...the one thing I haven't heard is the Astros front office stating that they are actively listening to trade proposals. Every journalist has us tied to rumors, but the front office has been mum. You'd expect some of that, but I have an eerie feeling that we are just going to stand pat. Anybody hear anything different?
Can't say that I have but I'd be extremely suprised if they weren't listening. Say what you want about Purpura, you don't get to this position by being a complete r****d. I'm sure they've initiated some of the calls. It's just that they're trying to move players that absolutely no one wants (Lane & Ensberg).
Nobody heard anything before we traded for Randy Johnson. Nobody heard anything before we traded for Beltran. Hell... nobody heard anything before we traded for Aubrey freaking Huff. But... our own chronicle writer (de Jesus) broke the Garland trade before it was actually finished (trying to get the "scoop"... but in the process causing further scrutiny/exposure/analysis of a deal that could have been completed privately)... and that SIGNIFICANTLY hampered any chance that an Astro front office member would ever talk to a member of the local media again regarding trades.
Actually, we were rumored to get Huff a few times previously, including earlier in last season. It wasn't a huge suprise when it happened. You're right on about the rest, though. Hopefully Purp at least learned that from Hun...
There was talk of Beltran for quite a while prior to the trade. Did it seem likely to go down? Probably not, but the day it happened was not the first time I had heard of it. When we got Randy Johnson, on the other hand, I was completely shocked. I read the paper that morning, going Holy ****!
Really, now? So, with your intimate knowledge of the Astros' front office you've discovered they're as stupid as most fans? All terse verbiage aside, my point was simply that none of us (unless one has inside access) has any idea whom they've attempted to move or what calls they've initiated or fielded. I'd be extremely surprised if they weren't listening, too--because time and time again they've stated publicly that they *always* listen.
The Astro's front office takes great care to suppress any rumors or news of deals they have working or that are just offered. I agree with this policy, even if it means less for us to read about as fans. I'm sure they are listening, and maybe even initiating some of the discussions...but at the same time, no, I wouldn't be surprised if they just stood pat.
It was my opinion. I'm pretty sure it would be the opinion of many Astros fans that they have tried to move Lane and Ensberg with no luck. Relax.
I haven't arrived at that opinion myself because I've seen no smoke from such a would-be fire. The "as stupid as most fans" comment was directed at folks who, for example, clamor to trade Ensberg, Everett, and Lane for Miguel Tejada. I believe the Astros are probably pretty aware of the market value of their players.
Yeah, Lane and Ensberg would be gone by now if they had any market value at all. Although I don't think Everett would get shipped off anytime soon.. management sees him as a valuable member of the team, not only for his defense, but team leadership. The Astros lack a leader other than Everett in the clubhouse. Roy O isn't vocal, neither is Bidge, and Berkman is more content being the playful big kid. Everett is one of the clubhouse leaders.
The problem is that I don't see anybody writing about potential Astro trades. Not Maller. Not mlbtraderumors.com, not Gammons...NOBODY. It's eerie.
I heard Purpura is listening to offers and gauging all our players trade value. However, i believe and common sense tells me the only real tradable assets we have is our bullpen and possibly Jennings and Loretta. I'm sure we all know who the 4 untradable players are, 2 having no trade clauses, who we could net us significant farm system players. Yet that would say to the public Drayton is blowing up the team. I'm not 100% positive, but isn't there a past quote of him saying he would never under his control blow up the team to rebuild? On one hand i like his competitiveness, however with a farm system containing no immediate help in the near future i don't want to see us as a mediocre sub .500 team for the next decade in the worst division in baseball. With our farm system, the only way to put a winning team on the field now is to buy one like the Yanks and Sox do every year. We all know Drayton doesn't open his check book like that. At this point it looks like Brad Lidge is our ironiclly our best asset to bring in a legitimate prospect and either we trade him before the deadline or end up paying him possibly over 5 million dollars next year as a set up man/closer for a losing team. I really wonder wonder what Jennings could net us in return or if it's worth more losing him for a draft pick.
Jennings' value isn't very high, but I'm sure the Astros could get something in return since there aren't that many starters on the trade block. NY (both teams), Atlanta and St. Louis all want starting pitching for the stretch run. Although I'd hate to see Lidge go, he is the one tradeable player that we have that could get us a couple of blue-chip prospects. Hopefully we'll trade him before the deadline where they could get much more for him rather than in the offseason where they might not get as much.
well we should have four jennings, lamb, lidge, loretta. you could throw qualls or wheeler in just for filler maybe lol. but i think the four above could definitely fetch some decent prospects to rebuild with for next season.
I agree with Lamb as well. I just don't think he would net us a great prospect. However, don't underestimate the value of Qualls and Wheeler. If we trade either of them they will net us something good in return. When you look at all the teams in the pennant races, the majority have a glaring weakness in the bullpen. If you we're to trade Qualls or Wheeler + Lidge, that could turn around any team's bullpen to one of the best in the league, w/o paying much. Like many have siad, Jenning's value should be overinflated with no starting pitching out there and no more bidding for Mark Buehrle's services. He can give any team with a good offense the chance to win a game just by eating up innings.
