10/20/2003 8:17 PM ET Hunsicker: 'We're in this together' Astros GM sits down with MLB.com to discuss the team By Alyson Footer / MLB.com Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker, who signed a one-year contract extension last week, recently sat down with MLB.com for his first Q&A session of the Hot Stove League. MLB.com: Billy Wagner was extremely vocal on the last day of the season with his criticism of the team's payroll restraints and mentioned that he feels he will be traded this offseason. What is your reaction to those comments and how do you respond to the criticism of the Astros' budgetary issues? Hunsicker: I suppose players technically have the right to say whatever they want, but it's certainly disheartening when one of your star players speaks out like Billy did. We're all in this together, we're trying to presumably do the best we can to help put a championship-caliber team on the field. I realize frustrations and emotions can get severe at times, especially after coming as close as we did this year and not winning. Part of that I attribute to these issues, but the fact is, not unlike almost every club in baseball, we've got to manage our payroll just like everybody else does. You don't have to look too far. Even the bigger payroll teams like the Atlanta Braves have to make difficult decisions and let some of their key players go over the last year or so. Certainly the Giants are in the same boat. The Mets have talked about reducing payroll. This is just a fact of life. Our challenge, like everyone else, is that with the dollars we have to spend we have to make sure that we get the most bang for our buck and we effectively manage that payroll. MLB.com: Do you consider that your biggest offseason challenge? Hunsicker: It's one of the biggest challenges every year. You've got free agents you have to make decisions on, you have current players that you've got to make decisions on, and as we've said in the last couple years, in an attempt to keep as many of our star players as possible, for the fans and for the image of this team, you can't keep everybody. Every year we're faced with the same decisions and this year won't be any different. As our young people are successful and they become salary arbitration eligible, like Wade Miller and Roy Oswalt, it makes the exercise more difficult. MLB.com: Is there a priority on your list as you begin to comprise next year's team? Hunsicker: The pitching staff is always a part of the team that's always in a constant flux. You've got to revisit how your staff is going be put together. Ron Villone is a free agent, so that's a factor. Ron did a terrific job for us this year and certainly he would be someone who would fit here next year. It's too early in the process to say more than that. Carlos Hernandez is the wild card for our pitching staff, but the fact is, there's at least technically one spot open in our rotation because of Villone's pending free agency. The bullpen is probably an area that we'll take a close look at and how that lines up. It could be an area where we change a face or two. MLB.com: Would you like to re-sign Brad Ausmus? Hunsicker: I don't know that I'm prepared to make a comment about that right now. We had a very brief conversation with him prior to the end of the season and certainly the door is open at this point. We've got a young catcher in John Buck who we could consider, although he missed a significant amount of time last year due to injury and it might be a stretch this point that he could play a role, at least at the beginning of the season. And Raul Chavez has proven his skill as a defensive catcher and made some significant strides offensively as well. MLB.com: How do you see the outfield shaping up for next year? Hunsicker: The outfield would appear set with Richard Hidalgo, Craig Biggio and Lance Berkman. The backup roles would be areas that we're going to need to address. Merced is a pending free agent and the fifth outfield slot will be up for grabs. Jason Lane will be a strong candidate to be in the outfield mix. Unfortunately, he missed a significant part of the year due to injury but I'm excited about him and his future. MLB.com: How confident are you that Oswalt's groin problems are behind him? Hunsicker: As confident as you can be for someone who's coming back from surgery. I don't think you can be overly confident until you see him out in action. We're going to have to wait until Spring Training until we really answer that question. But the success ratio has been excellent with this type of surgery, although it's not a common type of surgery. The fact that there was no muscle involved or reattachment of tendon would give you reason to be confident that this is behind him. MLB.com: How concerned are you that Wade Miller struggled through much of the 2003 season? Hunsicker: It was an up and down year for Wade. To some degree, his arm at times gets cranky. We're confident there's nothing really wrong with the arm, it was just one of these years that I'm not convinced Wade felt at or close to 100 percent all year. It was just a year where he never seemed to get in a groove except for one or two periods. But I don't think there's anything serious going on there. We stayed on top of it closely and Wade and the medical staff feel there's nothing to be alarmed about as we move forward. MLB.com: Is there anyone that you can name, at this time, that you think will not be on this team next year? Hunsicker: It's a little early for that. We have exclusive rights to negotiate with all our free agents until the initial free agent period starts after the World Series. At that time we may have some more definite statements. MLB.com: Are there any prospects who have no big-league experience who have a chance to make the team next season? Hunsicker: Buck probably has the best chance. Pitching-wise, I don't think there's anybody. Santiago Ramirez is a guy who was hurt most of the year. He's on the (40-man) roster and if he's healthy, he would be a candidate to make our bullpen. MLB.com: Rodrigo Rosario, who had surgery on his right shoulder, was impressive in the abbreviated time he spent with the Astros this year. What are his chances for next season? Hunsicker: Rosario is rehabbing and it's too early to tell. The prospects of him being healthy and being able to compete for a job in Spring Training are guarded at best. ____________________________________________________ Doesn't sound like Asmus will be back.
Typically Hunsresponsive, but what do you expect? Just one open spot in rotation -- if -- Villone signs elsewhere???
From the out of left field department: Astros trade Bagwell, Wagner, and Everett to the Red Sox for Nomar, Kim, and two prospects. Opening day starting line-up: LF Biggio 3B Ensberg SS Garciaparra 1B Berkman 2B Kent RF Hidalgo CF Lane C Ausmus any takers?
boston would be in the world series right now with wagner. i don't want to lose one of the best closers in the game but with his contract and dotel ready to take over, i'd think about it for the right player. johnny damon?
i didn't know it was that serious with rosario. i figured he'd be good for spring training. he was very impressive for a couple starts so i hope he's not out like hernandez has been.
I dunno man... he's kind of got that unfrozen caveman lawyer look going on, as some others have noted. I would like to get someone a little bit younger for Wags. Isn't Damon 30 or older?
The problem next year is the cubs. They found themselves this year. They are the contender. If we don't make any changes the cubs are going to run away with the division. We need another prie time playerMy preference is for a starter who can win 15 games. If Wagner can bring that great. We still have Dotel and Lidge.
Pitching, pitching, pitching. There is enough batting talent to keep the Stros in the middle of the pack or better. They need to get a stud pitcher to cement the top three spots with Oswalt and Miller. Schilling would be a great fit.
I hope that before making a trade, Hunsicker also takes a good look at the player's ability to perform in the clutch.....I mean, good pitching would be great, but we don't need anymore solid citizens...we need some clutch-hitters.
