http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5820522 Agressive Astros looking to add more 'punch' Ken Rosenthal / FOXSports.com Posted: 14 minutes ago The defending National League champion Astros plan a major push to add an impact hitter before Monday's non-waiver deadline. How major? The club intends to be "super-aggressive," one major-league official says, pursuing trades for big names such as Nationals left fielder Alfonso Soriano and Brewers left fielder Carlos Lee and making virtually everyone on their roster available. Astros owner Drayton McLane surely doesn't want to take the team's $106 million payroll much higher, but now that he has gone this far, there's no turning back. The addition of Soriano, Lee or Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada would appear a longshot. But just two years ago, the Astros stunned the baseball world by acquiring center fielder Carlos Beltran in a three-team trade. If general manager Tim Purpura makes struggling closer Brad Lidge available — as he did last off-season in a deal for Tejada — the possibilities could get interesting. The Astros already have made two significant additions, spending $12.6 million to bring back right-hander Roger Clemens for little more than half a season and trading two prospects to the Devil Rays for infielder/outfielder Aubrey Huff. But they've gone 5-7 since the All-Star break, falling 101/2 games behind the Cardinals in the N.L. Central and five behind the Reds in the wild-card race. The team's front office has spent the last two days in meetings trying to figure out how to fix the team's sagging offense. Only the Cubs have scored fewer runs in the N.L.; the Astros' center fielders rank 10th in the N.L. in on-base/slugging percentage, their catchers 13th and their shortstops 14th. Catcher Brad Ausmus and shortstop Adam Everett are defensive stalwarts, but offensive burdens. The problem for the Astros in any trade pursuit is that they are unwilling to trade their top position prospect, Class AA outfielder Hunter Pence, and reluctant to move their top pitching prospect, Class AAA right-hander Jason Hirsh. Both Clemens and left-hander Andy Pettitte are unlikely to return next season, making Hirsh an important part of the team's future. The Astros, however, could take on future payroll; their financial flexibility will improve next season if Clemens, Pettite and injured first baseman Jeff Bagwell — three players earning nearly $50 million — no longer are with the club.
Today in his blog, Richard Justice said he wouldn't be surprised if a "closer" got traded by this weekend. Gee, how many closers does a team have?!? I don't think Soriano is the answer for this team. I can see a scenario where the 7-8-9th inning guys are Nieve-Qualls-Wheeler if/when Lidge is moved.
Isn't Ken Rosenthal the one who's on Fox Saturday Baseball in the stands on occasion? If so, I seem to recall him saying during the Mets game that the Astros were unlikely to make any move, period. Glad to hear he's changed his tune, and I definitely prefer his reports coming in the order they came in rather than vice-versa.
Timmy P has got to know that we need one more stick. If not, someone replaced his rock candy with crack.
Interesting. The only guy I can see us parting with for a big time prospect is Tejada though...seeing as how he is signed. Also...one of the stumbling blocks in Soriano staying with the Nats and signing there (aside from the money) is that he wants a no trade clause. If we didnt give Beltran one, I wonder if we would change our tune on that seeing as how the front office got flamed for it the first go around. Glad to see things are cooking though!
this seems much more appropriate (and true) than that ESPN Insider nonsense that supposedly has the astros "backpeddling at the speed of sound" from an everret, pence, nieve for tejada deal... you'd have to be r****ded to "backpeddle" from a deal like that. espn is trash.
If the Astros trade Lidge, Pense, and Everett for Tejada that eliminates $6 million off the payroll. Then if the Astros trade Preston Wilson for prospects that eliminates another $4 million. Lidge $4 million Everett $2 million Wilson $4 million Pense $0 Tejada $11.8 million Do you think uncle Drayton would be okay with adding $1.8 million to the payroll?
What we would be paying is actually less than 11.8 million. As there are two months left on his owed salary for this year. So whateve he has left owed to him in the final two months is what we would be taking on. Next year is a different story as the above article mentioned we would be close to freeing up 50 million in payroll so we could more easily absorb his entire yearly salary.
given that this is true. and given that the astros know this is true, as well. if a move isn't made, i don't want to hear..."drayton wouldn't spend the money!!" because that's not what it's about.
Now that was much better than the last article I read on the BBS. I really hope we do make a splash this weekend.
My only question is how did Drayton get Ken Rosenthal on his PR payroll? We all know this is a ruse by this corrupt and cheap owner of ours.
You're still going to beat that dead horse, huh? Yea... we better get all our ducks in a row... and make sure the no-trade clause is in big bold letters. After all, that's definitely the sole reason why Beltran didn't sign here .
I'm not trying to rehash the whole Beltran thing..Im just saying that I read that Soriano has asked Washington for one and its definitely one of his demands. If its not an Astros policy or whatever to give them, then I dont see us going after him...unless we can get him on the cheap as a rental. But, I've been surprised before
Why believe Rosenthal and not Stark? Why not assume that both articles are b.s? Not saying that espn is the cat's ass or anything (or maybe I am?), but 99% of what you read this time of year is crap. Detroit Tigers general manager David Dombrowski simply laughed, knowing there was little substance to the trade report but realizing it's simply the nature of business this time of year. The latest trade rumor had the Chicago White Sox on the brink of acquiring slugger Alfonso Soriano from the Washington Nationals, the same player the Tigers have targeted. The White Sox vehemently denied they were close. The Tigers, in fact, are still talking to the Nationals. And when Dombrowski awoke Tuesday morning, Soriano hadn't gone anywhere. "It's amazing the stuff you hear this time of year," Dombrowski said. "I generally don't believe what I read and hear. I read so many things about us that I know are inaccurate, I take it for granted things about other teams are wrong too. "I've never understood what the benefit is of saying what you're trying to achieve, anyway. If you play poker, you don't want to show everybody your cards, do you?" ... "I'm sure when that news got out about Soriano," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said, "it caught the attention of the Tigers and Twins. It might be a case where all three of those teams just hope that he goes to the Angels. I wouldn't put it past some of my counterparts to slip a trade rumor out there just to raise the stakes. "A few clubs have surprised me calling for Carlos (Lee). I'm not sure if they're interested, but they're in the same division and want to make sure that if somebody else gets him, they're paying a steeper price." Said Dombrowski: "You keep a close eye on what everybody is doing. You don't want to see teams getting better that you're competing against, but you have to determine what value you're going to pay for someone and don't overpay." John Schuerholz, vice president and general manager of the Atlanta Braves who suddenly finds his team in the wild-card race, said he tries not to get preoccupied with the competition. Not this year. Not when 23 teams entered Tuesday night within five games of the division or wild-card lead. "I've never seen anything like it," Schuerholz said. "There are so many teams in the race, you can't worry about everyone, and I can't control what the 29 other clubs do. "Our game is so public now. So much information is shared and spread. And once it hits the airwaves, it takes on a life of its own. I'm from the old school. I'm not into text messaging or blogging or learning baseball from the Internet. We just don't operate that way. The less people know what we're thinking internally, the better we are. "I'm going to do what we've done in the past, keep my blinders on and do what's best for the Braves." http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2006-07-26-trade-rumors_x.htm
Buck, Ken Rosenthal is modern day Peter Gammons when it comes to baseball trades. Most of time he is the first to report a trade like he was the first to know the Astros got Huff. He won't make a BS up. I think Lidge and Wilson are gone by the deadline.
I'm not saying he's making stuff up. I'm saying that the vast majority of info put out by "mlb sources" this time of year is complete b.s.
I hope something happens as we all know we need a bat...But at what price is the question...Ausmus and Adam are great defensively, but suck at the plate...We need an impact hitter not only now, but for the long term...With $50MM going away next year, we should have some flexibility...
