Could we get Batista for 2-3 mil a year? 10 mil is just way too much. I know Drayton wants to excite the fans with Pettite, but come on. We can do so much with that money.
Andy Pettitte is so overated, he gives up moe hits than innings pitch. I know he is good in the postseason, but he can't 10 million dollares good. Screw him and sign 3 or 4 other guys like the cubs did last year (Remlinger,Karros,Estes,Grudazlinak,)
Astros deny making offer to Pettitte McLane says he won't set market for lefty By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle RESOURCES Not only does Astros owner Drayton McLane deny making an offer to Andy Pettitte's agents, he says serious negotiations haven't even started. Moreover, McLane expects the veteran lefthander to re-sign with the Yankees. Contrary to rumors circulating in parts of the baseball world, McLane is adamant that the only request he has made of Pettitte's agents is a chance to hear from them before Pettitte signs with the Yankees or Red Sox. Pettitte's agents, Randy and Alan Hendricks of Houston, called McLane directly on Tuesday and asked to meet with him without the company of Pettitte, according to McLane. McLane, who was in Houston on Tuesday for the Astros' office Thanksgiving meal, granted the meeting as long as general manager Gerry Hunsicker could attend. Some baseball officials say the Astros have offered Pettitte a three-year deal worth $30 million, which other baseball officials say is exactly what the Yankees offered the lefthander to bypass free agency. Although some people say the Yankees are willing to offer Pettitte a three-year deal worth $40 million to $45 million, folks with knowledge of the Yankees' position say owner George Steinbrenner hasn't committed to such a deal. Pettitte, who wants a five-year contract, would have to defer a big chunk of his money if he signs with the Astros, just as Jeff Kent did last year when he signed a two-year, $18.2 million deal. McLane will head to Poland on Monday, and he believes the Hendrickses called because they wanted to meet with him before he leaves the country. The Hendrickses' urgency, some Astros officials privately say, is a sign Pettitte wants to give a hometown discount to play near his childhood home of Deer Park. Barring a hometown discount, however, there is absolutely no chance Pettitte can pitch for the Astros next year. "The market leader is the Yankees because he's played there nine years," McLane said. "I would think the Yankees have more capacity, and they know him better. He's been there nine years. There's always an edge (to the player's former team) because a player has played with that team." Asked specifically if the Astros have made a preliminary offer to Pettitte, McLane said he and the Hendrickses haven't even had a "serious negotiation session." "They called and wanted to come out," McLane said of the Hendricks brothers. "Where they got (that an offer was made) got blown out of proportion. That wasn't a real negotiation session at all. When (the Hendrickses) were there the Tuesday before, they were there with Andy. They wanted to come back and talk business without him." McLane has made pitching his No. 1 priority, but he also doesn't want his budget over $75 million next season. As it is, the Astros are trying to trade outfielder Richard Hidalgo, who will earn $12 million in 2004, and Geoff Blum, who likely will earn close to $3 million if he goes to arbitration. With infielder Jose Vizcaino's signing last week, it became more likely the Astros will not offer Blum a contract, thus releasing him, if they can't trade him before Dec. 20. Whatever the case, McLane wants to make it clear that he will not set the market for Pettitte. "There's not been a serious negotiation (with the Hendrickses)," he said. "We talked more about baseball in general and the World Series than anything else. This was not a negotiation session. They wanted to know our impression of Andy, and they wanted feedback. If anybody was saying that was a negotiation, they're wrong. We're not down to negotiations." If McLane plans on trading both Hidalgo and Wagner and not bringing anyone of significance in return he is going to lose a whole lot of money next season. I for one will not attend one game and I don't think I'll be the only one.
I agree, but it seems we need to get used to losing a really good pitcher and outfielder every 4 or so seasons (Hampton and Everett).
So even if they play well and win the division, you won't go to any games simply because they didn't spend enough money to get those wins?
If they remain healthy there is no reason not to expect them to contend for the division title. Dotel will do fine replacing Wagner. Just look at some of the closers around the league that were on successful teams - Borowski, Looper, whoever the Red Sox threw out there, Guardado. Lidge will essentially replace Dotel and Miceli will replace Lidge. The bullpen should put up results similar to last year. IF they trade Hidalgo, Lane will do fine replacing him.
It seems we need to get used to gaining a really good pitcher and above average defensive SS every 4 or so seasons (Dotel and Everett).
When Hernadez was healthy he showed a great deal of potential. That potential outweights anything Robertson has done. He had an ERA around 5, and only won 15 games because the astros gave him huge amounts of run support.
who knows what hernandez has now but 2 years ago he looked as good as roy or wade. hopefully he bounces back but robertson isn't a bad 4 or 5 guy.
7-5 with a 4.38 ERA? Yeah, let's put him right up there with Roy and Wade. I have never understood why some people are enamored with this guy. Is it simply because he's a lefty? In his time with the Astros he has been mediocre. In my opinion Robertson has shown much more last season despite the high ERA.
yeah, you're including his numbers when he tried coming back from shoulder surgery the first time. even then you're argument that robertson is better hardly stands up. all i'm saying is the way he looked before ever trying that slide back into second was simply dominating.
Astros not relenting in pursuit of Pettitte By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle RESOURCES With Curt Schilling accepting a trade to the Red Sox last Friday, the Astros' chances of signing Andy Pettitte away from the Yankees became even more difficult. Nonetheless, Astros owner Drayton McLane has not given up hope of convincing the veteran lefthander to leave the Bronx. McLane, who has given general manager Gerry Hunsicker the parameters of a deal for Pettitte, will monitor the situation this week via e-mail and cellular phone from Europe. The rich Yankees are considered near locks to re-sign Pettitte, but McLane vows to come through with a competitive offer. If Pettitte truly wants to pitch closer to his wife and children in Houston, as many folks in baseball believe, McLane says he is excited about finding the Deer Park resident a home at Minute Maid Park. The Astros and Pettitte's agents, Randy and Alan Hendricks, have met twice in the last two weeks. They also spoke via phone a third time last Friday, when McLane said Hunsicker reassured Alan Hendricks that the Astros have "serious interest" in working out a deal for Pettitte. Hunsicker declined to comment on the Pettitte talks. "Alan called Gerry on Friday, and we assured him that Gerry and I are excited about trying to get something done with Andy," McLane said Monday. Pettitte made it clear early this month that he is considering the Astros. He reiterated that stance Sunday while addressing Houston media at the Texans' game against the Falcons at Reliant Stadium. On the field and in the free agent market, it's difficult to compete with the Yankees, whose $180 million payroll this past season was easily the highest ever in baseball. Although the Astros want to keep their payroll at about $75 million next season, McLane says he will let the payroll go higher to fit Pettitte into the front of the rotation with Roy Oswalt and Wade Miller. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner doesn't like finishing second at anything and has a special distaste for the Red Sox. Watching an ace like Schilling land in Boston made it more essential for the Yankees to sign Pettitte. The Newark Star-Ledger reported that the Yankees are close to countering the Red Sox by signing star right fielder Gary Sheffield and righthanded setup man Tom Gordon. The Star-Ledger also reported that the Yankees are courting free agent ace righthander Bartolo Colon, talking to the Expos about acquiring ace Javier Vazquez and keeping interest in re-signing Pettitte. While Steinbrenner has a special place for beating the Red Sox, McLane enjoys the possibility of beating the powerful Yankees. After losing $15 million this year, McLane might face more losses in 2004 if he signs Pettitte. If Pettitte needs more persuading, though, several Astros will line up to call him with a recruiting pitch. Jeff Bagwell promises to put in a call if it is needed. "At this point in Andy's career, he doesn't need me to call to tell him how much we can use him," Bagwell says with a laugh. "But if it will help, I'll call him. You bring a guy like that, a lefthander who wins 20 games, to our ballclub to add it to Wade and Roy, that's three pretty good pitchers." Pettitte will have the ultimate call, and it might be difficult to turn down $13 million to $15 million a year from the Yankees. McLane says he has not made an offer to Pettitte's agents, but he and president of baseball operations Tal Smith have given Hunsicker "parameters" for a potential offer. Pettitte would likely have to defer some of the money in a deal with the Astros to help stave off some of the losses for McLane. "We have talked about what the Houston Astros' capacity with the payroll we have for this year and next year," McLane said. "They want to explore free agency and they want to get back to us. When they come back is when we get back to them. "We've talked about different possibilities. I think they want to see where they are then come back and say, `Drayton come back and make us an offer.' " McLane expects the Hendrickses to call the Astros again later this week. "Even though this is a complicated deal and he's a free agent and will have an opportunity with the Yankees, it's going to be a hard deal to get done," McLane said. "We're optimistic that Gerry and I will look at every angle to get this deal done. We have a high motivation to get a deal done, but it has to be the right deal for the Astros and the right deal for Andy Pettitte. "We're optimistic and I can almost see Andy Pettitte pitching for the Houston Astros. But we have to wait to see where this takes us."
I had a nightmare that somehow, the Cubs got Pettitte and a bunch of other big name FA's. I can't remember how it went, but I think it involved a spend happy new owner in the mold of Mark Cuban. Terrible dream.
I think the diffential in cost of living makes up for the extra money in the Yankees offer. Lowered housing cost and no state tax in Texas has got to make $10 mil/yr in Houston worth $13mil/yr in NYC. Factor in family and a familiar lifestyle and it comes down to two things. Is Pettite serious or is he about the money and you can never discount the lure of another ring and he has to be realistic about where his best shot for another one is.
Not to derail but speaking of housing costs, property taxes here in Indy are awesome. JUST UNDER ONE PERCENT!!!!!! We are able to afford twice the house here than in Houston.
610 is reporting the Braves have extended an offer to Pettitte. I don't think they're a major player at this time though. That all might change when the dollar figures and years are revealed.
Things are going to get really hot on the Pettitte front. I see this being wrapped up within 48 hours.
