He's pissed at how Jimy used him last year and told his agent to get him outta town; Nelson Cruz said pretty much the same thing. I'm not sure who'd want him, without sending some overpaid flotsam & jetsam the 'Stros way. Hopefully P.T. Barnum was right. A third player, described as "a veteran who provided numerous clutch hits this year" (Zaun would be my guess) has anonymously complained about "Jimy's communication skills" and may request a trade as well. I loved Jimy's quote from a couple of days ago, when told of Reeshard's & Nelson's complaints: "I don't fill out the lineup card, the players do with how they perform on the field." http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/1599585
I hope Hunsicker won't go for the Hampton trade... While Hampton could very well resurrect his career in Houston, his contract will prevent the Astros from re-signing Oswalt and Miller... If some team will pick up Hidalgo in exchange for prospects or players with shorter contracts, then I am all for it.
I would be happy if we got nothing for Hidalgo. Getting his salary off the books would be huge for us. Then we could make a run a a top notch 3rd baseman like Kent/Alfonso.
you're assuming you could trade him somewhere for players with small contracts...i don't see that happening...anyone we trade him to is going to want us to take their Richard Hidalgo (their overpaid problem player).
I thought of Blum as well. I strongly suspect it's not Vizcaino or Merced, simply because they signed contracts for next year late in the season. Jimy did exhibit strange lineup patterns throughout the year. One game Blum was 4-4 (with a walk), the next 2-3 and the next he sat out even though a right hander was pitching. I didn't think of Zaun as I did not associate him with numerous clutch hits. Zaun was fairly outspoken against ownership as well as the strike loomed, so he might be out anyway. Unfortunately he was miserable at throwing out runners. It would not bother me to see him go.
Zaun signed a 2-year deal, iirc. He had the worst year of his career & is probably looking to shift blame to someone else. Blum got the most consistent playing time of his career & responded with his best season at the plate. He's hoping to compete for a starting job next year, why piss off management before the offseason? I don't know about the "numerous clutch hits" description (it is the Chron, remember) but Zaun did win a couple of games (slam against Atl stands out). I'd be real surprised if Buck wasn't starting in AAA next year and starting for the Astros in '04 when Bradley's contract runs out. [edit] Zaun is signed for next season. Ausmus has a club/player option for next season, which will almost definitely be exercised.
I hope it's Zaun who wants out as well. That guy sucked. He had that clutch HR, but that's it. I can't remember how many times I wanted to jump out a window when I would see Zaun up to bat with the game on the line. Also, this really shows something about Hidalgo. Blaming Jimy's moves on his suckiness? Is he going to blame Dierker too? Blame Canada as well? Dicky Hidalgo blows, and is the biggest fraud since Enron. I just find it so funny that Hidalgo wants to make a scapegoat out of Jimmah for Hidalgo's piss-poor play the last 2 years, when Jimmah was there for only 1. Dicky Hidalgo needs to pin blame on his fat ass first. His fat ass is the only thing bigger than his wallet.
The best case scenario would be if the Astros refused to trade Hidalgo, and Hidalgo went on an "Operation Shutdown". That way the Stros wouldn't need to pay his contract. If we are to trade Hidalgo, we would only be able to get a fat contract in return. Basically a Lima for Mlicki type deal.
It'll be interesting to see how the Astros approach the Ausmus option. They have a 7 million dollar option while Ausmus has a 5.5 million option. If the Astros don't exercise theirs, Brad can do his. It wouldn't suprise me to see a deal redone in the 6.25 million dollar range.
By the time Oswalt and Miller come up for new contract, Bags and Bidge will be gone. This will free up HUGE salary money which will be used to lock them up long term.
I seriously doubt he'd go for it at this stage of his career, but Ausmus would be the absolute ideal backup catcher & mentor for John Buck in '04.
Bidge will be gone, but not Bagwell... Remember that the Astros will more than likely try to lock up Miller and Oswalt before they are arbitration eligible (after next year I think), like we did with Berkman last year. When we re-sign Oswalt and Miller, it won't be a huge deal, financially. They will get 4-5 mill/year for 3-4 years.
Ausmus more than likely wouldn't be able to get 5.5 mill/year from another team. The Astros might renegotiate and settle for 6 mill or so, out of good faith. But, I don't think they would have to. I think Ausmus would be foolish to not exercise his option, if the Astros don't exercise his option.
So Ausmus isn't even worth 5.5 but the Astros will give him 6? Gee...sounds like McLane is pinching pennies.
Good riddance!!! I use to like Hidalgo, but he hasn't even admitted to himself that he has really sucked the last two years.
It's more than 6.25 million right? THat's my point. The Astros wouldn't want to re-sign him at full price, and would rather re-negotiate. And it would be a good thing. Ausmus isn't worth what he's making. You try to make everything I say into a Drayton-bashing affair, but this time I wasn't even mentioning Drayton. I was merely responding to a previous poster hypothesizing that the Astros find a middle ground with the 2 options. Geez.
kidrock-- My point is that it is awfully funny to see you throwing around accusations of penny pinching in MANY threads...and then come here and say that McLane will pay Ausmus more than what other teams would be willing to give him. All I seek is consistency.
