The Giants have 3 unsigned free agents...Reggie Sanders (probably a bit too expensive), Kenny Lofton (come back home Kenny?) and Tom Goodwin (great base stealer). I know we (Astros) will probably try to sign a pitcher before we sign anything else, but I looked at the available free agent list in the paper today and there weren't any good pitchers on that list. Unless we are trading for one, I think we are going with what we have. Oswalt, Miller, Hernandez (is he healthy?), Reynolds, Redding
The stros have Berkman, Biggio,Hidalgo,Ward,Merced, Hunter, Victor Hall, and possibly Jason Lane for the OF. I don't hink they are going to get any more OF unless they trade off some of the ones they have. With the exception of DW they probably will not. They either have guys without trade value or guys they won't trade. PLus they are most likely not going to take on any more salary without first dumping some. CK
What is Hidalgo's status? Is he rehabbing ? Ward is a liability in the OF...however, I see your point...if Lane is for real, and Doggy is ok, we could be fine. I'd love to see us trade Ward for some pitching.
Hernandez shoulder rehab took a major setback last week. I doubt the Astros are counting on him at this point. Lofton's defense is no longer very good (although it would probably be as good or better than Biggio). As Castor mentioned, the Astros are currently overloaded at outfield. Ward will probably go and it would not be too surpirsing to see Hunter or Merced go as well.
If we go to camp as is(I highly doubt that) and assuming Carlos is injured the 4-5 spots will probably be a shootout at spring training. Saarloos,Redding,Munro, and maybe some guys from the minors will all be looking at a chance to take one of those two. As for the OF I agree that Ward will probably be gone and I see Merced as a more than likely candidate to join him. I think of our group of second tier guys he is the most palatable player there that the Astros would consider trading. And with that said, if a team came offering a high quality pitcher I would seriously consider giving up Lane if that is who they wanted.
The Astros have also signed two nondescript pitchers to minor league deals. Jesus Sanchez a left hander from the Cubs and Jared Fernandez a knuckleballer from the Reds. Fernandez only victory last year was a fairly dominating performance against Houston. IF everything remains the same AND Carlos can't pitch AND Sanchez shows anything in spring training, he would be the 5th guy.
I know it seems like wishfull thinking but I have one suggestion if we need an outfielder: Vlad Gurerro (I can never spell his name right) He is going for cheap since the league wants the Expos payroll to shrink. I know what you are saying " but wh would we give up?" We have been shopping D Ward like a hot hooker on the Las Vegas strip. Send him there along with Hidalgo, who has mentioned he does not like playing for Jimy Williams. This problem could become a major distraction in the future. I say we solve it know. They already sent Nelson Cruz packing fro the same reason.
Jason Lane really impressed the Astros staff with his move to centerfield in New Orleans last year and its my hunch that by mid-season he will get the nood at center with Biggio sharing time in right with Hidalgo. Biggio will play backup in center and second base also. Biggio will become Billy Spiers II Or, with his dimeshed role, become a cancer in the clubhouse and try to force a managerial change while demanding a multi-year deal based on his loyalty to the ballclub Ward should be dealt after his arbbitration is finished. Also, either Merced, Hunter or Vizciano need to go so Biggio can be the primary backup in the infield or outfield.
We MUST get rid of Ward, Merced and Hunter. That will leave us with five outfielders. BTW...I have heard rumblings that we might not be able to get Hidalgo and Hernandez out of Venezuela. Is this true?
I think that they will be okay if they just trade one because Hunter and Merced(I believe) are in the last year of their contracts so they can just ride the pine and be gone at years end. Trading them at mid-season to a contender for low A level prospects is a possibility also. I read somewhere that Hildalgo and Carlos just got their Visa's with the US governments help and should be returning soon. Can't find the link though...Will post it when I find it. If Hunsiker called the Expos and even muttered Hildalgo's name they would hang up the phone, rip it out of the wall and throw it out the window into the snow. Then set it on fire. It would take Miller or Oswalt to get Vlad. Also Vlad is a free agent at the end of the year. Yankees will push their payroll to 200 million to get him.
The problem is that Montreal doesn't want Hidalgo's salary and Houston would only be renting Guerrero for 1 season because they would never pay what he is going to command through FA. Well it depends. He would not be the fist OF traded(unless ther is some crazy offer that involves him). That honor would probably go to DW. But if a team wanted an OF with or instead of Ward I think he would be the next player Houston would be willing to deal. Let's face it I think everyone here would be amicable to moving Hidalgo. The problem is, to paraphrase TE's analogy, we could shop him like a hooker on the Las Vegas strip but no one wants an 80 year old hooker that is overweight, run down and costs too much. So all I was saying or agreeing with above is that I think DW will be the first to go and Merced would probably be the next OF that the team would look at trading. Only because most of the current OF list has little trade value, except Lance and Lane. And I know Lance is untouchable and to get Lane we would have to be getting a #2 caliber starter or #3 plus some.
The Astros do have a lot of outfielders. But all of the ones that can hit are also defensive liabilities at the CF. I personally think Carlos Beltran would help a lot in this regards, provided we can get him at a reasonable price. We don't really need anymore L/R fielders on this team.
What's wrong with Merced? The guy is a decent 4th or 5th outfielder, and he is clutch when it comes to pinch hitting. Plus he is a left handed batter
Thursday, January 16 Goodwin follows Baker to Cubs ESPN.com news services CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs agreed on a minor league contract Thursday with outfielder Tom Goodwin, who played last year for the San Francisco Giants. The Cubs, now led by former Giants manager Dusty Baker, also invited Goodwin to spring training as a non-roster player. Goodwin has played for Los Angeles, Kansas City, Texas, Colorado and San Francisco in his 12-year career. He has a .269 career average with 23 home runs, 269 RBI and 345 stolen bases.
