Astros Winter Meetings Monday Rundown
by David Coleman on Dec 6, 2010 4:32 PM CST
in Houston Astros Hot Stove News
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PrintWe did it, everyone. We got through the first big day of the Winter Meetings. I'm still trying to figure out how to best handle the daily news. Right now, I'm going with a recap post each afternoon with FanShots when appropriate through the nights/mornings. What did we learn Monday?
Fairly Newsworthy
Jeff Keppinger and Matt Lindstrom are available: That's right, two of the Astros arbitration-eligible guys can be had for the right price. This isn't exactly news, since Wade has been on record that he wants to upgrade at second base. Lindstrom was not very good and is due for another raise in salary, so he's likely expendable if the right deal comes along. Again, all this is stuff we probably knew before today's report by Ed Price over at AOL FanHouse.
Astros cutting payroll: The thing that sticks out about that report is Price sources unnamed front office personnel saying the Astros are trying to pare salary down further to get it around 70 million. That's in preparation for the team being sold. Why is that news? well, it flies directly in the face of Wade's very public comments at the time of the sale, that it would not impact baseball operations at all. I'm sure he can spin it all he wants that trading Kepp is a baseball move and has nothing to do with his salary, but the fact is Kepp has value. Unless they get a younger player to man a hole in the lineup or starting rotation, the Astros would be making this move based on money.
After the big annoucement by Drayton, I wondered if this payroll slashing would be a consequence. Clack convinced me pretty effectively that it wouldn't, but now I'm not so sure. I hope the payroll will not be dictated by the sale and the Astros can have a competitive team for the next few years. *PS. 70 million was the payroll at the end of last season, according to Baseball Reference. It'd be the first time since 2005 the Astros had a payroll that low.
Interested in left fielders: Well, that's not news. What is newsworthy is the list of names that have been bandied about. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick tweeted that the Astros might have interest in Ryan Church or Jeremy Hermida while the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweeted that they might look at Matt Diaz. So there you are. Might I point out, Mr. National Media Member, that I already made a case for Ryan Church, waay before you came in and big-timed the link...
Corpus Christ wins award: The Hooks were named the Double-A organization of the year on Monday. Good on them. That place has a first-rate ballpark and a standup front office. Remember when I went there this past summer and didn't get the bobbleheads they were giving away? Well, it took them a few months, but our Nolan Ryan bobbleheads showed up in the mail. Thanks, Hooks front office, for being classy!
Non-newsworthy
Jordan Lyles a candidate for fifth spot in rotation: Yep, not surprising, though it is a little sad. If Lyles breaks camp as the fifth starter, I might have to stay away from my laptop for a few days (to avoid smashing it into pieces). Exciting young pitcher? Check. Future of the rotation? Check. Sure, why not unnecessarily risk arm injury...
Carlos Lee to 1B, Wallace not ready: Yeah, we've already covered all these too. Brett Wallace has a hole in his swing/mechanical issue he needs to work out. Carlos Lee has been asked to prepare to play first base. Before we get all hot and bothered by this news, let's remember what Brad Mills said earlier today, "It's meaningless to project who will play where in December. Let's let them play some games first." Wallace will get a chance to win the first base job in spring training, as will El Bufalo. What's new about that?
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I wondered if this payroll slashing would be a consequence. Clack convinced me pretty effectively that it wouldn’t, but now I’m not so sure.
Well, I was trying to be rational, and assumed that McLane is interested in achieving something close to his very high sales price target ($800 M). That doesn’t mean he might not try to strip down the team and cut his current costs. That is current bottom line thinking. But I doubt that is a way to get the high end of the sales price range. A team with plummeting attendance and declining broadcast ratings isn’t going to look like a plum…it will look more like a “fixer upper.” As you know that usually results in a discount price.
By the way, the Matt Diaz rumor is believable. When Diaz was released, I immediately thought that he is the type of player that Wade would go for. However, he is RH and not LH; so he doesn’t fit the supposed need. But Diaz isn’t half bad. Josh Willingham is another guy who doesn’t fit the LH need, but would be a good power addition. He may be traded by the Nats, after Werth signed.
Hermida, who is LH, doesn’t look like a good hitter anymore. He has power, but plays weak defense, and strikes out a ton; he probably is getting close to his last chance to stay in the major leagues. I suppose if he is cheap enough, he is worth a spring training invite.
Willingham would be a game changer in our lineup (I honestly think it is ridiculous how the Nats must rate him to want him gone), but I fear Washington’s pricetag may be too high.
Still, I would be interested to see what we’d have to offer for him. Willingham is a FA after the 2011 season. To fit this move into Timmy’s ‘how does this help us rebuild’ criterion, he is currently rated as a prospective Type A player (a lot can change in a season though).
I’m also looking at his defensive statistics and they look pretty poor.
On the more general point of ‘payroll cutting’ I’ve got to believe the payroll will be around $80m in 2011, and that any moving on of Lindstrom (I don’t believe Keppinger will be moved), will be motivated by the need to add a piece that could be used in a subsequent trade, or traded for like-for-like talent.
To conclude: who knows?
You get a defensive upgrade by moving Lee off LF as well ;)
Remember to retire Fin's number, Mark.
"I've had people walk out on me before, but not when I was being so charming."
Kevin Correia signs 2 year deal with Pirates
That is one less pitcher in the pool of Astros’ possibilities.
And sets the market for Tier II pitchers. 4 million may price out a guy like Jeff Francis.
I’m a simple man. I like pretty, dark-haired women and breakfast foods.
--Ron F'ing Swanson
by David Coleman on Dec 7, 2010 9:24 AM CST up reply actions
Hardball Times has a fanciful article on ideas for trading untradeable players. Carlos Lee’s inclusion in the article is viewed by the author as among the least likely trades. As I read it, he suggests that either Carlos Lee or Chone Figgins could be traded to the Mets for Oliver Perez. Without additional money thrown in, it would a financial boom for either the Mariners or Astros, since Perez only has one more year left on his contract. The author thinks that maybe it could work because Oliver Perez is so hated by the fan base.
I have my doubts that Alderson is going to be buffaloed into a bad financial decision because of talk radio. However, this raises another question: if the Astros threw in the difference between Figgins’ and Lee’s contract, would you take a Carlos Lee for Chone Figgins deal? I think I would. Figgins could take over 2d base; I doubt that he is really as bad as he showed last season. The Mariners could use a DH and platoon mate at 1st base, in the form of Carlos Lee. However, if Lee has nixed the Mariners on his no trade list, then this idea goes down the tube.
I would LOVE a Figgins-Lee swap. Still, I see it as very improbable.
by Snake Diggity on Dec 7, 2010 11:08 AM CST up reply actions
As much as i hate to say it....
I think Wade is really counting on Lee to play 1st base and doesn’t want to trade him. I believe (in his mind) the worst thing that could happen is if Wallace is handed the 1st base job and struggles all year. Also, if we trade Lee then we will have even less power and he says he wants to upgrade on offense. While Figgins for Lee is better defensively, athletically, for OBP, speed, etc…. We would lose a middle of the order bat and we just don’t have anything else that resembles that.
I would love that trade…. but I don’t think Wade would!
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