle on a deal simply for the sake of making one.

"It has to be the right deal," he said. "More than the money, we don't want to give up the wrong deal. We've all seen trades that really didn't make sense. We've got to make a trade that's meaningful."

Never has the Astros owner seemed more determined to improve the club or, he says, willing to stretch the budget, which he has set at roughly $83 million for 2006.

"Sure, absolutely I would (increase the budget)," he said. "Money is not an object right now."

Yes, McLane really said that about money not being an object. And that shimmy you just felt was not the earth falling off its axis.

"Last year the budget at $83 (million) was where we needed to be," he said. "That's an affordable number. But bring the deal to me. We stretched the budget last year. I'm not against doing that again."

Whether he remains drunk with giddiness over the World Series berth or simply thirsts for more after getting so close, McLane wants another big press event before the season as much as anyone.

"We need some offense," McLane said. "We overcame it many times last year, but ... with Roger or without Roger, we need offense. We wanted to sign a free agent because you don't have to give up as much. I thought we would get Garciaparra."

Now that Garciaparra is gone and the free-agent well is all but dry? Trade talks are ongoing.

McLane warned that ultimately a deal might not be made until spring training as the club looks for the right fit.

He would not discuss specifics, but it has been clear that acquiring an outfielder is a priority. Philadelphia's Bobby Abreu is among those on the Astros' radar. Other teams have inquired about closer Brad Lidge. Also mentioned but less likely to be involved are starter Brandon Backe and relievers Chad Qualls and Dan Wheeler.

"There are two to four (trades) that we're talking about right now," McLane said. "One of them is really exciting, but I have no idea what will happen. We're ready to do it. It's a matter of getting it done."

Roy O got a giant Tonka truck for Christmas. All McLane wants is a bat. If he finds a way to get one, that could be the gift that keeps on giving for Astros fans.