Astros Hot Stove: Wade talking with Wolf, Brocail, Hawkins, and Hampton; Pettitte looking for two years?
by DyingQuail
on Nov 5, 2008 9:51 PM CST
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Alyson Footer had these bits of info for us:
Wade will meet with Randy Wolf's representatives Arn Tellem and Joel Wolfe on Wednesday. While Wade is optimistic about the club's chances to sign the free agent left-hander, he's doubtful that the club will be able to strike a deal with Wolf before the exclusive negotiation period expires in another week.
We already know that the Mets are interested in Wolf so I imagine he'll test the market in the hopes of driving up his price. Not surprsing, but we might luck out and see him walk, allowing us to pick up a compensation pick if we offer arbitration and possibly loosen up funds for a top tier pitcher.
Wade also has had ongoing discussions with the agents representing Doug Brocail and LaTroy Hawkins and suspects those negotiations may take substantial time as well.
We all know that Wade is seeking to re-sign these guys, but I've yet to hear about any other teams expressing interest. Do we consider these guys locks to come back?
Wade met with Mark Rodgers, who represents free agent lefty Mike Hampton. The injury-riddled Hampton had a fairly strong end to the '08 season and if he'd be willing to accept a low-base, incentive-laden deal, the Astros may be interested.
This probably isn't a bad gamble if that kind of contract could be landed. The scrap heap has a lot of diamonds in the rough and I'm all for the Astros trying to mine them.
In more pitching news, Ken Davidoff thinks that Andy Pettitte might want another two year deal to come back and pitch:
There are rumblings that Pettitte wants a two-year deal, and that won't be happening with the Yankees...
Pettitte hasn't even filed for free agency yet, but when he does, and if this staredown is still going on with between Pettitte and the Yankees, expect the Astros to try to bring Pettitte back to his hometown.
Sadly, I can see Drayton shelling out the cash for this because of Pettitte's marquee value, but I just don't see the dollar signs and the value adding up. Maybe ticket sales and merchandise could offset it.
**Pettitte Update**
Brian Cashman said that he has interest in bringing back Andy Pettitte, and he knows that Pettitte feels the same way. "Typically, that's two good steps to getting it done. But we're not there yet."
Keep checking back throughout the day to see what pops up as the GM meetings take place.
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I imagine that Hawkins is a lock to come back.
I doubt that many think his performance with the Astros was anything but a fluke.
Which is cool with me, because I’ve come to like the guy. I like that Wade got a guy off of the scrapheap, essentially. On the other hand, Wade really shouldn’t chase after him too hard if other teams aggressively pursue Hawkins. He’s not worth that much cash, even if he is good.
Brocail’s status as a Type A will probably hurt his chances of leaving. But you never know how desperate other teams can be for bullpen pitching – they don’t seem to see that you can get just as effective middle relievers for next to nothing if you look hard enough.
Having Hampton back would be cool. Hopefully he can stay healthy and get back in an Astros uniform.
by Only_A_Lad on
Nov 5, 2008 8:00 AM CST
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I'd like to have Hampton back purely for nostalgia
I doubt he’s anything close to an answer in our screwed up pitching rotation. Let him come back in ST and pitch a few bad games before we quietly cut him and he retires as an Astro.
by lnewcomer on
Nov 5, 2008 12:48 PM CST
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I don't think he's the answer
But I think he could be better than Backe or a regression to the mean version of Moehler or Wolf. My concern would just be how many innings we could get out of him.
The Crawfishboxes
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 DyingQuail on
Nov 5, 2008 1:29 PM CST
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I may be in the minority on this...
but I don’t think signing Pettitte would be the worst thing in the world. I don’t think it will happen though. The Yankees’ defense isn’t very good, and I have always felt that Pettitte’s groundball style works better with good defense behind him. A 2 year contract would be stretching things at Pettitte’s age, though.
by clack on
Nov 5, 2008 5:23 PM CST
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I guess so long as
Miggy performs better than Jeter, you’re on to something. Maybe he’d take another hometown discount?
The Crawfishboxes
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 DyingQuail on
Nov 5, 2008 5:38 PM CST
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almost anybody performs better than Jeter...
The Fielding Bible recently named Jeter as the single worst defensive player in baseball (in terms of extra runs allowed to score).
by clack on
Nov 5, 2008 6:05 PM CST
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I suggested that Wade should sign Pettitte a few days ago
and it obviously depends upon pay. If Pettitte is willing to take significantly less cash than he is now, then it’s worth it.
But he has indicated that he might retire if the Yankees don’t re-sign him. But he’s said that before, and the Astros might be able to get him to come to Houston for one or two more seasons.
And you’re right in that Pettitte’s style works better with shortstops who don’t let every ball to their left get through and who don’t resort to jump-spin-throw moves to field all balls to their right. Jeter is – unquestionably – the worst fielding regular shortstop in the majors. The guy should have been moved to 3rd or 1st years ago.
It would take Miggy getting his legs amputated (and being outfitted with a particularly slow wheelchair) to be as poor a fielder as Jeter.
Every time anybody brings this up, it pisses me off. Just remembering that Jeter won two gold gloves for his shitty fielding while Adam Everett got no recognition is a travesty.
by Only_A_Lad on
Nov 5, 2008 7:38 PM CST
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tell that
to every baseball commentator EVER
by HighLeveragePerformer on
Nov 6, 2008 8:20 AM CST
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I should
probably remember the context of print. I was being terribly sarcastic, but it doesn’t come across as it.
The thing that kills me the most about Jeter, is he’ll possibly prevent A-Rod from being known as the greatest player ever. Just think if his production was still coming while playing average to above average SS…it makes me blush a little.
The Crawfishboxes
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 DyingQuail on
Nov 5, 2008 8:12 PM CST
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1 – i have no problem re-signing hawkins as long as he doesn’t close. i KNOW there is no way he repeats his performance
2 – for 2 years, wolf has said he wants to play on the west coast. i wonder if he is just using the mets to get west coast teams and/or the astros interested
3 – pettitte has said he wants to go back to the yankees. there is NO way i would give him any 2 years, let alone at the amount of $$$ he has been paid. and i SERIOUSLY doubt roger is gonna pitch again.
4 – i stopped respecting the GG the first time adam got screwed for not having a high enough BA. jeter is one of the worst defensive SS i have ever seen. and so is michael young, who just won. and uncle albert just got robbed again. i would love to know why he is so disrespected.
and there is no way i would ever agree that a-rod is the greatest player ever, jeter or no jeter…
Viva El Pest
by lisa gray on
Nov 6, 2008 6:24 AM CST
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thought
would signing Pettitte possibly expand the payroll? there’s speculation here and elsewhere that Drayton isn’t going to sign TWO top tier (at least cost-wise) pitchers. maybe if Pettitte is one of them, that changes things, of course if that’s WOLF and Pettitte, color me unexited. i do think he’d need to come with a paycut from he’s been making in recent years.
by littlevisigoth on
Nov 6, 2008 10:44 AM CST
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Signing Wolf and Pettitte
Would have to be one of the most disappointing things to happen to me in my life. It would be the most fluff, inane, media ploy off-season I can recall.
The Crawfishboxes
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 DyingQuail on
Nov 6, 2008 12:04 PM CST
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Chronicle's Ortiz says that the Astros are close to signing...
Hawkins. He expects the deal to get done soon.
by clack on
Nov 6, 2008 7:57 PM CST
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I don't know if any of you caught this...
But Ed Wade told Alyson Footer that they are increasing payroll this year. Don’t know by how much.
by entropic soul on
Nov 6, 2008 8:53 PM CST
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He did
But unfortunately it was in this context:
“We do expect a payroll increase from 2008 to ’09,” Wade said. “In this economy, there’s always limitations. In a perfect world — the fantasy baseball world — you’re out there able to do whatever comes to mind. We have to place this in a real-world scenario. For us to retain the club that finished the season, it takes us to a number that’s tough to reach. We have to be creative this offseason.”
(emphasis added)
I got the feeling that that meant we’re going to raise payroll, slightly, and just enough to re-sign guys and pay arbitration bonuses.
Which makes me a
The Crawfishboxes
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 DyingQuail on
Nov 6, 2008 10:32 PM CST
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Chron's McTaggert said Astros are looking at a payroll around $110 million...
with the addition of Wolf. I assume that includes raises for arb eligible players and the escalation in Carlos Lee’s contract this year. I’m afraid that is what the Wade quote is talking about.
by clack on
Nov 7, 2008 7:16 AM CST
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