I have a question. I'm going to put it here since I can't make my on thread. Whouldn't it be better if the Astros let him go as a free agent and they get a first round from any team that signs him? Would they get a first rounder?
They would only get that first rounder if they offer him arbitration which would defeat the purpose of letting him go if he decides to accept.
How come it seems like the Astros always have potential type-A free agents who would accept arb if offered? When was the last time we offered arb to a free agent who left? Beltran?
The other problem is that if you offer arbitration and they leave, you may not get a team's first rounder as compensation. It all depends on their record relative to yours and if they have signed any other free agents. Due to circumstances, the Astros did not receive a first rounder for Beltran.
Trever Miller was offered arbitration after the 2007 season, he declined and signed with Tampa Bay. The Astros received a Compensation A pick (after the 1st round) since Tampa's pick was within the top 15, so they were not eligible to lose their first round pick. The Astros selected RHP Jordan Lyles (who is doing particularly well in Lexington).
I say trade Tejada before the deadline and pick up a prospect or two. I love the Stros but I cant see them surviving the next stretch of games...
We will know before the deadline how the next stretch of games will play out. If on 7/31/09, we are within 4 games, the team will stand pat. Even if we were inclined to trade Tejada, who will offer anything of value for a 34 year old SS in a contract year? Also, who will play SS for the rest of the year and beyond?
Depends how desperate a team is for offense. The problem with SS is that, unlike pitching or even outfield, you pretty much have to have a really sucky one to do a midseason trade for one. You can't just shift around outfielders to squeeze a new guy in - you have to ditch your previous SS. Not sure how many contenders are in that boat. But one year rentals tend to be in high demand because they don't require a long-term commitment. Randy Johnson, for example, was a back-problem plagued pitcher having a terrible season in a contract year where lots of people thought he was nearly done. We happily paid quite a bit for hi. The beyond part is irrelevant - he's not signed past this season. If we don't plan to sign him, we'd be looking for a new SS anyway. If we do plan to sign him (unlikely), we could still do that after trading him. So we're really looking at just two months. You could play Maysonet or whomever else out there. It's not like Tejada was particularly good defensively, so you're not giving up anything on the defensive side by putting a utility guy out there.
Yes sir they are...just let the fair weathers *itch. Not going to get anything useful in trading Tejada. Might as well let him finish out his contract, offer him arbitration. If he declines we get a compensatory pick. If he accepts, good for him. He'll be a stop gap until Jiovanni Mier is ready to go. I for one appreciate Miggy's amazing bat this year and I hope he goes for 200 hits and 60 doubles this year. Just to shut some people up.
Do you really want to pay Tejada upwards of $10M next year? Because that's what he would get in arbitration, especially if he continues his hitting renaissance. I agree with not trading him if you're not going to get something that helps the Astros actually build for the future. But if something good came along, I hope they entertain it. I hope he gets 200 hits 40 doubles, too. He plays for the Astros! I want him to succeed!
Thanks for anwering, but didn't the astros get a compensation pick for Corlos Beltran, and it turned out to be Hunter Pence? I'm saying this, is because I Astros don't have a good track record of getting good prospects for thier players. Example, Billy Wager and Brad Lige. Bourn is showing some potental, but the Astros should of gotten more for Brad. The only trade I've seen where the Astros came away with some good prospects is when in the 03-04 season I think when they traded Jermey Robertson to Cevland for Willy T and Luke Scott.
But the Astros knew Beltran would decline the arbitration, so that was an easy one. Tejada could very well accept, which the Astros won't want. Where they made the mistake, in my opinion, was a guy like Andy Pettitte. The Astros claim they wanted him, but didn't want to sign him to a 2-year deal. Arbitration is perfect for that. No risk of getting stuck with a long-term thing. If he declines, you know he wants out and you get your free pick. Another strategy that, in hindsight, could have been useful last year was to look at all those free agents unhappy with the weak free agent market and sign some decent ones to one-year deals knowing that they want free agency again next year to get a long-term deal. You could offer them arbitration, they decline, and you collect top-3 round type picks. It would have some one-year costs, but could have been a possible way to accelerate the rebuilding process without trading away talent.
I loved the Tejada trade when it happened and still think he is a top SS on offense, defense is what it is, BUT we have gotten to 500 playing the bottom of the league...and the one good team we played(SF Giants) we got embarrased until Roy came to the rescue. Not saying we would get TOP NOTCH prospects like Toronto will get for Halladay but hey just for instance lets ask the Red Sox for Manny Del Carmen and see what happens...
know what's absolutely mind-bottling? his era+ with seattle that year was 106. for those that don't know, an era+ of 100 is roughly considered ML average and anything in the 120-130 range is considered good to very good (oswalt's career era+, for example, is 137). as an astro...... johnson's era+ was 321! not a misprint. 321. granted, it covered 11 starts, but still - he was absolutely lights-out unhittable. how did that freaking team not win it all................... the two biggest sporting head-scratcher of my life is that '98 team losing to SD and the 91 oilers losing to denver.
98 Astros - Kevin Brown enough said...lol 91 Oilers - Up 21-6 in the 3rd with a great Defensive should have been enough but darn John Elway and our defensive backs biting on that last pass...sad thing is Ray Childress had him in his grasp and Elway did his magic. 98 was a great year regardless...I remember when we got him we lead the division by like 3 1/2 games or so and withing a 3 week period we were up 11 games or so lol...incredible I make that trade anyday of the week!
kevin brown or sterling hitchcock more unbelievable? ugh, freakin elimination game and hitchcock beat randy..
