Not a real shocker. Neither is Wade's ineptness. [rquoter]HOUSTON -- The Astros have made plenty of headlines within the last year, beginning with the announcement the club was for sale and followed by the blockbuster July trades of popular outfielders Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn -- all of which took place during a team-record 106-loss season. While the impending sale of the club to a group led by Houston businessman Jim Crane awaits approval, the Astros likely won't be making any headlines when it comes to free agency. The Astros remain in a full-fledged rebuilding mode and for the most part will be looking to fill their holes in 2012 from within. They played a whopping 20 rookies last year, and many of those players will be playing key roles in manager Brad Mills' third year at the helm. By trading Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman last year and Pence and Bourn in July, the Astros have infused their once-barren farm system and should see many of the players they received in those trades get their feet wet at the Major League level. "We'll do all the legwork we normally do and be prepared to read and react as opportunities present themselves, but I don't see us being major players in the free-agent market," Astros general manager Ed Wade said. "I think the course we set out on actually a year ago with the Oswalt and Berkman trades, it's a course we have to continue to follow. "We'll try to infuse as many young players into our situation as we possibly can and that being the case, we're committed to trying to stay young and build that core nucleus from within. I just don't see a scenario where we're major players in the market, but there could be opportunities to present themselves along the way that we have to be prepared for." The Astros only have two players facing free agency -- outfielder Jason Michaels and shortstop Clint Barmes -- and neither is likely to return Wade is resigned to the fact the Astros probably won't be able to bring Barmes back. "I would have to assume that there are going to be clubs that have very significant interest in Clint because there's a dearth of quality shortstops on the market," he said. "Aside for the fact he can play multiple positions, if a club wanted to approach it in that vein, that could increase his value as well. We love what he's done for us here and over the course of last season and I think any club would like to have him." 2012 payroll: The purpose of the trades of Pence and Bourn at the Trade Deadline was to shed payroll. The Astros were in the low $80-million range last year and figure to be in the $60-million range when you figure they have $47 million committed next year to Lee ($19 million), Brett Myers ($12 million), Wandy Rodriguez ($10.5 million) and Lyon ($5.5 million). The club could still try to trade Myers and Rodriguez to save more money, but it certainly won't have much to spend.[/rquoter] Why the hell didn't he trade Barmes if you knew or had an idea you weren't going to re-sign him and/or he was going to walk? Uncle Eddy finding <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">new</span> ways to <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">impress</span> suck. brianmctaggart [rquoter]The Astros figure to be in the $60-million range when you figure they have $47 million committed next year to Lee ($19 million), Brett Myers ($12 million)(ED), Wandy Rodriguez ($10.5 million)(EDD) and Lyon ($5.5 million)(AND EDDY!).[/rquoter]
Stupid...just stupid. For every Pence deal Wade doesn't move Barmes when chances were we weren't going to resign him, trades Bourn for quality over quantity and gives Wandy a player option 4th year. Oh and giving Angel Sanchez "a long look" is just idiotic.
To get a draft pick if Barmes is a Type A or B FA, the Astros would have to offer Barmes arbitration, Barmes would have to reject arbitration and then sign with another team. In this scenario, the Astros would have to risk Barmes accepting arbitration and then paying him. Not sure if Barmes made the cut for Type B FAs.
Free Agent Stock Watch: Clint Barmes Omar Infante's two-year, $8MM extension with the Marlins seems a fair comparable for Barmes and the Astros. The Astros should at least offer arbitration to Barmes, assuming our projection that he just barely made the cut for Type B status is accurate. Above-average shortstops are hard to come by on the open market, though at least two others will be available in free agency this winter in Jose Reyes and Rollins. If the Astros fail to sign Barmes, he could be a more affordable alternative for the Twins, Braves, Phillies, Brewers, Pirates, Cardinals, or Giants.
I'm worried though that an arbitration offer would have to be roughly ~$4.5 to $5 million and something Wade/Crane/McClain will not due fearing Barmes will accept.
It's unlikely Barmes will accept given the need at his position. Plus the Astros have to replace him with some crappy guy anyway for, say, $2 mil. So overall very low risk. Unfortunately, this might be enough to scare of the Astros brass.
Barmes a Type B FA [rquoter]And with Barmes receiving the Type B designation, the Astros would receive an extra draft pick that could help them restock their minor league system. “The fact that he’s a compensation player has some relevance,” Wade said. “I resisted trading him at the deadline because of the way he was playing and what he brought to the club from the standpoint of leadership ability with all those young guys we have, particularly the infielders. We knew there was a possibility he would achieve compensation status, and he just barely did. It’s an added benefit.”[/rquoter] [rquoter]The next shortstop in line is Angel Sanchez, whom the Astros acquired in a 2010 trade with the Red Sox for minor-league catcher Kevin Cash. Sanchez, 28, turned in a .240/.305/.285 batting average/on-base/slugging line last season while showing below-average range at shortstop. The Astros consider Class AA Corpus Christi Jonathan Villar, 20, a potential shortstop of the future but don’t expect him to be a factor at the major league level in 2012. Wade said the team continues to have internal discussions about moving Paredes to shortstop. Paredes, 22, made the move from second base to third last season at Corpus Christi, where he batted .270 with 10 home runs and 41 RBIs and made the Texas League All-Star team. After making the jump to the majors, Paredes batted .286 with two home runs and 18 RBIs while committing five errors in 46 games (44 starts) at third base. “I’d hate to throw that at the kid after making the transition from second to third,” Wade said. “But shortstop is an area where if we don’t have Clint back, we’re going to have to pay attention to see if there are ways to build more depth at the position at the least.[/rquoter] Whatever happen to that Mier kid? Let me guess, we "missed".
List of FA shortstops that won't command much in FA: Clint Barmes Alex Gonzalez Rafael Furcal Ronny Cedeno Yuniesky Betancourt
You gotta think that the Cards will bring back Furcal, especially if the price is reasonable. The same can be said wrt Barmes and the Astros.
It's only a benefit if you offer him arbitration, Wade. Didn't he say the same about some player last year and then not offer him arbitration? I know we did with Andy Pettitte for no good reason, and made it laughable by saying we just weren't interested in a 2 year deal with him (perfect opportunity for arbitration, no?).
My bad - it was the year before with Latroy Hawkins (and arguably the year before that with Randy Wolf, who was looking for a long-term deal and would almost definitely have rejected it).
I would imagine Furcal returns to the Cards. I also assume Alex Gonzalez returns to the Braves, unless they go for Furcal or Barmes. Barmes is hard to say. In arbitration I assume he makes $4-5 million. One important thing to remember about St. Louis, they have $75 million committed to 8 players, and want to resign Pujols.
The cards may bring back Furcal, but if they don't resign Pujols I expect they'll go after Jimmy Rollins or Jose Reyes.
Screw it let just go with the kids we're already in a rebuilding mode so just keep the money and take the lumbs.
Jim Bowden's projected value for Barmes: [rquoter]Clint Barmes SS 32 1 $3.75M $3.75M Analysis: Barmes should end up in the range of the Yuniesky Betancourt, Jason Bartlett and Ryan Theriot deals from last year. He's either a second-division middle infielder or a role player on a championship club. Best fits: Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers[/rquoter] http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/stor...t-pujols-prince-fielder-other-top-free-agents
