I read an article yesterday about Ausmus exploring all of his options. If he comes back, will we still be looking for a back-up catcher. Any word on Clemens? I just don't see McClane spending more than his 85 mill payroll if Clemens comes back. We need more offense, but it looks like last years young guys are going to have to step up this season. What are you guys thoughts?
Clemens, Purp and Clemens' agents say they want to get "it" out of the way early...whatever that means. My guess is that they are negotiating a 1 year deal because, with winter meetings next week, we HAVE to know what his deal is going into them....and if he is going to retire, there is nothing that would change that over the weekend IMO.
Isn't one year of Clemens supposed to be like 18 to 20 mill. He deserves it, but don't you think it is a little steep!
I saw an article in yesterday's chronicle that said something to the extent that they weren't going to let it drag on. I think it was in the Ausmus article if I am not mistaken.
How do you guys feel about Nomar, I feel he could add some punch to the offense if he can remain healthy
If he's not asking for crazy money, I dont see why we couldnt try and take him. He'll certainly provide more offensive pop than everett.
doesn't his wife Mia Hamm have a house in Austin? Or was that because her ex husband used to live there? Maybe we get a hometown discount like Kent gave us.
Clemens last night on Channel 13 told Bob Allen that he will not make his decision until at least January. Allen asked him doesn't the team NEED to know and Roger said that they need to go after a bat and get another quality pitcher anyway. He made it sound like his decision has nothing to do with it. He also said that if he HAD to make his decision today, we wouldn't like his answer. I say play the cards as if he is NOT comng back and start getting into the bidding for some FAs. We don't need another Beltran handcuffing the team this offseason!!!!
Isn't he basically saying, "if they get a bat and if they get a pitcher, and this team looks ready to go back to the world series, I'll push them over the top..." BUT "if they leave it as it is, I don't think we'll go back to the series, and I have some pool time to catch up on?"
The Astros are primed to repeat a disappointing last off-season. Their dicking around waiting on Roger's decision and, by the time he has made it, then all the good acquisitions will already be snatched up. I even read Purpura or Drayton saying they needed to know Roger's decision to determine how to proceed...as in whether we need another pitcher or not. If Roger comes back, then they said our pitching is basically set. How much money do they have to work with if they don't know what Roger will do? It certainly plays into any off-season moves.
That's exactly how I interpret it. He isn't going to pitch for a struggling offense again...even if we made the WS. He doesn't want to come back to finish 2nd. I guarantee that he wants to see Drayton spend some of the money that he has made the past 2 years.
Didn't you hear? The Astros haven't done anything in the whole entire month since they made it to the World Series so they went ahead and canceled the Astros' 2006 season. Check back this time next year.
According to McLane, it's just about to get downright steamy. Link Ausmus mulls Astros' offer, other options McLane assured by Clemens' agents that they want 'to get it done early' By BRIAN MCTAGGART Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle With baseball's annual winter meetings scheduled to begin next week in Dallas, the Astros' quiet winter could begin heating up. "It's early for things to get rolling, but by the time the meetings start next week and through the meetings you're going to see some exciting things," Astros owner Drayton McLane said. The Astros have started exchanging offers with their own free agents, including catcher Brad Ausmus, who along with free-agent pitcher Roger Clemens are among the Astros' biggest priorities this offseason. Ausmus, who will turn 37 in April, hit .258 with three home runs and 47 RBIs in his fifth consecutive season as the club's regular starting catcher. "We talked a couple of times on numbers, and we certainly don't have an insurmountable gap between us," Ausmus said. Ausmus had made it clear he would like to return for an eighth season with the Astros or play for the San Diego Padres, who are searching for a replacement for free-agent catcher Ramon Hernandez. Ausmus and his family live in the San Diego area in the offseason. "Certainly San Diego and Houston are my two favorites, no question," he said. "But I'm going to listen to everything, and I might listen to things in the Southern California area. I'm not really narrowing anything down right now." Peter Mrowka, Ausmus' agent, said several other clubs have called about the catcher and are in the mix. "At this point, he's going to keep all his options open just because we don't know what's going to happen," Mrowka said. "There's no set timetable." Meanwhile, Astros general manager Tim Purpura has been in regular contact with Randy and Alan Hendricks, the agents for Clemens and free-agent reliever Russ Springer. "They're committed to getting it done early," McLane said of the Clemens' camp. But Clemens, 43, hasn't announced if he's returning for a 23rd major-league season, and his decision will have a big impact on the Astros' plans for the rest of the offseason. "Before we can really make a commitment, we need to see where we are with Roger," McLane said. "If Roger is coming back, we're pretty well set with starting pitching. If he's not coming back, we'll look at what additional moves we'll need to make to offset that." In addition to Ausmus, Clemens and Springer, Purpora is keeping the door open on the return of the Astros' other free agents — Orlando Palmeiro and Jose Vizcaino. _____________________ I sure hope this means "exciting things" for the astros!
wow. wonder what that means! as i read it again...i wonder if that quote is directly about the astros or about baseball and the offseason, in general.
