http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bb/1306024 Astros eyeing Twins' relievers By JOSEPH DUARTE Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Trying to fill the final spot in the bullpen, the Astros may turn to the Minnesota Twins for help. According to a major league source, the Astros have inquired about righthander LaTroy Hawkins and lefthander Travis Miller of the Twins. Miller, 29, appears to be a better fit for the Astros, who are in search of a lefthander after a disappointing spring by non-roster lefty C.J. Nitkowski. Miller also comes with a cheaper price tag, $545,000 compared to $2.75 million for Hawkins, the Twins' primary closer until he lost the job in the second half last season. Miller spent last season as the second lefthanded option out of the bullpen for Minnesota behind Eddie Guardado, going 1-4 with a 4.81 ERA in 45 appearances. Miller is not expected to make the Twins' opening day roster and is out of options. Hawkins, who has a 95 mph fastball, struggled during the second half of 2001 and lost the closer's job to Guardado. Hawkins, 29, converted 19 of his first 22 save opportunities but went 0-3 with a 10.70 ERA and five blown saves after the All-Star break and was a major factor in the club's fall from first place in the American League Central. The Twins reportedly are interested in ridding themselves of Hawkins' salary and may be willing to take a package of minor leaguers. But the Astros would prefer a lefthander to go along with closer Billy Wagner. Nitkowski entered camp as a frontrunner to occupy that role, but he has struggled this spring, and on Saturday he allowed two runs and walked two batters in one inning against Kansas City. In eight games this spring, Nitkowski has allowed eight runs and 11 hits. Five bullpen spots have been settled. Wagner, Octavio Dotel, Nelson Cruz, Tim Redding and T.J. Mathews are assured of spots. Along with Nitkowski, righthanders Scott Linebrink and Ricky Stone are competing for the remaining spot. The Astros could get the injured Hippolito Pichardo and Doug Brocail back early in the season and have promising prospect Brandon Puffer in the minors. All three are righthanders.
Hawkins has been brutal for the Twins. Miller is probably as good as any left-handed reliever (other than Wagner) right now that the Astros have in their system. If they make a trade, hopefully, they won't part with anyone useful.
bobrek-Even Wilfredo Rodriguez? Imagine a crew of of Dotel, Wagner, and Hawkins closing out games. That's some high octane stuff. It's unfortunate Mathews was given a slot. It looks like whoever gets the 6th slot will just be keeping it warm for Brocail.
As far as being major league ready, I'd rather see Miller than Rodriguez right now. Ask me again in a couple of months. Hawkins is scary as a closer (scary-bad, not scary-good). Since I live in the Twin Cities area, I have seen him blow a number of games. He's similar to how Mike Jackson pitched last year. You never quite felt confident with him on the mound, although he has some really nasty stuff.
Why did we let Mike Williams go back to the Pirates? Some of the moves "the Hun" makes leave me wondering.
Finn-They wanted to make him a closer, and give him closer to closer type money. For us, he wouldn't even be the primary set-up man for Wagner (Dotel). Though, I am perplexed about the lack of arbitration offers (first round picks).
Actually, the Twins will probably go with Eddie Guardado as their main closer. Jackson is on their roster, however.
Astros really shouldn't have reassigned Lidge and Puffer. NONE of our assured bullpen guys are very solid right now. Wagner has looked very shaky this spring. Dotel has had nagging injuries as has Cruz. And Brocail won't be ready for the opening of the season. I have a feeling that we will be seeing a LOT of our young bullpen pitchers this season.
Blame McLane. Williams was a FA. When McLane gives Hunsicker 100 pesos to work with, you can't really re-sign a middle reliever (at least for us) at closer money.
Before anyone gets too broken up about Mike Williams, remember that despite his 4-0 record with the Astros, he had an ERA over 4.00. It's hard to justify 2 years and 7 million dollars for that.
Of course, it's also hard to justify a million dollars for a guy who's a liability everytime he swings a bat . In fact, much harder... when guys who can run and field are all over the place in the minors. The reliever market has become absurd. Hunsicker already overpaid Wagner. That was non-sense. Eight million dollars for a guy who pitches 1 inning every 3-4 games? ugh. Sure, it's nice to have some surety at the end of a game. But the actual # of games that Wagner would save, that a guy at half the price wouldn't, is very small. And with the extra four million... we could have nabbed ourselves a super utility player or a good middle reliever.
