Heard this an hour ago on the way home. Reported by Buster Olney. Don't know how serious this is just a deal being discussed.
http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/feat...ttp://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/features/rumors Astros shopping Lidge? Jul 29 - The Astros appear to be close to sending RHP Brad Lidge to the Texas Rangers, according to ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney. This might be related to the Astros' efforts to land a hitter. Lidge makes $3.975 million.
Another killer B in the making, sounds like a good choice given the fact that we were turned down by the Orioles. Make it happens, Timmy!
Question is what happens to Morgan? As Blalock would most certainly be playing 3rd base. I wonder if this could lead to a Soriano trade?
If it is in-fact Blalock, this would be one of those rare trades that actually works out well for both teams. Lidge's mechanics (while out of whack) will eventually get straightened out... if not this year, then likely in the off-season. Blalock is a power-hitting left-handed third baseman... who's still young... and would have a field-day against the weak NL pitching. He'd automatically become our 2nd best hitter, and if the club was able to re-sign Huff (and move Hank or Ensberg to 1st base), they'd have a great balance of lefty and righty power up and down the lineup. Then again, as should be with every rumor out there, if they're "reporting it" as close, its probably just another leaked rumor to try to get other teams attention.
Huff can play the outfield, and any guy who's a 3B has a good chance of making the transition to 1B (while Lance can play the OF as well).
on orangewhoopass astro pete said buster olney stated that rod barajas or brad wilkerson were offered and the astros turned it down. This seems more realistic than Blalock.
I hope that happens. I wouldn't have thought Lidge had that much value left in him. I'm not sure how Blalock is doing this year but I remember him being an all star not to long ago. This has to mean that ensberg is in a deal. Right?
Buster Olny just said on BBTN that Jason Stark said the Rangers are offering Wilkerson, and Barajas for Lidge.
I'd turn that deal down also... neither of those guys are going to be significant upgrades to what this team could develop through their own system, or acquire in the off-season. I'd bank on Lidge working out his mechanics faster than either of these guys ever making an all-star team.
I think the Astros are trying to get rid of both Lidge and Ensberg not just because of the awful seasons they are having but they'd still be getting somewhat significant raises in the offseason. Blalock makes 5-6ish million a year till 2008. That's not too much for his bat. His career numbers are not as good as Ensberg at his best but how can we be sure Ensberg is going to ever be healthy for a full season? The question now is who takes Morgan off our hands?
Read the thread... I said I would do Lidge for Blalock in a second (hell, I would have done that even if Lidge was still his dominant self)... but the reported trade was Lidge for Barajas and Wilkerson. Wilkerson is having an Ensberg-like year, without the excuse of an injury (and a Willy T-like OBP as well)... 15 HR's, .232 batting average, .319 OBP. Barajas is an upgrade at catcher... but he's still a bottom of the order type hitter... nothing signficantly better.
I like Hank but I worry about him a little bit. With this steroid and HGH rumors, I worry about players like that who have drop offs in the slugging department when age wise they should not be. His slugging has been going south since 03 and it has not been blamed on injury. His BA is still fair - I remain aprehensive of him because of these steroid era players/numbers.
There's no real reason to deal for Wilkerson... he's a solid player, but he doesn't bring anything to the table that Lamb/Scott don't already bring. I think taking Scott out for Wilkerson would essentially be a wash... don't see that it does a lot for you. Now Barajas is a little intriguing... we're talking about a catcher that hits between 15-20 homers a year. That's not easy to find, and is definitely an upgrade over Ausmus. I'd hope Lidge could get a little more than that, but Barajas is something I'd be interested in. Blalock... definitely. He's had a sluggish couple of seasons, but he's still very young, very powerful and I'm willing to bet he can become as dominant as he was for his first couple of seasons. However, if there's no other move besides Lidge for Blalock, I don't see how that makes sense. I don't think putting Blalock at first and Lance in the OF is an option... Lance will need to play first for some time with his groin. You can put Blalock at third and Huff in the OF... but Ensberg is coming back soon, and he's far too good of a player to let sit on the bench. I think, from a talent perspective, getting Blalock for Lidge would be an absolute steal... but it needs to be coupled with another move (Ensberg) for it to make sense for this season. Anyone know Blalock's contract status? How many more years would he be under club control? Same for Barajas, if any of you know.
Rod Barajas C 1 year/$3.2M (2006), plus incentives * re-signed 1/06 (avoided arbitration) * $50,000 each for 475 & 500 Plate Appearances * 1 year/$1.85M (2005), re-signed 1/05 * 1 year/$0.5M (2004), signed as a free agent 1 /04 (minor-league contract) * 1 year/$0.3M (2003) * agent: Dan Lozano * ML service: 5.000 Hank Blalock 3B 5 years/$15.25M (2004-08), plus $6.2M 2009 club option * 04:$0.5M, 05:$0.8M; 06:$3M, 07:$4.75M, 08:$5.95M, 09:$6.2M club option ($0.25M buyout) * $50,000 All Star incentive * re-signed 2/04 (avoided arbitration) * 1 year/$0.3025M (2003) 2/03 * drafted 1999 (3-105), $0.288M signing bonus * agent: Eric Goldschmidt * ML service: 3.064 http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/01/texas-rangers.html
Looks like there may be a chance that this deal is indeed for Blalock: Here is the link: www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/4081766.html Here is the article: July 30, 2006, 1:47AM Rangers interested in Lidge By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle The Texas Rangers have asked about acquiring Astros closer Brad Lidge, who might bring third baseman Hank Blalock in return. Also, a top Baltimore Orioles scout was back at Minute Maid Park on Saturday watching the Astros, who remain in negotiations with the Orioles in hopes of acquiring All-Star shortstop Miguel Tejada. There might not be a fit with the Orioles, but the Astros also remain in the hunt for Washington outfielder Alfonso Soriano. Lidge, who pitched a perfect ninth inning Saturday to earn his 23rd save, might have collected his last save with the Astros. Lidge is 0-3 with a 5.62 ERA. As of Tuesday, the Detroit Tigers had not asked the Astros about Lidge. But the Tigers, who also are looking for relief help, had a scout at Minute Maid Park on Saturday. "I have a new philosophy," Astros general manager Tim Purpura said. "Until you have a deal, there's no such thing as close or far. You have a deal or don't have a deal." Purpura is eager to make a deal, as long as it's the "right deal." "It's still extremely strong," Purpura said of his desire to make a deal. "Again, you want to make the right deal. There are guys you can have as rentals, but the prices are way high."
