I don't think the Astros get much for him. I think this just a salary dump. Probably get a decent mid level prospect for him. Astros pen should be okay next season but you never know with relievers.
Yeah it's the Rockies according to Scoop Berman. http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/sports/mlb/101223-astros-close-to-trading-lindstrom
We need middle infielders at the higher levels so maybe a 2b/SS marginal prospect in double or triple A? Wade could spin it that Matt hurt his back and that caused his issues, the Rox need relief pitching badly so they might take a risk that was truly the case.
They got 2 minor leaguers back. One is lefty pitcher Wes Musick who pitched for the University of Houston. He was 23 years old in Low A last year so I don't think he is much of a prospect. Lindstrom numbers last year weren't good. Hitter hit over .300 against him and he is going get a raise in arbitration so that hurts his value as well. I don’t didn’t expect much for him.
Looks like it's official http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/23/rockies-acquire-reliever-matt-lindstrom-from-astros/ Sucks that we wont get anyone decent for him
alysonfooter It's official: Astros have acquired RHP Jonnathan Aristil and LHP Wes Musick from the Rockies in exchange for RHP Matt Lindstrom.
Musick minor league stats look okay. He's years away though. http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=musick001wes Aristil's minor league stats look awful except for a decent K/9 (which is mitigated by a terrible BB/9). http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=aristi001jon This had to be a pure salary dump move.
I am not so much concerned about trading a marginal 31 year old relief pitcher, as I am that moves such as this signify that the Astros front office has no clear direction. The team traded three prospects for this guy barely more than a year ago, giving up three prospects in return. Granted, not great prospects, but still two young guys with potential (in this instance Bono and Bryan were both under 20 at time of the trade...Jimenez never stuck with the Marlins, and as a Rule 5 pick, was sent back to the Red Sox). Now, the team, turns around and trades him for what will likely be marginal propects in return...an arm and, well, who knows what. Net gain, zero. Point being, the Astros were in no different position last season than this one. There was no need for the move originally. Yeah there was a hole at closer with Valverde leaving, but when you have no aspirations of winning a title anyhow, a closer doesn't have to be a high priority in the grand scheme of things. Maybe that realization has dawned on them, as I think that role is far from solidified heading into the upcoming year, but again, who cares? That doesn't need to be the focus. Development of the young players and identifing future building blocks should be the only concern. It just seems that the team is on a merry-go-round with regard to its personnel decisions, yet either, has no desire or awareness of how to get off. Signing/trading for one placeholder after another (see, erstad, michaels, matsui, chacon, hampton, moehler, barmes, feliz, lyon, lindstrom, hall...all in their late 20's-30's at the time of signing) is not moving this organization forward. It's simple, this team is not going to win as constructed. Admit it, and allow the organization to identify the faces of the future. For example, if Brett Wallace is not going to start at 1b because the team decides he does not have the talent...fine, that is a baseball man's decision. Yet, if he doesn't start because Carlos Lee is currently the better hitter, then, while true, the logic of him moving to 1b (terrible defense not withstanding) is beyond my comprehension. Carlos will not be here in two years. I appreciate his bat, and while he is here, the protection he can provide in the line-up is valuable to youngsters, but he should not be blocking a prospect. If he stays in LF he is not keeping anyone from developing as we currently do not have anybody on the farm ready to man the position on an everyday basis (I've seen enough Express games to know bogey is not an everyday player, 4th OF at best). On an unrelated subject, it is delusional for some fans to think the farm will be stocked within a few years because of the perceived newfound commitment to the system. Simply signing your picks and bringing in the occasional venezualan or cuban does not revamp the minor leagues system. There are 31 other teams that are, and have been, doing the same. Bringing in Heck was great, he built quite the stable in Milwaukee, but remind me, how many NL Central divisions have they won? Again, I am not so concerned with where the Astros are at...teams have been in bigger holes...it's just that there seems to be no blueprint to right it the ship. I don't buy the whole, the Astros are cheap argument. It's been held to be not true time and again. The stronger argument is that the Astros do not know HOW and WHEN to spend, and when simply to hold pat. This epilogue to Lindstrom's stint is another reminder.
It's a decent return. About what we gave up to get him last year, maybe a little more, maybe a little less, depending on how you feel about the specific prospects involved, but either way, it's a couple of grade C guys. I do think he was partly traded to cut salary, but that's okay, maybe it will allow us to keep Keppinger. I wonder if Bill Hall can still play shortstop?
