http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2002/1218/1478962.html Kent, who said he fell in love with Texas when his Cal-Berkeley team visited Austin in the 1980s, now lives in the state capital and has a ranch south of San Antonio. Consequently, he said, the Astros were on his radar screen long before he was on theirs.
Aggressive Astros make offers to Soriano and Lee. Astros offer deals to Lee, Soriano By BRIAN McTAGGART NAPLES, Fla. – Promising to be aggressive in their pursuit of free agents in the offseason, the Astros have made contract offers to the top two sluggers on the market – outfielders Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Lee. The Astros, who ranked last in the National League this year with a .255 batting average, have made multi-year offers to both Soriano and Lee, a Major League Baseball source said today. Lee, 30, hit .300 with 37 homers and 116 RBIs last season for the Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers, and Soriano, 30, hit .277 with 46 homers, 41 stolen bases and 95 RBIs for the Washington Nationals. Astros general manager Tim Purpura, who returns home Friday from the annual general managers’ meetings, said Wednesday night the Astros had made offers but he won’t divulge specific names. Soriano is expected to seek a seven-year deal in the $120 million range, which is an average annual salary of more than $17 million, while Lee could command as much as $15 million per year. It’s unlikely the Astros could afford to sign both. Purpura has also had serious discussions with Barry Meister, the agent for pitcher Woody Williams, about signing the Houston native to a deal. Williams, 40, went 12-5 with a 3.65 ERA for the San Diego Padres last season. brian.mctaggart@chron.com
Good. It needed it's own thread instead of being hidden in the Astros off-season thread. I hope we land Soriano of the two but feel we'll end up getting Lee.
There was another thread the had the same title as this one and I responded to that, they must have just combined them or something
I would say different if it was something ridiculous like 6 years/100 mil with full no trade clause. I'm in the minority here, I'm sure, but I don't want either one of them. They should concentrate on trading for Vernon Wells somehow (3 way?) and go into the season with the corner outfielders they already have. Any two of Scott, Huff and Pence will work and in anm emergency put Berkman back there again. Pitching and Centerfield should be the areas of concern.
Please make my Christmas merry and have both of them sign, have Clemens and Pettitte resign, have Woody sign (we do need a 4th pitcher...), and of course, we can trade for Vernon Wells. Ensberg then finds his bat once again! I love living in my little dream land.
wouldn't it be crazy if we acquired both of them, then clemons and pettie will prob come back....then our payroll will be only 2nd to the yankees.... lol
? No different than NY???? What was the payroll of the Yanks? more than double ours. And how big of a city do they have compared to ours? Yup more than double...
My guess is that Woody is an Astro by Thanksgiving...as for the other 2, I'd be surprised if either jumped so soon but who knows. I guess as long as we didnt lowball either guy that we have a shot...especially with Lee. Only thing that has me thinking is our interest in Woody and possibly Jennings...I hope that doesnt mean that Pettitte is leaning towards retiring.
I don't think that Pettitte's 3 year $31.5 million dollar contract could be considered a "discount". The yearly average was more than his previous 4 year contract. Although Clemens first year was clearly a bargain, the second two years, again, could hardly be considered a discount as he was the highest paid pitcher in the major leagues (with 2006 being pro-rated).
If thats the caxse...and Rockets retires too, that may force us to become the Cardinals-south....i.e. one ace...4 average guys who u hope to get more out of than they have done in the past...and load up the lineup with run producers....altho our bullpen is better than what they have toted out there in the past
