I don't think anyone is going to not pick Boras as an agent because the Astros don't like him. If you're picking Boras as your agent, it's likely because you want a lot of cash - and he delivers more often than not.
Wells isn't a FA til after 2007. EDIT I just saw that he may have demanded a trade, so I guess that's what you meant about him being available.
I've never been big on Soriano for reasons that I can't put my fingers on. One thing is that if he's so great, why does every team want to get rid of him from the moment they get him? He seems to be unclutch (although I have no evidence for this). Obviously his defense and attitude is suspect, but neither should be deal breakers. Maybe he just doesn't feel like an Astro. (You know, the whole hard working, very professional good guy thing.) Lee on the other hand would be great. He's never said anything about wanting out of the OF, it's just that Milwaukee doesn't think he'll hold up there long and Fielder is the future at 1B. He does seem to have the qualities that Astros are famous for. But the perfect target is someone else. I would love to see the Astros go after Miguel Cabrera. He is going to get a mint in arbitration, so the Marlins might be willing to deal. I don't know that, I'm just speculating.
he hasn't. the specualtion is that his family would like him to play closer to home in dallas, and that the rangers are going to make a run at him, making lee even more available. key word being "that." or "speculation."
I don't really know about the defense thing. From what I remember of him as a Yankee and Ranger, he was a pretty solid defensive 2nd base. He's got a lot of range because of his speed and a pretty good arm. In left field, he's leading the league in outfield assists with 19! I think defensively he's really underrated. I do agree with the attitude thing, but the astros have been known to bring in guys who weren't always great clubhouse guys everywhere else and let them asimilate into our system. With Berkman doing a good job taking the reins of this team, the transition from the biggio/bagwell era will be a good one. Even with Bags gone and Bidge in the twilight, the tradition has continued.
Don't for get Soriano's 3 or 4 straight 30-30 seasons and his flirtation with 40-40 this year. The latter is most likely a contract year outburts. Too bad McLane won't roll out another 100M dollar payroll or we could look like this: CF - Willy LF - Soriano RF - Lee 1B - Berkman 3B - Ensberg 2B - Biggio SS - Everett C - Ausmus P - Roy, Roger, Andy, Brandon, Crappy Triple A Pitcher. With Bags 19M coming off the books and Andy likely to sign for about 10M cheaper, we could probably afford Lee and Soriano. A boy can dream though, can't he?
you obviously don't remember him very well. made more errors than any 2b in the AL during his ranger tenure.
that and his range was never good to begin with. Speed does not always equate to range, especially since he's horrible at reading the ball off the bat. He was having problem like another ex-Yankee infielder for awhile, and what Aramis Ramirez had for the Cubs at one point....
I've played with this scenario for a while. Would solve two Stro problems (0 prod from SS and Off. firepower). Any deal though would have to get an OK from A-rod, would most cetainly involve Oswalt, and would have George S. picking up a good chunk of A-rods remaing $$$$.
He was a terrible defensive 2B. He's better as a corner OF and his defense affects you less. Even so, leading the league in OF assists is never a good thing. It means that base runners are willing to test your arm. Manny led the league in OF assists last year.
He was a gold glove shortstop before he went to New York. That being said, I think we all would pass on that albatross contract.
It's no longer an albatross contract. The Rangers have already paid a large chunk of his contract. The Yankees actually have him for a reasonable price.
i doubt seriously he would be a gold glover anywhere now. besides...gold gloves are a joke. and Xenon is right...the rangers picked up a ton of the tab in the deal that sent him to NY.
Yeah the Yankees pay A-Rod about 13 million annually now. Also, before this year he was a very good 3rd baseman. No idea what has happened to him. WHen he was a shortstop, he was widely considered one of the best defenders in the league.
honestly, there's no way i'd trust him at SS now. not after this season. that position is way too important.
