How about the Japanese pitchers? They're free agents, so bringing them to Houston would be a longshot. The only way I can see us getting one of them is actually signing 2 of them. Kobayashi (not the eater) is a closer, and Kuroda is a starter. not sure how much theyll cost, but it's just an idea.
Call me crazy but I think the Astros should spend the absolute minimum this year. Go with youth...Don't throw away millions to SP this year. Next year the list of potential FA at SP is long and distiguished. Sheets, Santana, Sabathia, Peavy, Mussina, Lackey, Harden, Hampton, Garland, Byrd, Burnett. I would love the Astros to pick up one or two of those guys and we'll need plenty of bank to do that. So I hope the Astros don't overspend this year. We're just going to have to win with what we got.
It never works that way, though. Every offseason, we go on and on about the potential of saving money for the next offseason and all these massive free agents... but it never works out that way, because most of those pitchers are going to sign extensions. Out of that list, you'll be lucky to have two or three actually make it to free agency. Good young starting pitchers are too much of a commodity, especially when you have a reasonable market size (all of those). That said, I agree -- there's no reason to be irresponsible and overspend. However, I don't agree with spending nothing either and pointing toward future free agent classes... that's a flawed philosophy.
Some guy over at orangewhoopass said he read the Keith Law chat and that Law said the Astros are the team that put the highest or only bid on Cordero and that they are willing to over pay to get him. I'm assuming that's a Drayton decision. I don't have insider, so I can't check it myself.
Jake (Milwaukee): Who do they end up with? Frankie Cordero. Eric Gagne. Tom Glavine. Thanks! SportsNation Keith Law: Astros. Tigers. Braves, probably in the next few days. Jon (Houston): Why would the Astros overpay for Cordero when they are not close to competing? SportsNation Keith Law: You presume rationality. And they have a GM with a long history of overpaying for relief pitching.
Gagne to Rangers or Astros? Sunday, Nov 18, 2007 7:59 am EST Getty Images There's a possibility that Eric Gagne could return to the Texas Rangers or go to the Houston Astros, who traded Brad Lidge to the Phillies. The Detroit Tigers are in need of another late-inning reliever, with Joel Zumaya on the shelf for more than half the season and could consider Gagne. Source: Boston Globe Yahoo Sports
Hot Stove Daily: Houston Astros By Tim Brown, Yahoo! Sports November 17, 2007 Editor's note: Yahoo! Sports will examine the offseason plans of every MLB team before the Dec. 3-6 winter meetings. Our series continues with the Houston Astros. 2007 record: 73-89 Finish: Fourth place in the National League Central 2007 Opening-day payroll: $88 million Free agents: Jason Jennings RHP; Mike Lamb 3B; Mark Loretta 2B; Trever Miller LHP; Brian Moehler RHP; Orlando Palmeiro OF. WISH LIST The Astros responded quickly under new general manager Ed Wade, filling an outfield hole with Michael Bourn in a trade with Philadelphia that also brought setup man Geoff Geary and minor-league third baseman Mike Costanzo and cleared some payroll room. Bourn, at 24, is no sure thing, but for now he's their center fielder and leadoff hitter. And they still have issues at second base and in the starting rotation and the bullpen. At second base – Craig Biggio's full-time position for all but two seasons since 1992 – Wade is kicking around the idea of bringing in Luis Castillo, Kazuo Matsui or Tad Iguchi, or bringing back Geoff Blum, or going with the previous regime's idea and lending the job to Chris Burke. The Astros might also trade Burke, or package him and trade him, for second base or pitching help. As for pitching, they really need more consistency out of Wandy Rodriguez, Chris Sampson and Matt Albers, along with full health from Brandon Backe and a splashy arrival from lefty Troy Patton. They'll almost certainly dabble in the thin class of free-agent starters that features Carlos Silva, Livan Hernandez and Kyle Lohse, but don't expect the Astros to overpay for mediocrity. One year for Kenny Rogers or Randy Wolf might make more sense. The Astros also should be in on closer Francisco Cordero, considering their bullpen blew 25 saves last season, and they also have interest in veteran Scott Linebrink. REALITY CHECK Cooper The Astros go to 2008 with a new general manager in Wade and a reasonably new manager in Cecil Cooper, along with the new experience of finishing somewhere other than second in the NL Central, which they'd achieved for five consecutive seasons before landing in fourth in 2007. That was it for GM Tim Purpura and manager Phil Garner, who two seasons before had pushed the Astros into their first World Series, but in the end could not overcome the perhaps unavoidable departures of Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte, or the entirely avoidable departures of Jason Hirsh, Willy Taveras and Taylor Buchholz. New additions Jennings and Woody Williams were 10-24 between them, Brad Lidge contracted a nasty case of ninth-inning-phobia, and a wonderful season by free agent Carlos Lee didn't come close to covering the missteps. The bullpen was particularly bad, so Wade dumped Lidge on the Phillies in the larger deal that brought Geary. Geary, however, doesn't have the arm Lidge has. Even if Lidge makes the trade look sound by being swallowed up in the undersized Citizens Bank Park, the Astros would have been better off with Lidge. There are reasons for optimism. First, the division is just average. Second, the Astros' rotation is still led by Roy Oswalt. Third, the Lee-Lance Berkman-Hunter Pence part of the batting order is solid. Yahoo Sports
I haven't gone through this whole thread but how about Matt Clement as an option for SP? Pre injury he was pretty good and could probably be had for a reasonable deal. Also now that Bags is finally off the books does anyone have an idea of what the current Astros payroll is at?
Take this as what it is http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/ This one just came in from Tim. Dominican sports website Impacto Deportivo is reporting that the Mets and Luis Castillo have agreed to a four-year deal worth $25 million. They say to expect an official announcement shortly. I got the summary from Tim. If anyone could head to the website and translate, it would be greatly appreciated. Oh, and just because it's the same thing as we've been hearing since yesterday and I didn't want to give it another post, Glavine's agent is saying that his client and the Braves are "maybe one or two phone calls away" from a deal. http://www.impactodeportivo.com.do/
I wonder what it would take to bring in Josh Barfield from Cleveland since he is obviously not in their plans no more with them going to Asdrubal Cabrera as their 2nd baseman of the future.
He is still only 24, has a cheap salary, and could be rejuvanted with playing at home. I wouldn't want to overpay for players like Kaz Matsui and Tadahito Iguchi who both are looking for 3 or 4 year deals. While him and Burke are similar, I think Barfield has more power and speed and a lot more upside.
That's a good development. I was a fan of Castillo until Law detailed his declining range (now a bad defender) and declining bat speed. Also, apparently he was given days off to rest "tired legs" during the final two months of the season. For a speed guy, that seems like a bad combination and I'm glad we didn't pay that kind of money. Iguchi seems the better fit, especially with Bourn at the top of the lineup.
Is there a realistic chance in h--- that the 'stros could put together a good enough pkg to get Cabrera without abject mortgaging of all their (Marlins) worthy prospects?
Ya, I was never really hoping for Castillo. Now, I think we have to get Iguchi. Thats who I been wanting to Astros to pick up.
