Winter meetings: Astros

by Shamus on Dec 4, 2007 3:36 PM CST Comment 31 comments

I guess the Astros are shopping Burke and Scott, with everyone else to a lesser extent. No more RP Wade. The rumors about him were true. He is insane about RPs.

The latest I have heard is the Rox want Burke but they don't like him straight up for Fuentes. I don't like Fuentes. Not enough "stuff for a closer", his off nights make Lidge's off nights look good.

Also, the Padres want Scott. I wouldn't trade Scott unless it is in a deal for a GOOD pitcher. Scott gets out of bed and slugs 500.

I will update

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Rumors....

Supposedly White Sox and Astros talking about Burke for a relief pitcher.

ESPN rumor blog says Padres and Astros are in serious talks about sending Luke Scott to San Diego. Unknown what the return would be....

Nothing here overwhelms me...but of course I don't know what the trades really involve yet either.

And, yes, Wade's reputation for loving relief pitchrs appears well deserved.

by clack on Dec 4, 2007 3:47 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Ok we have a decent bullpen - although without a proven closer. Why not try and find a starter?
The Astros are not going to get much for Scott until he proves he can stay healthy for 500 ABs. They are certainly not going to be 'bowled over' as Shamus wants.

It's the next generation of Astros. Let's see if they can play like the men they are replacing.

by TBurford on Dec 5, 2007 8:18 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

So which one of their players

...are we getting for Scott?

Hoffman? Peavy? Young?

No. Probably Ensberg and Lane.

Lee, Pence, Scott in '08

by entropic soul on Dec 4, 2007 6:59 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Does San Diego

Allow concealed hand guns? If not, Scott won't want to go.. ;)

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Dec 4, 2007 7:39 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Burke and Scott

So now there are 4 or 5 teams interested in Burke and all I hear is the Padres for Scott. I wouldn't trade Scott unless I was bowled over. Bourn isn't the next Mays and there is a chance he can't hang in the Bigs.

The interest in Burke is probably because of his seemingly low value. I bet some of the offers would make me, a Burke fan, cry.

Make the world a better place. Punch Tim Purpura in the face.

by Shamus on Dec 4, 2007 9:18 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

after looking at the players named for Scott

Josh Geer and Wade LeBlanc don't blow my doors off and it would be a better deal for the Pads than the Astros. LeBlanc is a pretty decent prospect that has a good chance of making it to the show but there is not a 100% chance. Geer is much less certain. They would both be in the top 10 for Stro prospects though.

Still, even though the offer is no joke, I would feel pretty bad about not getting a better prospect or a guy that can have an impact on the team next year.

Make the world a better place. Punch Tim Purpura in the face.

by Shamus on Dec 4, 2007 9:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

also

Nick Hundley and Will Venable do not interest me at all. They are a C and OF that are both long shots. That would be disappointing if they could only get one of each.

Make the world a better place. Punch Tim Purpura in the face.

by Shamus on Dec 4, 2007 9:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

rosenthal

says the Pads and Stros couldn't reach a deal.

Good move Ed

Make the world a better place. Punch Tim Purpura in the face.

by Shamus on Dec 4, 2007 10:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Good

Shouldn't trade Scott unless we get something really good. Well, we shouldn't have Bourn on the team, in my opinion, but if Scott's gonna be moved, he should be moved for something good.

Lee, Pence, Scott in '08

by entropic soul on Dec 4, 2007 10:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

SD newspaper report...

acts like a deal for Scott could still occur. The newspaper reports that the Astros wanted catcher Nick Hundley. The article says that scouts agree Hundley will become a major leaguer, but do not agree on whether Hundley will be an impact player.

I agree about keeping Scott. The guy is quite valuable, because he can put up a .850-.900 OPS, and there is no necessity to trade him, since he can be a good 4th outfielder. I would only trade him if the Astros can fulfill a major need or get a high level prospect in return. The prospects offered by the Padres don't seem good enough.

by clack on Dec 5, 2007 8:22 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree...

by clack on Dec 5, 2007 1:03 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Mark Loretta

I read somewhere Mark Loretta may accept arbitration after all. Seems Astros may pay $4 million while no other team has offered more than $2 million.

Keeping Warm During Hot Stove Season

by Joe in Birmingham on Dec 4, 2007 11:51 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I hope he goes elsewhere

I don't see him getting much of a raise when/if he accepts. He doesn't have a great case.

Make the world a better place. Punch Tim Purpura in the face.

by Shamus on Dec 4, 2007 11:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Another report has...

the possibility of a Burke for Barmes trade with Colorado. Both players are middle infielders and share a similar history (highly touted prospects who had one good partial season, but haven't hit well since). I am non-plussd by that trade, although it's not terrible. But I don't see how it works unless the Astros know that Loretta will not accept arbitration. Barmes presumably would fill a utility infielder role like Loretta.

by clack on Dec 5, 2007 8:27 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't understand this rumor

Why would we be interested in Barmes? We've got Blum. If we wanted another questionable offense utility infielder, why don't we just keep Burke?

I'd be happy with more relief pitching depth or a prospect for Burke. He doesn't have much value to us, so it's hard to ask for a big return.

Scott on the other hand, I agree that he should only be traded if we're getting something we NEED, like a SP or a closer (one that is comfortably better than Qualls, which would be saying something in my opinion).

by littlevisigoth on Dec 5, 2007 9:18 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

to be fair...

the reports only say that the Rockies have offered Barmes...not that the Astros asked for him. On the Chronicle blogs, McTaggert and to a lessor degree, Justice, all seem to like the idea of trading Burke for Barmes. Justice said, in response to a commenter, that the trading of Scott and Burke isn't a normal trade situation because Wade is trying to find a good home for them. That kind of floored me.

by clack on Dec 5, 2007 10:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i also

hope Lorretta goes elsewhere. if we really would have to pay him $4 million, that's pretty expensive for a pinch hitter with little power. i don't imagine he'd get a whole lot of playing time like last year. that, and i'd like to get at least one supplemental pick and i'm in the camp of people that would like to see Miller return.

by littlevisigoth on Dec 5, 2007 9:21 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i disagree

but only because im so against matsui its not even funny. i dont like him and baring a miracle i dont think i ever will, maybe by the trade deadline if hes sucking it up we can trade him and keep loretta.. we could use those draft picks though, and build up our farm system...so ed wade could trade them for middle relievers

by Big Puma 17 on Dec 5, 2007 11:16 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Rosenthal today

is linking us to Glendon Rusch

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7528844

i'm not sure how i feel about that, but i wanted to be sure to link to the article so that everybody else can laugh at the fact that the Reds pitching coach is named Dick Pole.

by littlevisigoth on Dec 5, 2007 12:17 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

ugh!

I hope there isn't much behind the rumor. Rusch is a bad pitcher at this point in his career. I would much rather see John Lieber than Rusch.

by clack on Dec 5, 2007 1:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Dick Pole

LOL

Lee, Pence, Scott in '08

by entropic soul on Dec 5, 2007 6:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Can a team trade a player who elects arbitration?

For example, if Mark Loretta agrees to arbitration, can the Astros trade him between the day he elects and the actual arbitration proceedings?

Keeping Warm During Hot Stove Season

by Joe in Birmingham on Dec 5, 2007 2:12 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yes.

by clack on Dec 5, 2007 2:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

hahahah DICK POLE!

if hes the reds pitching coach i dont know what to think. arran harrang, arroyo...there good, i would love harrang on the stors, nice K guy, but thats not reality... reality is, Dick Pole

by Big Puma 17 on Dec 5, 2007 5:13 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Cabrera-Willis to Detroit comment

Here's what bugs me about this trade: I'm a National League guy and the Neutered League just lost two of its most high-profile (and in Dontrelle's case one of its most charismatic) stars to the American League. I'd like the opportunity to watch these two when they played the Astros, Cubs,or Braves (the three teams I can watch on MLB.com or local TV). Now they're gone -- and Biggio - and Bonds - will Andruw Jones be next?

(Of course I'll be paying a lot more attention to Detroit in 2008)

Keeping Warm During Hot Stove Season

by Joe in Birmingham on Dec 5, 2007 5:16 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

You raise a good point....

Most of the big spending teams are in the AL. In order to compete (with the Red Sox and Yankees), more teams, like the Tigers, have to join the big boys, for instance. Each year, by trade and FA signings, more NL talent has moved to the AL. That probably contributes to the AL's perceived dominance in level of play. The one thing you can say about transactions like the Marlins-Tigers trade: one day the younger players like the 5 prospects which went to the Marlins may help the NL become dominant again when they mature as players (assuming the Marlins don't trade them in a salary dump before then). NL teams like LA, Arizona, and Colorado have a lot of young talent which also might make the pendulum swing more to the NL in the future.

by clack on Dec 5, 2007 5:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

about the NLvsAL

Ryan Braun
Troy Tulowitzki
Hunter Pence
Kevin Kouzmanoff
James Loney
Micah Owings
Chris Young
Yovani Gallardo
Tim Lincecum

Dustin Pedroia
Jeremy Guthrie
Brian Bannister
Daisuke Matsuza
Reggie Willits
Delmon Young
Hideki Okajima
Rafael Perez
Travis Buck
Jesse Litsch

Those are the results of the ROY in 2007. Besides Kouzmanoff the only young player as good as the other 8 in the NL is Delmon Young. This stuff goes in cycles. And besides that, the only time it matters is 7 games at the end of the season, and any team can win 4 of 7 against any team.

Make the world a better place. Punch Tim Purpura in the face.

by Shamus on Dec 5, 2007 7:26 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Thursday morning status

FoxSport's Rosenthal had this to say:

"The Astros told clubs Wednesday night that they were on the verge of a major deal, but details were unclear. Second baseman Chris Burke and outfielder Luke Scott have been among the most available Astros, and the team spoke with the Pirates about left-handed reliever Damaso Marte earlier this week. Rival clubs have targeted some of the Astros' young pitching as well. ..."

Ortiz's article in the HC says that Wade stayed up until the early morning hours working on a 3 or 4 team deal, which apparently fell through because it is hard to keep all the teams on board as the trades change.

Also, the Rule 5 draft will be today. The Astros pick 10th.

by clack on Dec 6, 2007 8:27 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

OMG

how many relievers do we need?

Lee, Pence, Scott in '08

by entropic soul on Dec 6, 2007 3:39 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Loretta

Appears that Mark Loretta will accept arbitration and return to the Astros. HC's Ortiz said it is 99% likely that he will return.

by clack on Dec 6, 2007 6:59 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

White Sox GM Quote

This is not Astros related at all but this excerpt from the Chicago Sun-Times gave me a chuckle:

Reacting Wednesday to the blockbuster deal that sent power-hitting third baseman Miguel Cabrera and former All-Star left-hander Dontrelle Willis from the Florida Marlins to the Detroit Tigers -- wrecking the Sox' latest offseason plans -- [Chicago White Sox GM Kenny] Williams said: ``All this has done is put the Tigers in a better position to contend with us.''

Keeping Warm During Hot Stove Season

by Joe in Birmingham on Dec 8, 2007 7:17 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

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