Astros Discussing Jose Contreras

First off, my apologies for the confusion in my last post.  Let's set the record straight about this Astros/White Sox thing.

My source wasn't referring to the Astros' interest in Miguel Tejada, but rather Jose Contreras.  Baltimore likes the righthander, but Houston covets him as well.  The Sox are talking to the Astros currently, but have no interest in Brad Lidge.  Their reasoning:  they believe in the young, cheap Bobby Jenks.  The Sox also have concerns about Lidge's future health after piling on the innings as well as his impending large salary.  That all makes sense; the Sox have no reason to acquire another closer.

Another clarification: the player the Sox are considering for Contreras is Willy Taveras.  The additional prospects are unknown.  Given the massive salary gap between Jose Contreras and Taveras, this deal would free up cash to be used for reinforcements at the trading deadline.  As mentioned before, the White Sox are willing to go up to a $105MM payroll.

Some more quality tidbits on the White Sox's interest in Miguel Tejada:

Chicago's offers are non-negotiable.  If Tejada is traded, the deal will be completed within the next two weeks.  Other interested clubs are still submitting and refining their proposals. 

Comments

[Nick]

No problem RumorMonger- it happens! Anyway, Willy T fro Jose? I am not sure about this deal if I am Houston...willy has good upside, good CF, Young, Cheap....Contrares....older, more expensive...and have a gut feeling that he cant really get better, but just maintain where he is at, and that is a ? in itself. Right now Houston has two spots on its rotation after Roy O, Andy and Backe....these spots can be filled by Astacio, Rodriguez, Nieve, Hirsh or Patton. Roger will be back in May, and the best of the above would then take the fifth spot in the rotation.
If Contrares was to come aboard, Roy O, Andy, Backe, Roger, Contrares...a good line up for sure...but for Willy T? Not sure. If Willy T did move in the deal, Chris Burke would go to center I would think.

[LJ]

I agree with you Nick. I wouldn't do this. Willy has too much upside and will be cheap for years to come. Also not sure which Contreras we would get. The Chicago one or the New York one. The only way I would trade Willy is for a big bat. I could see Burke playing center for that. If the offense is improved I think Clemens will be back in May or June. We wouldn't need another starter then. If we trade Willy for another pitcher and do not improve the offense, I don't think Clemens will be back at all.

[Nick]

LJ-Intrestingly, looking at RumorMonger writing it seems that Houston has offered Willy and Chicago is the one considering it. Hmmm.

[DrBox]

In 592 at bats, Taveras had a mere 3 homers and an extremely meager 25 walks. Neither of these stats is likely to improve, which makes him a marginal offensive player. If you don't have power, you really need some plate discipline to compenaste for it, and Taveras doesn't have it. How do you see this guy improving?

[Carmen Fanzone]

Without looking back to minor league results, I imagine the reason the 'Stros might consider this is Taveras' abysmal 25 walks over 592 AB's in his rookie year. At first glance, you think for the White Sox, Podsednik - Taveras would be a nice 1-2 punch, and allow Iguchi to drop down into the 6 hole as he apparently prefers.

But while speed is nice, you need to get on to use it - if the Astros are pushing this, either they have a glut of outfielders (and another leadoff hitter lined up for after Biggio), or they just don't believe Taveras has that much upside. Not to mention that supposedly the strength of the Sox farm system on the position player side is outfielders.

[Nick]

Houston has outfielders ready to go now...Burke and Scott are both players that are ready to play...Burke would go to CF in Willy went.

Houston does have guys to step in...also, reguarding Willy improving....I was not speaking about that from a power standpoint...Willy does all they need him to on the defensive side and also SB, side, also a .300 average...what he needs to improve and can is plate dicipline and stirke zone management....(taking more walks) I know it can be done...when I played in College it was something I had to do after my freshman year after I swung outta my shoes all year since it could be done in High School. Willy is Young, Cheap and has upside. Contraes is the oppsite of all of the above, expensive, older and doesnt have upside.

..one small side note is Tavares is a Boras guy. Houston is one of those teams that do not want to deal with him or his clients...not sure if this is much of a factor, willy will be cheap for a while.

[LJ]

I don't agree that Houston has outfieders ready to go. Scott has not proven he can do it on the major league level. He has torn up AAA, but not the majors. He would make a nice 4th outfielder to see if he can handle major league pitching, but please don't count on him being a starter right away. If he does hit well you may be able to make a deal after the season starts. Burke would probably give the same type of numbers Willy does. Those numbers from a center fielder are ok, but not from a corner outfieler. That's why I wouldn't mind seeing him play in Willy's place if we can get a big bat somewhere.

As far as Willy's upside, don't even look at any power numbers. He doesn't and never should try to hit that way. He CAN improve on walks and OBP. He has plenty of speed for steals and defense. He just needs to learn how to use it better. He made a big jump from AA last year. The only reason he was in the majors is because they had nobody else to use. He did more than anyone expected. It's crazy to think he can't improve in year 2.

[sturt]

I've heard this twice now on internet boards that Taveras' agent is Boras, but I have yet to find any thing to support that.

There was a time in the not-so-distant past that if you were an Astro and you signed with Boras, you were summarily not on the roster the following year -- and I'm talking pretty much anything pre-Beltran. Hunsicker didn't like dealing with him either.

Couldn't surprise anyone that McLane has re-established that premise.

[sturt]

No one in Houston is putting their eggs in the Luke Scott basket just yet.

And the release of Vizcaino signals an intention to get Burke back to the infield regularly this season.

The next OF in-line is Josh Anderson, but Anderson is by all accounts a year away.

All of which hints at why the Preston Wilson rumors are getting some play.

What's got to concern GM Purpura is that his line-up can't get much more right-handed, and that he doesn't have but the normal complement of lefties on the bench (3).

He absolutely loves Lane, and seemingly takes particular joy in the fact that he resisted temptation and stuck with Lane in 05.

But at the moment, I have to think that there are not any untouchables on the Astros entire roster with the exceptions of the B's, Pettitte, and Oswalt.

[Darin]

"Burke would probably give the same type of numbers Willy does."

Um no, Burke's a gap line drive hitter with much more pop in his bat. Willie sweeps with one hand trying to put everything on the ground so that he can use his Flash Gordon speed and out run the throw from the Short Stop.

[Nick]

Darwin...Your correct...Willy and Burke are not the same player. I think Burke is a 12-15 HR guy...Tavares is maybe 3...also as you mentioned a gap hitter, that can still get on via the infield single also.

As far as Luke Scott goes....the kid needs time at the MLB level and playing everyday. Last year he got the start and of course, showed the kind of presence you would expect in a AA to the MLB jump. Tavares is an exception, not the rule. Luke Scott needs more time, trust me, being at that level, getting the nerves out...etc...will go a long way...if Scott can get the oppertunity he will start to show at the MLB level what he has at the AAA level and also killing the ball in the winter leagues this year.

Also, Hunter Pence should start to knock on the door soon. The kid is too good to be held in the mow minors...he needs to get up around the AAA level now as a possible call up and for sure next year to be ready to go...

[LJ]

""Burke would probably give the same type of numbers Willy does."

Um no, Burke's a gap line drive hitter with much more pop in his bat. Willie sweeps with one hand trying to put everything on the ground so that he can use his Flash Gordon speed and out run the throw from the Short Stop."

True, just meant to say they are both more top of the order guys with speed, not power hitters.

[Overrated]

Willy Taveras has no power and no plate discipline. I suppose you can bulk up and learn a bit of patience, but he'll never even be average in either category. Sure, he had a good number of steals, but his success rate was nothing out of this world. Yes, he's young and cheap, but so am I and I wouldn't want the Astros (or the WhiteSox for that matter) to line me up in CF. I think his .666 OPS should matter more than his low payroll figure or his age. Contreras might not be worth much since he's old and expensive, but he's worth more than Taveras.

[Nick]

Willy does not need to bulk up and try to become Willy Mays Hayes. He bulks up, he looses speed and defensive ability. Plate dicipline comes with experence, MLB exprence. This is something that can and will improve with him. I think Willy can be a good OB% guy in the future...but bulking up is the last thing he needs to do.

[DePaul]

Back to Borass. Kenny Williams also refuse to negotiate with Borass clients. The exception being Joe Crede who will have to change agents if he wants to remain on the team.

[A-ROD]

What position of the SoX: SS, 3B, & CF need to be significantly addressed (upgraded)???
My personnel belief is that it would be 3B since J. Crede is up for arbitration. The SoX do not like going to arbitration especially since his agent is Scott Boras.

Potential Replacements at 3B: H. Blalock
How much better is he though??? (In regards to what extent does Arlington inflate his stats.)

[James]

While those are the weak positions for the Sox, they aren't exactly big weaknesses. Crede is a huge fan favorite, and Blalock is awful on the road. I'm not sure if that can be interpreted as anywhere but Arlington, and the Cell can be his new home, but his splits don't look so hot.

[DrBox]

Crede has 3 more years before Boras is a factor.
Blalock is mediocre.

[CickDlark]

Happy New Year's everyone!

[Matt]

Here's the latest on the Tejada trade rumors per Phil Rogers column this morning in The Chicago Tribune. This is a guy who is sometimes right on with his columns and sometimes way off so take it for what its worth. He says expect Tejada to be traded sometime in the next week. The Orioles will probably take one of two routes. The first is to trade Tejada for the most equivalent of major league talent. He mentions the teams that would have the inside track to acquiring him with this route would be the Red Sox (probably would be a 3 way) and their offer of Manny and Clement. The other team would be the White Sox and their offer of Contreras (could be interchanged with Garcia or Vazquez), Uribe, and a prospect. The other route that could happen is the Orioles trade some of their top prospects for pitching help in a last ditch effort to convince Tejada to stay. The top 2 teams in this case would be the A's and The White Sox since those are the only teams with a surplus in starting pitching and could afford to trade one of their top 3 or 4 and get high level prospects in return. Phil went on to mention that teams that have been in on Tejada discussions, but seem unlikely to acquire him at this point are the Angels, Mets and Cubs. He said the Cubs are probably the least likely of these three to acquire him because of their reluctance to throw in Zambrano instead of Prior, their insistance the Orioles give up a starter (Bedard) in return, and as well as their insistance the Orioles take Corey Patterson with this same deal and if the Cubs could pull off a Tejada trade without giving up Prior or Zambrano, it would likely cost them Pie, Hill, Cedeno and possibly another top prospect which he indicates the Cubs are unlikely to go for.

[Misty]

According to today's Houston Chronicle, the Astros have made offers to Preston Wilson and Jeromy Burnitz. It said the Astros could very well announce signing one of the two as early as today.

Burnitz in a way makes more sense (leftie power bat) than Wilson as we already have Willy Taveras in Center and Jason Lane in right. Depending on the Bagwell situation, Berkman will play Left or 1B. Only thing that seems to makes sense it that the Astros plan on shipping out Willy T to Chicago for Contreras (Willy is also coincidently the only Boras client on the Astros squad) or maybe pack Lane to Baltimore as part of a trade for Tejada.

[Misty]

Or maybe both Lane and Taveras are traded...by signing either Wilson or Burnitz, the Astros could get their 4th starting pitcher in Contreras AND Tejada by shipping off Lane, Everett, Astacio to Baltimore. Burke would end up playing Center if Burnitz is signed and possibly RF if Wilson is signed. Purpura has said on many occasions that he wants Burke to get more playing time in 2006. With Biggio still entrenched at 2B, it's not likely to happen in the infield. Burke doesn't have the arm to play short stop. This move would also address BOTH of Clemens' concerns and would almost garauntee his return in May/June.