I don't see the Astros wanting to stunt Wallace's growth. With Carlos Lee likely stuck here for another season, I also don't see where Lance fits. Even with Lee gone, where would he fit? Would he want to go back to LF full time? I'll always think of him as an Astro, but his career in Houston is likely over.
I'm not sure either, but would rather have him than fat carlos...but i think we're stuck with caballo...
Carlos has been better than Berkman this year (especially lately), i don't understand this statement. Defensive reasons? I doubt Berkman would be much better in left than Lee with that bum knee.
Interesting news from Alyson this afternoon: http://www.twitter.com/alysonfooter So it does at least tell you that as an organization, they're open to the idea. Yes, you still most likely have to trade Carlos (unless Drayton decides to eat the contract, which I highly doubt), but his no-trade clause does partially go away for part of this offseason. It would take a lot of maneuvering and luck, certainly, but I'd absolutely prefer Berkman in left on Opening Day 2011 as opposed to Lee. And to the person who says Lee has been better than Berkman this year - LOL. Berkman's .372 on-base percentage and .789 OPS say hello to Lee and his .291 OBP and .716 OPS. As for "lately" - Berkman has a .362/.455/.404 line in September (.859 OPS). Meanwhile, Lee has a .254/.271/.463 line (.734 OPS). It's not even close. Both are on the decline, but if by some miracle you can find a home for Lee, it's a definite upgrade to re-sign Lance and put him in left. Assuming he would take the hometown discount, it's worth exploring. I also like the idea of surrounding a lot of young hitters with a veteran with tremendous plate discipline like Lance.
I would rather just keep Lee for next year (I mean he can't start off worse than this year, right? Also his trade value is at an all time low right now.) and let Wallace/Bogusevic/J.D. Martinez compete for the last starting spot. It's always best to have many option available. If you're going to sign someone, sign young. Berkman for cheap as a pinch hitter/bench player would be sweet though.
if we're going to take AB's away from Wallace next season by putting Lee in at 1B i'd rather someone other than Lance be the one patrolling LF. someone like....Jayson Werth?
I agree that going young is ideal, but only when it makes sense. You don't want to throw marginal prospects out there just for the sake of trying to catch lightning in a bottle. To my knowledge, there's not much realistic expectation for Bogusevic/Martinez being capable MLB starters in 2011, though correct me if I'm wrong. Lance certainly isn't my first choice.But if he's as desperate to return to Houston as a few articles make it sound (and would do so cheaply), I do think he has one or two more league-average seasons at LF left in him and I do like the influence a patient hitter like that could have on young hitters. I don't think Lee fits either category. That said, I agree it's unlikely because Lee is probably untradeable and I don't see Drayton cutting/benching a guy he's paying $20m to. I'm just wishcasting here.
Certainly, but would a Jayson Werth play for peanuts for the sake of being in Houston? The only way someone takes a LF/1B slot from Lee next season is if the Astros are still paying a significant chunk of his salary (cutting/benching, or paying an enormous amount to another team in a trade) - so signability would probably be a big factor in his short-term replacement.
Waivers always confused me, how does the salary work out if you waive someone and he is picked up? does the new team pay the remainder, and if he's not picked up you can just put him in the minors and still pay his remaining salary or something? If they think another team would pick him up and pay the remainder that'd be sweet, but can they do that with a NTC?
I'm not an expert on the rules, but what will most likely happen is no one will claim him because of his huge salary. He will then probably be outright released instead of sent to the minors (I'm pretty sure he can decline going to the minors). He'll then sign a smaller contract with another team and the Astros will pay him the difference. Unlikely the Astros do it, but the way I see it, hos salary is a sunk cost. If we can get Berkman to play left, we'll be a better team.
If The Astros put Carlos Lee on waivers and some team was crazy enough to claim him, yes they would have to take on his contract. If he cleared waivers then the Astros will have to pay the remaining of his contract. No way you can send him down to the minors.
Love the Puma but if we are going to play Lee at 1st next season and go after a LF, Carl Crawford is my choice. Saying that, I am concerned about what Footer tweeted and how Lee was untradeable. Lee is very much tradeable but it will take a lot of money to be given up and how much is Uncle D willing to eat. Side note - Footer is a good reporter and pretty nice to look at but she has ZERO inside info. During the Oswalt/Berkman trades she did not have clue of what was happening, so I would take her words VERY lightly. I like her but certainly not a scoop reporter.
I know its very easy for me to suggest Drayton to eat a major portion of Lee's contract. But he will save money overall on Lee by paying a major chunk of his contract to another team as opposed to letting Lee play it out here.
That's because she's not a reporter. Trust me, she HAS inside information - but with Drayton signing her checks and essentially being an Astros executive, she is limited in ways the likes of Berman, Justice, McTaggart, Levine and others are not. I know you probably already knew that, but just wanted to throw that out there. She definitely has sources, but her job largely boxes her in.
Well the White Sox did claim Alex Rios and it worked out well this season, though he is struggling lately. Difference is Rios was 28 and is a better defender.
