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Should They Stay Or Should They Go?

The recent trade deadline, along with a couple of interesting posts by rastro and saylinara about how they rank the Astros got me to thinking.  This is usually a dangerous thing, but I was surprised as to where I came out.  Basically, I wondered how I would rank the Astros as far as their overall value to the team if I were the GM .  I'm going to give you my list below, and I'd be very interested in any comments and rankings others might provide.  

I divided the team into 5 categories:

(1) Cornerstones of the team, either now or in the future. Not available for trade.
(2) Keepers - we're better off (in the long run) with them than without them.
(3) Keep 'em or trade 'em, OK players but should be easy enough to replace.
(4) Trade 'em if you can - we're better off without them than with them
(5) Get them outa' here - the sooner the better, no offer refused!

I used the current 25 man roster, plus Pence, Backe, and Everettt, and I left off Biggio, because he's retiring and it hurt when I saw where I'd have to rank one of my all time heroes.  I also omitted Wigginton on the grounds that it's too soon to tell. My rankings are a combination of statistical evaluation plus some gut feel as to what the future development opportunities might be.

So here goes:

Cornerstones: Oswalt, Berkman, Pence, Lee

Keepers: Bruntlett, Lidge, Qualls, Scott, Sampson, Loretta, Lamb, Munson

Keep 'em or trade 'em: Albers, McLemore, Miller, Rodriguez, Burke, Everett, Backe

Trade 'em if you can: Borkowski, Moehler, Williams, Lane, Palmeiro, Ausmus

Get 'em outa' here: Jennings

My major surprise was the relatively low number of players in the last two categories.  Given the disappointment the Astros have provided during the season, I thought the list would be longer.

What does your list look like?

0 recs  |  Comment 6 comments

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You got the first four right
The keepers are a little off
You don't keep Lidge if you can get anything for him.  A guy who plays 80 innings a year does not have enough impact unless he is one of the final pieces to a winning team.  Lamb and Loretta you trade for prospects also.
I like Scott, Qualls, Sampson, and Munson - let's see how he does for the rest of the season - as cheap keepers.
As far as I am concerned ever one else is trade bait or get rid of 'em status.  Everett will cost too much for zero offense, Ausmus has lost it, I'd like to see what Backe can do but if you can get something for him (and you can't right now) take it.
The Astros need to their heads out the sand and see they have a bad team.  Rebuilding is ok but they BS everyone and say they expect to win with what they have.  TP and Drayton seem to be the only ones who can figure out it ain't happening.

by TBurford on Aug 2, 2007 12:43 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I would say that
Anyone in your last 2 categories(Trade 'em if you can and Get 'em outa' here) should all be in the get'em outa' here category.  And I would add Miller to that list as well... and probably Wandy.
Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Aug 2, 2007 5:03 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Cornerstones...
I suspect that is easy to agree on.

Keepers: Lidge, Qualls, Wandy, Sampson, Albers, Ausmus (can veto trade anyway), Backe, Everett, Jennings (at the least get the draft picks), Lamb.

Keep 'em or Trade 'em: Loretta, Miller, Borkowski, McLemore, Wigginton, Burke, Scott, Bruntlett, Munson.

Trade 'em if you can: Williams.

Get Rid of 'em: Lane, Palmeiro.

Ausmus and Jennings may seem out of place on the keeper list.  But Ausmus can't be traded (10-5 guy), and personally I wouldn't mind inviting him back as a back up catcher.  Jennings will produce zilch in trade right now, but he does have draft choice value if he is kept.  Depending on how he pitches the rest of the year, and how much his price tag has gone down, I might offer him a contract or let him go to arbitration if he wants.

Loretta, Bruntlett, and Burke are hard choices on the "keep or trade" list.  I wouldn't trade all three, but would consider trading 1 or 2 of the three if they produce value.

by clack on Aug 2, 2007 5:49 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I have no beef with anyone's opinions here
but please explain to me how you see Wandy as a keeper. Is it all that we've invested, or what is it you see that makes him a long term prospect?  Just wondering.

by bwhite2323 on Aug 2, 2007 7:02 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Why Wandy?
Pitching is expensive.  Even picking up a no. 4 or 5 starter on the FA market is costly.  I lean toward keeping any Astros starter who is relatively young and has shown the ability to pitch at least at the level of a 4 or 5 starter.  That is the very same reason I put Sampson on the keeper list, even though Chris has only so-so stuff.  I like Wandy's K rate and K:BB trend...I think it is a good sign of likely improvement next year.  Now if someone came forward with a great offer for Wandy (say, Milledge for Wandy), I would trade him.  But that is true of any player but the cornerstones.

by clack on Aug 2, 2007 7:15 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

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