i say go young regardless. expectations are super low, anyway. take money you'd hand off to a free agent and put it into next year's draft.
Yea, if they choose this route i'd be fine with it but then I'd also wish they would go super young, save money and reinvestment, like you said, into the draft then in a few years go out and get a "Drabek" and "Swindell" to get back into the mix ala 93. Young teams screw up a ton but also create so much excitement, I still remember Biggio and Finley batting 1 and 2 in the early 90's and watching them flying around the bases.
absolutely i don't mean to pick on you, it just seems to come up in your posts a lot. it seems that whatever they do or whatever they're even rumored to do, it's met with disdain. if they say they're pursuing a free agent, it's "damn, here we go again!" if they pass on pursuing a free agent, it's "damn, here we go again!" we all agree they need to get younger and build up the farm. that's not going to happen overnight.
This move would be interesting at the right price... Phillies, Pirates, Astros Eyeing J.J. Putz By Tim Dierkes [December 2, 2009 at 11:15am CST] The Phillies, Pirates, and Astros have inquired on free agent reliever J.J. Putz, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. Earlier today, Crasnick named the Rangers as a suitor. It was a lost season with the Mets for Putz, who pitched only 29.3 innings due to an elbow problem. Back in 2006-07, Putz was one of the game's best relievers, striking out 186 and walking just 26 while compiling a 1.86 ERA. His '06 season led to a three-year, $13.1MM extension with the Mariners. He joined the Mets a year ago as part of a three-way trade. While Putz would prefer to close this year, he'd be open to an eighth-inning job. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/12/phillies-pirates-astros-eyeing-jj-putz.html
I am more critical of the individual moves then what direction they represent. I was all in for picking up an arm at the deadline last year or trading away Miggy but staying put fustrated me. I'll be annoyed if they go and pick up a injury riddled pitcher to save cash but not if they go after a vetern innings eater for a bit more to stablize the rotation. Just depends on the move itself...hey I want them to rebuild too but like the thread I started about Josh johnson said, if the oppurtunity popped up to pick up a young stud then i'd be ok trading a way potential for someone like that.
Wolf won't be reunited with Wade, Astros There's no secret that Astros general manager Ed Wade likes Randy Wolf. He had him with the Philadelphia Phillies for years and pulled off a nice trade in 2008 to bring Wolf to the Astros, where he pitched pretty well. The Astros made an offer to bring him back for last season, but they were forced to pull the offer for economic reasons. Wolf is back on the free agent market after a stellar season in which he went 11-7 with a 3.23 ERA and was arguably the best starter for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Wade would love to bring Wolf back to Houston, but the Astros are going to be priced out. "I love Randy Wolf and wish we could have done something a year ago [to sign him]," Wade said. "I don't think it's going to happen here. We haven't had those types of conversations. I suspect with the performance Randy turned in this past season coupled with what he did for us the second half of the '08 season, the numbers will be beyond us." Meanwhile, ESPN.com is reporting the Astros are interested in Brett Myers and J.J. Putz, two pitchers that are coming off injuries. "We've made contact with agents for about every player out there as a matter of course," Wade said. "I would not read anymore into it than that. If there's an opportunity for us to do something from a pitching standpoint, it behooves us to make contact. That's all that's taken place." Myers, 29, went 4-3 with a 4.84 ERA in 18 games (10 starts) last year for the Phillies and missed more than three months after undergoing hip surgery. He's 73-63 in eight seasons in Philadelphia as both a starter and a reliever (he staved 21 games in 2007). Myers about made $12 million last season in the final season of a three-year, $25.75 deal he signed prior to the 2007 season, Putz, 32, went 1-4 with two saves and just 29 games for the Mets last year before undergoing season-ending elbow surgery in June. He spent the previous six seasons in Seattle and saved 101 games, including 40 in his All-Star year of 2007. He made about $6 million last season.
If the rest of the team is gonna be rebuilding, why get a vet to replace Valverde? How about closer by committee? Or at least sign a 25 year old reliever that MIGHt turn into a future setup type guy. I see no value in Putz unless coupled with other decent signings.. and if that's the case, I see no reason to let Valverde go unless there are some great offers out there
Because I still want to win games, and the Astros need more arms. You can throw Arias and Gervacio out there as the closer and setup, but I'd rather have them as 7th and 8th inning guys, plus if you pick up a Putz or Cordero, you can trade them for some assets, or maybe they even play their way into a compensation level FA.
Good point on the latter (compensation potential) But if you can't find good value for Valverde, I'm not sure how you would hope to get much for Putz next year.. The key is that you still want to win games. If they're going to go rebuilding...I say go harder. Keep what you got, and don't move Berkman or Oswalt for anything less than elite prospects given their status with the team.. but don't go out of your way to sign aging vets just to win some extra games when you're not gonna be competitive in the big picture
Interesting and good to hear the Stros at least looking into Putz, Crede and Myers(not a fan). Heyman On Pudge, Wolf, Crede By Tim Dierkes [December 2, 2009 at 2:57pm CST] The latest from SI's Jon Heyman... The Giants, Mets, and Royals have interest in free agent catcher Ivan Rodriguez, assuming he doesn't accept the Rangers' arbitration offer. Heyman says the Royals were trying to sign Brian Schneider before the Phillies signed him. Heyman names the Mets, Brewers, and Phillies as three clubs "believed to have some interest" in free agent lefty Randy Wolf. First we've read this winter of a possible Wolf-Phillies reunion. "At least the Orioles and Astros" are interested in free agent third baseman Joe Crede.
why would you want Joe Crede? seems like you give Johnson the chance to play if you're interested in youth. Crede isn't an upgrade over Blum at this point.
I wouldn't want him to play fulltime but more like insurance incase Chris has his trouble plus being a solid bench guy. I just like the fact they are somewhat active instead of sitting on there hands. I kinda want them to be cheap but smart this offseason. 1 to 2 million is ok to fill out the bench, that would be fine.
Yep, but they already said they would go after bench help with the little money they have after cutting payroll so cheap economical signings are fine. Olney hears that the Astros "are cutting payroll, and will have the flexibility to make only minor moves, such as getting a right-handed hitting third baseman, to platoon with Geoff Blum." http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/11/olney-on-lackey-astros-rangers-doumit-carroll.html
Chris Johnson's minor league stats are not good. He has a career OPS of .726 which is terrible for a 3rd baseman in the minor leagues. He strikesout a ton and rarely walks which is bad sign when he is doing that at the minor league level. I don't expect him to be nothing more than AAAA player. I don't know anything about his defense.
Chris Johnson is 24 almost 25 soon getting past the point of prospect. From what i've seen/heard from Chris Johnson I don't think he will ever be able to manage a fulltime position at 3rd base or any position for that matter.I foresee him as being a nice platoon player, and a nice addition to a teams bench.
you know about 5 weeks ago, no one thought the Titans had a QB, either. i'm just saying...give the guy a shot. particularly if you're cutting payroll anyway. you're not planning on a trip to the WS next year. that's where we are. maybe he'll surprise you.
