Houston Astros : Villarreal for Anderson

by Stros Bro on Nov 16, 2007 4:27 PM CST in News

The Houston Astros announced today that the club has acquired right-handed pitcher Oscar Villarreal from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for outfielder Josh Anderson. The Astros also signed outfielder Yordany Ramirez, formerly of the San Diego organization, to a Major League contract that includes a spot on the 40-man roster. The announcement was made by Astros General Manager Ed Wade.

From here.

Well... Wade is at least trying I guess... and from looking at Ramirez's stats, he seems to be a pretty good pitcher... Should help with the bullpen, althrough he doesn't fill our need for a closer. Losing Josh Anderson doesn't really bother me much. He was good last season while up, but he wasn't really destined for super-star status...

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Here....

...is a clip of Yordany Ramirez making a couple of plays in center field that I found on YouTube

by AstroAndy on Nov 16, 2007 4:32 PM CST reply actions

Ramirez is the outfielder

Villarreal is the pitcher.

First glance, I like both moves. I know Anderson lit it up in September, but I've heard many places where he's not regarded as an everyday MLB player, so we probably sold high on him. Don't kow much about Villarreal, but like his numbers from first glance. He was brought up and performed well as a 21-year old rookie, so you'd think that means he's got great natural stuff.

Sounds like Ramirez is a younger, better Anderson, but only his recent offensive stats come anywhere close to Anderson (looking at them both at Baseball Cube). i don't know. maybe it's a wash between the two, but possibly Ramirez is better defensively (not that Anderson is any slouch in the field).

not sure what it means that Ramirez was signed to a major league contract. i guess that means if he's sent to AAA, this will be an option year for him. unless they're not 100% on Bourn (which they'd better be), i can't see why they'd have him ride the pine in Houston.

by littlevisigoth on Nov 16, 2007 5:04 PM CST reply actions

Perhaps a major league

contract was required to sign him, given that several other teams were after Ramirez.

by clack on Nov 16, 2007 8:38 PM CST up reply actions

Yordany Ramirez

Ramirez looks very good on paper. I can't figure out why San Diego let him go (assuming they did). Any insights?

Ed Wade may not improve the Astros but you got to give him credit for trying. (What a disastrous 3-year reign Timmy P's years were)

Keeping Warm During Hot Stove Season

by Joe in Birmingham on Nov 16, 2007 5:06 PM CST reply actions

6th year minor league free agent

he's been professional since he was 17, so he's free to sign wherever he wants. wonder what we paid for him and how many other teams were bidding.

by littlevisigoth on Nov 16, 2007 5:11 PM CST up reply actions

Agree on Wade

sure seems to have a plan and be working hard to implement it and mold this franchise to his vision. with all the complaints lately (founded or not) about the 'stros not moving their younger talent up quickly, i wonder how much that will change with Wade. Ramirez is young and Villarreal has been in the league since he was 21. Does that indicate an inclination to younger talent at the MLB level?

Also, he may be under directive from above to at least make a bunch of noise and at least give the perception that we're working to put the best product on the field possible. a bit different than the T-Purp, let's just wait and see and stick with all the same 'ol, same 'ol philosophy.

by littlevisigoth on Nov 16, 2007 5:18 PM CST up reply actions

Wade was assistant

to the Padres' GM. So he was in a good position to know the Padres' evaluation of Ramirez.

by clack on Nov 16, 2007 8:33 PM CST up reply actions

Wade

I'm really impressed with his aggressiveness - it seems to me that we got a guy who (if a free agent this year) would be one of those 3 yr, 10 mil guys for a guy destined to be a career pinch-runner/late-inning defensive replacement. It really never hurts to have an extra arm in the 'pen.

And, as a hippie, I like Wade's (purposely or not...) influx of diversity...our first starting black player in A LONG TIME and a Mexican (he actually is from Mexico)...it's nice to see some non-white faces on the ballfield.

Remember, we didn't lose 90 games this year, so there's still hope.

by astromaniac on Nov 16, 2007 7:02 PM CST reply actions

Hey, Hippie :-)

Put this in your rainbow-colored pipe and smoke it:

Last American black player to play in 135 or more games for the Houston Astros:

(drum roll, please)

Daryle Ward in 2002

Before that, Derek Bell in 1998

and looks like the last Mexican player to get into at least 120 games for the Astros was the Mullet himself, Vinny Castilla.

Cortisone shots: Not just for overpaid athletes anymore.

by rastronomicals on Nov 16, 2007 7:13 PM CST up reply actions

LOL

Rainbow colored pipe... :p

Does Wade have any ties to the Braves? :p

Lee, Pence, Scott in '08

by entropic soul on Nov 16, 2007 8:46 PM CST up reply actions

by clack on Nov 17, 2007 2:37 PM CST reply actions

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