I read on one of the Astros sites that the Red Sox had inquired about Wagner. Do they have anything available that we could use? Nixon, maybe?
I heard that too-don't they have Ugie Urbina though? Nixon is an interesting thought. IIRC Jimah used him in CF leading off. Ideally we'd get more of a table setter with more base stealing ability...like Johnny Damon. Doubt the Sox let Damon go, though. Possibly Randy Winn...he's in Oakland now, right? Since they traded Koch, they could be looking for a closer. I'd just be afraid of being hosed by a guy as shrewd as Billy Beane.
The Sox are reportedly not happy with Urbina. So they could be interested in Wagner. Oakland probably would not want him unless we took on some contracts. They too are under financial restraints, which is one of the reasons why I think they sent Koch out. CK
Winn is in Seattle. They've got a closer, so I guess we cant use Wags in a trade with them. But, I really like the guy and wish we could get him.
Randy Winn is in Seattle...part of the Lou Pinella trade Oakland got Keith Foulke from the White Sox for Koch as their closer and expect him to be their man. And don't be afraid of Billy...he'll help you out too (look at Toronto and Hinske)
That's right, I remembered it was a manager trade, but was thinking for some reason that it was Art Howe that was traded. Still, Seattle happens to have Mike Cameron patrolling center Ichiro batting leadoff, so perhaps a a bat like Ward, with big power potential especially from the left side would be of some interest to them at least as a starting point? It's a thought. BTW, I would edit my post, but I just checked and here's the reason the Sox would want Wagner- Urbina is a free agent and they declined offering arbitration on Urbina, meaning they can't resign him. They also did offer arbitration to Cliff Floyd-with Floyd, Damon, and Ramirez, they could move Nixon (or better yet, Damon) fairly easily, though they do need a DH. I remember the rumor being in relation to the Astros need for a 3B, and Jimah's knowledge of Shea Hillenbrand (played him out of nowhere, became AS 3B). Perhaps that leads to more discussions.
Allow me to be cynical here. There is no way that Jeff Kent is coming to the Astros. File this under the same attention seeking leaks that had Roger Clemens and Mike Hampton coming to the Astros. Notice who is driving this story? Drayton Mclane. Has an actual offer been made? I hope I am wrong about this, but this flies in the face of all of the budget concerns the team has been trotting out since day one.
Sensing that the sports landscape has changed with the Texans here and renewed interest in the Rox...Drayton may be telling Gerry to get it done just to bring in a high profile FA to generate excitement.
To be fair, Drayton and/or Gerry never came anywhere close to saying they were in "serious talks" with either of them. I know, I know Drayton's history, but let's give him a chance... I can't recall him saying that we were ever serious with these others.
I think it is much more likely that Hunsicker has worked out a trade of one of our high salary guys (Hidalgo or Wagner) to make room for a Kent signing.
The way to sign Kent is to give him a 3-4 year deal which is heavily backloaded. The Astros then don't resign Biggio after 2003 unless he signs a deal similar to Reynolds, low base, heavy incentives. With Biggio's salary off the books in 2004, signing Kent this year is essentially akin to extending Biggio's contract.
if they get kent...and if he plays 2B...the astros, in their relatively brief history, will have had a number of really strong 2B play for them... joe morgan bill doran craig biggio jeff kent (???)
would anyone trade wagner for johnny damon straight up? even with dotel ready to step in as closer, whose going to step in for dotel? having both of them is what made the bullpen so dangerous. i don't think i can trade wags, one of my favorites, without having another closer/setup man come in. could we get damon for wags and sign urbina. then pick up kent. that would be pretty impressive though i'm sure we'd have to find a way to lose hidalgo in the process.
I would trade Wags for Damon in a New York minute. The problem is, I think it would take more than Billy. But even then, I think it would be worth it as guys like Damon are much more rare than guys like Wagner.
