[Fox 26] Astros interested in outfielder Preston Wilson

Is Preston Wilson the guy who slid into Biggio (causing Biggio's major knee injury) a few seasons ago?

For some reason that is the first thing I thought of when I read the name.

 

yeah you got it..forgot about that one. oh well..

 

WHAT??!?!??! Preston Wilson is BLACK!!!

This cannot be happening! I don't believe it.

 

Looks like he had 15 bombs away from Coors Field. Only Ensberg had more for Houston w/16.

 

Dont forget that he played the last few months for Washington...and he was injured for the first month or 2 of last year if im not mistaken....so last years stats may be a bit misleading.

I would take him as my starting LF...he would be a monster hitting into the Crawford boxes...and I think the short porch/lack of field to cover in LF will save his knees....UNLESS...we are getting him to play center so we can move Willie and/or Lane in a Manny package.

 

They're still the ONLY team in the MLB without a black player.

 

Why is 'black' (in quotes because it does not include blacks from Spanish-speaking countries) the only race that must be included? Isn't the organization racist because he doesn't have any Japanese players? Surely.

What about American Indians? And of course, who can avoid the fact that the Astros do not have a single Eskimo playing for them. That's just a clear slap in the face to anyone that has slept under the protection of a teepee or an igloo.

 

I'm not Japanese. Let them speak for themselves...

 

Astros have made offers to both Burnitz and Wilson:

Link

White Sox don't sit idle after Series
While baseball's stars realign themselves, the hot stove grows cold with the Astros still looking


By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

A little over two months since the Chicago White Sox celebrated the 2005 World Series title in October at Minute Maid Park, the Hot Stove League is starting to cool down now that the calendar has turned to 2006.

Only seven weeks until pitchers and catchers report throughout the majors, most of the top free agents have landed at their preferred destinations.

First baseman Paul Konerko, arguably the top slugger on the market, re-signed with the World Series champions for five years and $60 million.

For a team that won it all, the White Sox have shown no signs of complacency. They re-signed Konerko, their top position player, and even fortified the attack by acquiring slugger Jim Thome in a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies. They also acquired righthander Javier Vazquez from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

"I think that shows that they're not resting on their laurels," Mets general manager Omar Minaya said of the White Sox. "And they've made some very good moves, too."

With the addition of Vazquez and the three-year, $29 million contract the White Sox gave righthander Jon Garland, they have six top starting pitchers under their control.

"I gave both Jon and Jose (Contreras) the same phone call after the Vazquez trade was done: 'I love you and we want you back,' " White Sox general manager Ken Williams told the Chicago Tribune. "But, we have some grand plans here, and we're not going to go forward without securing the future of our starting pitching.

"If you want (to) be part of it, it's wise to cut to the chase and tell us what you want. And if not, we respect that as a personal and business decision.You move on and we'll move down the road to explore our options.


Jon was the one who responded to that."

Judging by those comments, it wouldn't be a surprise if the White Sox traded Contreras, who started Game 1 of the World Series against the Astros' Roger Clemens, whose agents have been contacted by the Yankees, Red Sox and Rangers.

With Clemens out of the question for the Astros until May 1, at least, Astros general manager Tim Purpura has said he'd like to secure another starting pitcher this winter.

Contreras might fit that role, but their focus has been mostly on offense.

The White Sox have been one of the most — if not the most — proactive teams this winter. But they haven't been the only busy team.

An offseason after landing the top pitcher (Pedro Martinez) and position player (Carlos Beltran) in the free-agent market, Minaya and the Mets have been busy again.


Wagner changes clubs
Minaya picked up the most accomplished reliever on the market, former Astros and Philadelphia Phillies lefthander Billy Wagner. By signing Wagner away from the NL East rival Phillies, Minaya managed to improve his club by weakening a division rival.

"Billy Wagner helps because we blew a lot of games late in the eighth and ninth innings last year," Minaya said.

More important for the Mets, perhaps, they acquired All-Star first baseman Carlos Delgado and catcher Paul Lo Duca from the Florida Marlins for prospects.

"Delgado gives us a cleanup hitter we were lacking last year," Minaya said. "He kind of protects Beltran and David Wright. Last year we had speed and some power. Now our offense is a total (package). Now we have speed and the Delgado power factor."

The Mets also signed first baseman Julio Franco away from the Atlanta Braves, landing a veteran leader who can fortify the bench. At this point, it's fair to say the Mets will enter the 2006 season as favorites to end the Braves' streak of 14 consecutive division titles.


Mets challenge Braves
The Mets might not be done. According to several reports out of New York, they are pursuing a trade to land Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez.

Ramirez, Baltimore Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada and Oakland A's starter Barry Zito are the top three players reportedly on the trade market. It's fair to say the Astros are not interested in acquiring Ramirez, but they have monitored the Tejada situation.

Purpura, who made a competitive offer to Nomar Garciaparra before losing out to the Los Angeles Dodgers last month, remains in the market for a run-producer.

The Astros' focus has shifted in the direction of center fielder Preston Wilson and Jeromy Burnitz. Contrary to earlier reports out of Baltimore, Burnitz has not reached a deal with the Baltimore Orioles.

According to a person with knowledge of the talks, the Astros are awaiting answers on the offers they made to Wilson and Burnitz over the weekend. As early as today, the Astros could have a deal with Wilson or Burnitz, who is also talking with the Pirates.

"We've turned our focus toward the outfield and adding a run producer from the outfield," Purpura said. "We're edging closer to that."

As usual, the New York Yankees have been players in the free-agent market.

The Yankees, who have not won a World Series since 2000, even delivered an offseason blow to their biggest rival by signing All-Star center fielder Johnny Damon.

The Toronto Blue Jays upgraded by signing closer B.J. Ryan away from the Orioles with a five-year, $47 million deal.

They also improved the starting rotation when they gave A.J. Burnett a five-year deal worth $55 million.

 

I hope its Wilson

 

I don't particularly like either Wilson or Burnitz, but if it has to be one of them I hope it's Wilson.

 

I hope it is not Burnitz!!!!

 

me too..that would be a pretty nice pick-up.

 

oh please please not burnitz...

 

Boooo! Nobody's afraid of that guy. Is he that much better than Jason Lane?

 

No, he's not better than Jason Lane. He's insurance if Bagwell can't go, and Berkman has to play first.

 

According to the chronicle this morning, Wilson could be an Astro by day's end. I think this is a great pickup this late in the offseason. This guy could give Mo and Berkman some good protection. I wonder what will happen in the OF.....will Burke and Willie platoon or will Burke just sort of hop around the field and spell guys like Lane, Willie, Wilson, AE and Bidge.

Interesting....his splits (when he played for Colorado vs when he played for Wash (a notoriously bad hitters park) are as follows...

For Colorado he played 71 games , 15 HR , 47 RBI and batted .258

For Wash he played 68 games, hit 10 HR, 43 RBI and batted .261

He missed the first month or so recovering from his knee injury from the previous year. I think 130-140 games out of him while playing 1/2 his games at MMP could give us 25-30 HRs and 85-95 rbis easily.

 

c'mon burnitz, we need team chemistry people!

 

To hell with winning ballgames! Fulfill the damn quota!

I hope the Astros *do* sign Preston Wilson; at the very least to end this baseless, unintelligent b****ing.