that would be great. two problems: his contract makes him virtually untradeable and his NTC makes him completely untradeable. if they're out of it definitively 6 weeks from now, i'll be shocked if they don't shop tejada and valverde, assuming tejada is still productive and valverde returns healthy.
fair enough. I understand your point of view. Not that I completely agree, but I do appreciate the loyalty to the players. Let's hope the next manager re-invigorates the team and they go on a Garner-esque run making all these ramblings a moot point.
Uh, the Astros would obviously have to pay a portion of that contract and you don't think Lee would want to be a DH and not have to chase flyballs anymore, especially on a World Series contending team? He's not untradeable.
Carlos doesn't strike me as a guy who would rather give up all the $$$ just to play for a winner. He's very good at what he's paid to do... drive in runs, hit for average, and not strike out that much. Unfortunately, he plays in an era of over-bloated contracts and he (like every other 17 million+ contract player) is overpaid for what he does. He's a guy who owns a ranch in Texas, probably likes the lack of media scrutiny when he goes into his prolonged slumps, and despite the losing, he still seems genuinely happy. Thus, in other words, I doubt he'd welcome a change of scenery if it was in his control (which it is).
One possibility (not knowing anything about their minor league system) is the Rangers. Andruw Jones is their LFer, and Josh Hamilton is having serious injury problems. He could very well be out an extended time, moving Jones to CF. He stays close to home, and he had success at Texas when he was there for a bit. They are having their once-a-decade season of being actually good, so they may be tempted to try to add that big bat if they are still in position around the trade deadline. Not sure what their current financial situation is, but Hicks has shown willingness to spend in the past as needed. If they have a big farm system and are willing to go-for-broke, Oswalt might be willing to go there as well to give them an ace on an otherwise young pitching staff. Again, close to home and I believe he has some kind of connection with Nolan Ryan, though I could be wrong about that.
I didn't think the Rangers needed more offense. And if Roy went to the Rangers, just like Nolan did, I'd vomit on everything I currently own with an Astros logo on it. Drayton probably would too. And so would Roy... as pitching in 95 degree weather for every home game, in a league that isn't so kind to pitchers, likely wouldn't be in his best interest. If Roy is to waive his no-trade clause, I only see a few teams that he'd approve of... Atlanta (close to his home, good manager), St. Louis (which the Astros would never do), either of the New Yorks and Boston (Roy's too much of a competitor not to), and Tampa (same low-key lifestyle as here, pitches in a dome, and would automatically be the "leader").
he's untradeable. he's owed $74M including this year - who in their right mind would want to pay a 36-year old carlos lee $18.5M in 2012? carlos lee is a very good, if not great hitter but he's *vastly* overpaid. and drayton would sooner kill carlos lee and collect the insurance than he would pay any portion of his contract so he can play elsewhere. and lee has expressed zero interest in waiving his NTC.
IMO, a healthy Jose Valverde is the Astros' most tradeable asset come the trade deadline if the Astros are too many games back.
If I was a contending team, I'd have to have a pretty bad closer situation to give up anything of real value for Valverde. In fact, not many contending teams have bad closer situations... thus meaning he'd likely go somewhere to be a setup guy (which changes things... both with him, and what his value is). Sure, the Astros can move him for payroll purposes (even though he can come off the books after this year anyways, or we can offer arbitration and get a draft pick out of it). He's probably worth 1 low-level prospect, and one PTBNL.
Are you serious? Valverde is a proven closer, bullpen help is always in high demand around the trade deadline not to mention a closer. The idea that he can only fetch a "player to be named later" is absurd. Mlbtraderumors talked about him being a perfect fit for the Rays and that they may have to give up Wade Davis to get him (their BEST pitching prospect)
that would be absolutely phenomenal. but keep in mind, two years ago, when he was two years younger and coming off a league-leading 47 saves for a division winner, he was dealt for a middle reliever and a journeyman utility player.
Exactly. Why the Rays, who had success in the playoffs last year with an unproven flamethrower in the late innings (Price), would overpay for a closer is beyond me. If you can get something, great... but I wouldn't hold my breath.
That would be great, but I was basically making the point that Valverde still has above average value and is not a guy you get by dealing a scrub prospect. He was also dealt during the offseason, I think if we were to deal him during the trade deadline period, you could get more for him, as teams look to load up for playoff runs
And don't forget Juan Gutierrez was involved in that deal, Baseball America had him ranked as our 4th best prospect at the time, and now hes pitching for the D-Backs with a 3.00 ERA and an above 3:1 strikeout/walk ratio
That unproven flamethrower was considered the top prospect in all of baseball and is a fulltime starter now. That's slightly different than having... nobody. Valverde was traded to Houston for a middle reliever, yes. But he was traded for a young, extremely consistent middle reliever that they planned to groom as their closer. If you could who could potentially be your closer for dirt cheap for the next 3-4 years for Valverde, you jump on it. Closers get traded all the time at deadlines because bullpens are the things many teams don't invest in at the beginning of the season. This year, though, the top teams all have fairly proven closers. The only two major teams out there would be the Rays and the Angels, I think. Plus any team who's closer gets hurt between now and the trade deadline. The bigger issue with Valverde is whether he comes back solidly from the injury. He's been out a long time, and if the returns in late June, he only has a month before the trade deadline to show he's 100%.
like nick said, i wouldn't hold my breath. valverde's good but he's not an elite closer, imo - i think you and/or mlbtraderumors are vastly overrating him. i've watched him pitch these last two years and he's wildly inconsistent and unpredictable. the rays may indeed be interested; but i doubt they'd view him as being worthy of their top pitching prospect. but, like i said previously - i'd love to be wrong about this one.
