Astros Major Press Conference at 4:30 (UPDATE: Astros trade 3 for Jason Jennings)

yes...tommy john

 

http://fantasybaseball.usatoday.com/content/player_news.asp?sport=MLB&id=3423&line=175524

26 years old. Found a nugget that he makes 550K if he stays in the majors all year, only 110K guaranteed.

Doesn't sound hopeful. The roto scoop I read said he has a "possibility of becoming a decent reliever".

He is coming off Tommy John surgery, and generally the first year back is a struggle. According to the link, had above average stuff before injury. Was mentioned as a sleeper back of the rotation candidate in Colorado, and may have even got a start or two last year.

It sounds like he fits into Purpura's profile of a middle reliever who can go multiple innings...in which case, it's possible he and Buchholz is somewhat of a wash.

 

I'll reserve final judgement until July, but yeah ... I liked Tavares! WTF?

 

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl//4389826.html

Although Brandon Backe is recovering from Tommy John Surgery and likely won't pitch until late in the 2007 but more likely 2008, the Astros rewarded his past performance with a $545,000, one-year contract for 2007.

 

6-2 190lbs. 26 years old
He was a Royal a couple of years ago.

Career Stats
42 games
179.1 innings
5.12 ERA
1.61 Whip
22 HR's
89 BB's
92 K's

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=6884

Not too enthused based on the small sample size, but we'll see. Jennings is obviously the target, but this guy seems like a throw in.

 

Or Robert Horry over Harold Miner in 1992.

 

Sucks to see Willy go . Way too much to give up for basically Jason Jennings .

 

At least let all the players involve play. Bucholz and Hirsh will give up so many HR's at Coor's it will be sick. Jennings has kept the ball in the park there and had a sub 4 era at Coor's Field last season and check his away stats from year's past and you might warm up a little to this trade. Bucholz is a pansy and Willy is pretty overrated. It sucks losing Hirsh but we will see if that is true.

 

I like Jennings...he had an inflated ERA from Coors and deflated wins from being on a crap team with no bullpen...i just hope we plan on filling that #4 slot with a guy like Suppan

 

As much as I don't think Willy Taveras is an everyday leadoff hitter... I did think he would have been a decent #8 hitter (of course, not on this team... which has Everett and Ausmus).

Burke can handle CF... won't be as good defensively, but will be better than Biggio/Berkman/Hidalgo were for 3 years. And, he'll be an upgrade at the plate.

The deal really goes downhill if the Astros can't re-sign Jennings before the end of the year... also, Garner never was a "Hirsh fan" ever since he sucked it up in spring training. It likely played into how long they stuck with Wandy before calling him up... and of course his performance at the big leagues seemingly sealed the deal with management (if he doesn't learn how to keep the ball in the yard, he'll get slaughtered in Colorado).

 

Buccholz is nothing more than a servicable bullpenner. Willy T is tough to trade, as Hirsh is too. I didn't see a lot to be happy with from Hirsh last season, but I would have liked to see another year or two from him first.

Jennings' stats are gonna be skewed from Coors, and I just hope that he is able to keep that ERA close to 3 at Minute Maid. It's an interesting deal.

Ascencio hopefully can make the pen.

Burke should play center, but don't forget about Hunter Pence. He's probably not a longshot to make this team, and could start at center field.

 

At the $10-12 million per year he'll get... pretty expensive for a #4 guy, no?

 

Why is that? Besides pretty good CF defense (but still not gold glove calibur), what do the Astros lose?

A leadoff hitter who's fast as hell, but doesn't get on base... and has poor base-running instincts?

I'm more upset about Hirsh/Buchholz... but you have to give up something to get something.

 

well...when u say it that way , yes....but in reality, if he ends up being our 2nd best pitcher...and he is in the #4 slot, then no

 

I got flamed for saying this in another forum but I really think the Astros have no clue what they are doing.

Astros have no team speed, a below average defensive outfield and a slightly above average infield.

We (thanks to Roy O) have a average rotation

We have a slightly above average pen (that could end up being above average)

Our lineup with Lee and Berkman should be average.

This=a average team, lets see 82-80 last year that's about right for this year.

I really don't like the makeup of this roster and really hope we have more moves lined up or else we are in serious trouble IMHO

 

maybe because it's a terrible move?

but that probably makes way too much sense...

 

i realize that you're kidding. but what do you really think of this, right off the bat???

it just seems like we gave up too much. i was concerned that we'd give up hirsh to get garland...but was somewhat willing to do that deal. i think more highly of garland than jennings as a pitcher, so i'm shocked that it took the same deal to pry him away from the rockies.

most of all, it means we still have a hole to fill in the rotation. and now we have neither hirsh or bucholz to fill it.

 

His away stats over the last three years:

12-18 4.50 ERA.

Want to take back that statement?

 

Astros trade for Jason Jennings

Houston deals for Colorado's Jennings
Story Tools:
Print Email Blog This Subscribe
Ken Rosenthal / FOXSports.com
Posted: 7 minutes ago



The Astros have acquired right-hander Jason Jennings from the Rockies, FOXSports.com has learned.

The Rockies will receive center fielder Willy Taveras and right-handers Jason Hirsh and Taylor Buchholz for Jennings and right-hander Miguel Asencio, major-league sources said.
Jennings, 28, will replace left-hander Andy Pettitte in the Astros' rotation. Pettitte, 34, signed a two-year, $32 million free-agent contract with the Yankees last Friday.

The Astros, who still could re-sign free-agent right-hander Roger Clemens, paid a steep price for Jennings, a pitcher with a 4.74 career ERA and only one season of more than 12 wins.

The quality of the players going to the Rockies will increase the pressure on the Astros to sign Jennings — a free agent at the end of next season — to a long-term contract.

Taveras, 25, will fill the Rockies' void in center field. Buchholz, 25, and Hirsh, 24, are considered two of the Astros' top pitching prospects.

Chris Burke, 26, likely will take over for the Astros in center, and the trade could accelerate the rise of the Astros' top position prospect, Class AA outfielder Hunter Pence, to the majors.

The package is similar to the one that the Astros discussed last week with the White Sox in a proposed trade for right-hander Jon Garland.

Buchholz made his major-league debut last season and was 6-10 with a 5.89 ERA in 113 innings. Hirsh, who is 6-foot-8, was 13-2 with a 2.10 ERA in 137 1/3 innings at Class AAA.

Asencio, 26, could develop into a decent middle-inning reliever. He has made only 11 appearances the past four seasons due to multiple surgeries on his right elbow.

 

Didnt Rosenthal report the last deal as Buck and Willie initially (i.e. he reported the wrong proposed deal)?

maybe he is wrong again