Astros Decline Brocail's 2009 Option: The Hot Stove Season Begins
by Stephen Higdon on Oct 1, 2008 1:10 PM CDT
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PrintAccording to The Sports Network, Ed Wade has opted to decline Brocail's 2009 option of $3.25 million dollars. My gut reaction is that is a saavy move on Wade's part. Brocail, who will be 42 next year, demonstrated that he can be tough as nails if not overworked, but given the Astros scarcity of starting pitching depth, Brocail probably does not have that option in 2009. As a Type A Free Agent, the Astros likely move will be to offer the veteran arbitration which could then lead to the Astros receiving a highly valuable compensation pick after the first round of 2009's draft. While the article indicates the Wade and Brocail have expressed mutual interest in each other, it's hard for me to imagine Brocail taking a discount in Houston when he could get paid a premium as a member of someone like the Brewers or the Mets, who are desperate to stabilize their bull pens
The move, to me, signals that the Ed Wade is going to be another busy man this winter, something that excites me greatly. There is a lot of work to be done to improve the quality of this team at both the major league and minor league levels. I trust Ed Wade to find an adequate solution to losing Cecil Cooper's automatic 8th inning man and construct a solid bull pen. In fact, I don't even know that he'll have to shop around given that a Geary with a healthy groin or the LaTroy Hawkins of the second half represent equal or great value than Brocail. If Brocail walks to find greener pastures, then the compensation pick allows he and Bobby Heck to still draft a top tier prospect even if we land a Type A SP -- something that is imperative for the Astros this offseason.
I like where Ed Wade's head is at and I like how this move can set in motion a whole host of other moves that will make the 2009 Astros far more stable than their 2008 version. Hot stove season has begun in Houston. Make sure you stay tuned to the CFB for all the news and analysis as Ed Wade gets to doing what he does best -- make a lot of moves.
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So...... who makes up the bullpen
I agree that trying to get a draft pick for Brocail is the best decision, especially since we’re going to try and get a Type A free agent pitcher. Could we trade for an 8th inning guy or do you think we’ll mix & match through free agency and our young pitchers. I hope we mix & match and save whatever trade bait we have for a catcher (Victor Martinez…anyone?) or starting pitcher. I think Wade will do that since he self-proclaimed to be obsessed with the bullpen and obviously takes great pride in being creative.
As I mention in the article
I think both Geary (with a healthy groin) Hawkins could be more than adequate at filling in.
A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.
by Stephen Higdon on Oct 1, 2008 2:00 PM CDT up reply actions
I'll be weary
Of Sampson coming back from his surgery. Even if it is minor, the elbow is crucial for a pitcher like Sampson and is were “control” is generated. He could be a legitimate set-up guy in a year or two though for sure — I just don’t want to count on him next year.
A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.
by Stephen Higdon on Oct 1, 2008 9:36 PM CDT up reply actions
Sweet Jesus, Ed
please just offer him arbitration.
Don’t screw this up like Purpura screwed up with Aubrey Huff.
And Clemens and Pettitte?
Hmm. They all left after the same season, which meant we missed out on a whole bunch of picks which could’ve been…
Yeah,
I blocked out the memories of those awful arbitration decisions.
To be fair, Purpura signed Oswalt and Lance to good contracts, but he also really screwed the pooch on everything else.
Yeah
3 out of 11 aren’t good odds…at all.
BAD:
Preston Wilson
Jason Jennings
Andy
Roger
Huff
Not trading Lidge at the dealine last year
Or the year before that.
Blown Draft in ‘07
Carlos Lee’s BLOATED contract
Good:
Lance
Roy (though he had to piss Roy off to resign him)
Wiggy
Let me know what I missed.
A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.
by Stephen Higdon on Oct 1, 2008 7:10 PM CDT up reply actions
Okay
so the issue is really just the value of the option. $3.25MM is more than he made the three years combined before coming to the Astros. i’m not really sure what a 41-yr old set-up guy is worth, so I’ll trust Wade on this one. i can’t imagine they won’t offer him arbitration, so if he’s really a Type A and we lose him, we’d get some picks out of the deal. between Geary and possibly Hawkins (if he’s re-signed), and Wade’s seeming ability to cobble together a passable bullpen in any given offseason, I’m not too concerned about the situation. i certainly wouldn’t mind having Brocail back, assuming he doesn’t get abused like he did this year.
My reaction to this was...
whatever… I don’t think it’s a great move or a terrible move… kind of indifferent. I think 3.25 Million next season is too much, but it’s not like it’s 5+ million. I’d like for us to offer him arbitration and if he returns and we get him on a reduced salary.. sweet… if he leaves and we get a draft pick for him… sweet. As long as we don’t let him walk and get nothing in return, I’m fine with it.
Go 'Stros!
Doug Brocail
When things were going badly for the Astros, it seemed Doug Brocail was at his finest. Always dependable, always focused – it’s easy to see why Cecil Cooper might have over-used him, if indeed that’s what happened. When things are going well our team is one of the best in the majors; focused, enthusiastic, determined. But sometimes they seem to get a little despondent during difficult times, and I think they lose a few extra games that way. Everybody does I suppose. Doug Brocail seems to get tougher and more determined during difficult times, and does his best to pick up his teammates. I think we need him.
i agree
he’s sort of a Russ Springer type, but more of a bulldog. i think his influence is good on the bullpen. for as much as they talk about it, i really believe leadership like that is not entirely insignificant.
by littlevisigoth on Oct 3, 2008 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions
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