ESPN rumor - Astros in serious talks to acquire Wolf

by lnewcomer on Jul 22, 2008 2:02 AM CDT Comment 10 comments

Astros in serious talks about Padres lefty Wolf

The Houston Astros are engaged in serious discussions to acquire veteran left-hander Randy Wolf of the San Diego Padres.

Wolf, 31, is 6-10 with a 4.74 ERA this season. He began his career with the Philadelphia Phillies -- the former employer of Ed Wade, the current general manager for the Houston Astros.

Also, the Astros activated Humberto Quintero and option J.R. Towles back to AAA

Dave Borkowski was DFA'd

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Please Don't do it Ed!

Show that you have some sort of deceny and are not going to try and continue with the Astros have a chance line.
Right now the Astros have no chance and have less future if you trade for Wolf. Anything the Astros used to trade for Wolf would be prospects – who I don’t know – or vets that could bring prospects. Either way it is a bad move.

My friends suggested I see someone about my baseball problem. So I made an appointment but just ended up helping the doctor with his fantasy team.

by TBurford on Jul 22, 2008 8:25 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

the only redeeming thought i had

was that maybe Wolf was signed beyond 2008, but alas, he’s not.

this is a stupid move, flat out. i don’t know what they’d have to give up to get him, but whatever it is, for a half season rental when we’re so far out of the race is just asinine. i’m not in the fire sale camp, but i’m not going to get behind mortgaging ANYTHING for this season. any move should only be made if it makes sense for 2009 and beyond.

by littlevisigoth on Jul 22, 2008 9:30 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

man

this really would annoy the crap out of me if we sent anything of value for this guy. looking at stats, it’d essentially be like trading for Brandon Backe

Wolf (W/L / ERA / IP / K / BB) 6-10 / 4.74 / 119.2 / 105 / 47
Backe (W/L / ERA / IP / K / BB) 6-10 / 4.79 / 118.1 / 91 / 50

Anybody like the sound of trading for a half-season of Brandon Backe?

I conveniently omitted the fact that Backe has allowed 23 HRs to Wolf’s 14 HRs, but I don’t think that weakens my argument much.

by littlevisigoth on Jul 22, 2008 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But Wolf Pitches in Petco

Give him a few starts in The Juice Box and I think he could catch up.

My friends suggested I see someone about my baseball problem. So I made an appointment but just ended up helping the doctor with his fantasy team.

by TBurford on Jul 22, 2008 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not a proponent of trading for Wolf (unless you give up practically nothing in return)...

but I don’t think he is necessarily a bad pitcher. His FIP is 4.29, which indicates he has been relatively unlucky, and often is a sign that his ERA will improve in the future. By contrast. Backe’s FIP is 5.46.

Having said that, the trade doesn’t make much sense unless the Astros give up someone in the minors who is useless or a role player on the big league roster (e.g., Erstad) who is a free agent next year also. And, even then, the decision ought to be based on the value of getting a draft choice when Wolf leaves as a free agent (assuming he will be a Class A or B free agent). I assume the Astros have a handle on the liklihood that Elias will rank Wolf after the season.

While this all seems a bit odd, I really wouldn’t worry about it. Wolf would have to approve the trade, and so far he has turned down signing with Houston in two consecutive off-seasons, because he likes the West Coast.

by clack on Jul 22, 2008 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wolf's no trade clause does not include Houston

It is only a partial no trade so if the Astros and Padres can find a deal he can’t kill it.
If you could give up ‘practically nothing’ and get the draft choice I would be ok with that. I just get nervous anytime Wade is about to move players.

My friends suggested I see someone about my baseball problem. So I made an appointment but just ended up helping the doctor with his fantasy team.

by TBurford on Jul 22, 2008 1:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I blew it on the no trade clause...

One source reported that Houston was on the list of teams to which he couldn’t be traded, but that was obviously wrong.

by clack on Jul 22, 2008 4:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

For Reineke

I am fine with that.

My first mistake was assuming you knew what I was talking about.

by Shamus on Jul 22, 2008 3:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Sure why not

Wolf can give us a few starts this year and hopefully a draft pick when he leaves.
We are not givng up any serious prospects.

My friends suggested I see someone about my baseball problem. So I made an appointment but just ended up helping the doctor with his fantasy team.

by TBurford on Jul 22, 2008 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

Reineke, to my knowledge, is not a major league prospect, so this doesn’t bother me too much. i’m not so sure about whether or not Wolf will be a class B free agent or not. he didn’t make the cut last year, but he didn’t pitch a full season. Rich Hill was right on the cut line and he had an ERA around 4.00, 11-8 record, and 183 K’s in 195 innings (some of the numbers they look at when ranking FA’s, according to mlbtraderumors.com). Wolf would have to pitch pretty well down the stretch to fit that mold, but it’s a moving target, so who knows.

i’m not so sore on this as i would have been if they’d have gotten rid of a real prospect.

by littlevisigoth on Jul 22, 2008 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

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