If the guy is not gonna be a closer here he needs to go because paying someone over 5 million who only is gonna get "mop up duty" or be put in early if a starter faulters needs to be traded. Purpura blew chances to package Lidge along with some of our other scrubs because the organization had faith in him (as Lidge was the main player from the Astros roster in any would be deal). Now there are two things Purpura has going for him 1.Lidge was at one point the most dominate closer so I am sure teams think thier people could turn him around 2. Baseball has no salery cap, big deal taking on a one year 5.5 (or whatever he makes) contract. So no blockbuster trade with Lidge as the main guy but certainly a prospect or two maybe even another pitcher. What do y'all think? The sooner the better IMHO so the distraction will leave us.
More than nothing, less than something. Best bet is to get him into some lower pressure situations where he can hopefully have a little success first. I've yet to see a single quote from Lidge indicating he'd be a distraction or a malcontent, seems like an incredibly stand-up guy & a great teammate.
He seems like a nice guy (David Carr type) questions will continue to come to Garner and his other team mates. Just cut you losses now Stros.
I think you're greatly overestimating the impact that the Houston media has on these guys. Frankly, I don't think they give a rat's ass what any of us think. They laugh openly at a couple of the Chronicle columnists. And nobody in pro sports takes the internet or talk radio that seriously. This is not New York, your wishes notwithstanding.
Does it make sense to dump his contract now and have the "payroll flexability" that the Astros talk about to pick up another player at the deadline or does it make sense to keep him when his role in the pen is less important than the long reliver? My opinion, dump him
What "payroll flexibility"? Baseball contracts are guaranteed. That money comes off the books whether Lidge pitches here or not, unless we find some other organization to take that contract in a trade.
I know that I am saying trade him for prospect(s). That is a dump for me because he had real trade value a while back.
The Astros would probably have to eat some of that contract $$$s, in order to get another team to swallow the deal. I can't see the Astros getting any real prospects either. Why would the other team give until it hurts to get a washed up closer?
I don't think that's ever been confirmed. imo, that's one of those rumors that picked up steam as talk radio fodder after the fact so people could complain. At the deadline last season, when Tejada had even less trade value (given age and declining range), the Orioles supposedly demanded Oswalt and Ensberg (for all his faults, a consistent .800+ OPS 3B) and one more player for Tejada. Even though his value wasn't all that diminished after 2005, there were certainly some concerns after his postseason, and it's hard to imagine Lidge even at full value being sufficient to the Orioles when they demanded an ace and a quality 3B at the deadline several months later.
Tejada had the right to demand a trade the year following any trade. The Astros wanted a week or so window to talk to Tejada before the trade. The Orioles (one of the most poorly run organizations in pro sports, thanks to Peter Angelos) said no, and then proceeded to ask for a 3rd player (in addition to Lidge & Everett) off the big league roster. The Astros, rightfully, were not about to trade 3 major leaguers for a potential 1-year rental. That's where things broke down. At least that's how I understand it.
If there was a commitment longer than this season, I'd agree. With a 1-year deal, I'm not sure that it matters that much. If they could get something decent, and I'm not sure they can right now (hence Purp's recent comment about getting "robbed" or somesuch when the Boston rumors were floating), I'm sure the Stros would be very open to dealing him. As of right now it looks like they're putting him in a more relaxed role and it's really a no-lose situation for them: either he pitches better & the Stros have a pitcher, or he pitches better & they have tradebait; or he continues to struggle & they're no worse off than they are right now. I just don't see the rush to trade him *right now*.
