Houston Chronicle: Lidge For Blalock?
Jose De Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle mentions this morning that the Rangers are asking the Astros about Brad Lidge, and that Hank Blalock could be part of a deal.
Such a trade would really pile on the third basemen for Houston, who already have Morgan Ensberg and Aubrey Huff. Ensberg is on the road to recovery from a shoulder injury, but Huff can play the outfield corners or first base.
If the Astros complete this trade, would Ensberg pass through waivers for a trade at a later date? Maybe the 'Stros plan on moving him once he shows his shoulder is ok.
Posted by: astrosfanfromNY | July 30, 2006 at 10:05 AM
I read where it was Wilkerson for Lidge. Blalock makes no sense, unless Ensberg was going to be moved too in another trade. Wilkserson makes no sense, because the Astros already have him...Preston Wilson.
Posted by: Darin | July 30, 2006 at 10:24 AM
Good points Darin!!
Posted by: astrosfanfromNY | July 30, 2006 at 10:27 AM
"The Red Sox didn't make the deal I was told about yesterday. Was my source wrong or did things change, keeping the expected deal from happening? I'm not sure yet. Gordon Edes reported on the offer of Coco Crisp to the White Sox for Mark Buehrle, one of many offers that the Red Sox have made. There's a grand strategy there, but I can't see it yet. The Sox are also closing in on a deal for Julio Lugo, according to sources with other teams. The holdup there is getting an answer on whether Lugo would move to 2B. The backup option for the Red Sox is Dustin Pedroia, not Ron Belliard."
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=5361
Posted by: Kramerica Industries | July 30, 2006 at 11:10 AM
The deal with the Rangers is for Brad Wilkerson. Why would the Astros trade Lidge for Wilkerson? Even with Lidge's struggles, he is still worth more than a lousy Wilkerson by himself. Brad Wilkerson hasn't been worth anything to anyone. If the Rangers want to package Wilkerson AND Blalock for some players, maybe I would consider, but NOT with Wilkerson alone.
Posted by: WhartonEric | July 30, 2006 at 11:42 AM
Where have you heard the Wilkerson rumor? I read on the Rangers' site that they are going to try and move Blalock due due to his inconsistant hitting against lefties. The article on thier site says that Blalock will be sitting more. I haven't heard anything about wilkerson. That would be a stupid move on the Astros as it would cause a logjam in the outfield. Unless there is a third team being kept quite right now...
Posted by: astrosfanfromNY | July 30, 2006 at 11:51 AM
ESPN just said that it was for Wilkerson, not Blalock. I thought it was for Blalock, as well. Lidge for Wilkerson doesn't make any sense and is way unbalanced.
Posted by: WhartonEric | July 30, 2006 at 12:03 PM
Blalock for Tom Niedenfuer Jr? You gotta take that.
Posted by: MarkPrior'sSkirt | July 30, 2006 at 12:05 PM
Obviously, this Lidge deal is contingent on whether the Tejada deal goes through. That way Huff moves to RF and Blalock would play third.
However, wouldn't it be smarter to groom Lamb as the everyday 3B for the Astros since he's better offensively?
Posted by: jopatura | July 30, 2006 at 12:20 PM
Maybe Houston flips Blalock in a package to the Orioles for Tejada?
Posted by: baseballfiles | July 30, 2006 at 12:21 PM
Mike Lamb is not everyday 3B material. Good in a pinch or fill in situation, but he lacks solid everyday defence. Again, fliping blalock to the O's makes no sence, due to Mora in place. A flip to another team could be in the works, but who for who?
Posted by: astrosfanfromNY | July 30, 2006 at 01:27 PM
Houston should counter with Lidge, Pence and Burke for Teixeira
Posted by: Darin | July 30, 2006 at 01:40 PM
I heard the trade was for Blalock! What i would do is make the Lidge trade for blalock, put blalock at 3B, Huff RF, and take Luke Scott out of the starting position. Then i would make a trade for Soriano, not Tejada, and it would be for morgan ensberg, and maybe Pence.
Then put Soriano at LF, and make Preton Wilson move to CF, and make Burke and Taveras switch every once in a while with Wilson at CF. They could also then put Wheeler at RP. They could also trade Taveras and Burke for some more RPs
Posted by: ASTROSfan | July 30, 2006 at 03:32 PM
They need more then Burke and Tavarez for RP
Posted by: Kramerica Industries | July 30, 2006 at 03:45 PM
"I heard the trade was for Blalock! What i would do is make the Lidge trade for blalock, put blalock at 3B, Huff RF, and take Luke Scott out of the starting position. Then i would make a trade for Soriano, not Tejada, and it would be for morgan ensberg, and maybe Pence.
Then put Soriano at LF, and make Preton Wilson move to CF, and make Burke and Taveras switch every once in a while with Wilson at CF. They could also then put Wheeler at RP. They could also trade Taveras and Burke for some more RPs"
ASTROSfan - I like that your thinking, but I see some flaws in your logic.
Why would the Nats want Ensberg? They already have a phenom 3rd sacker in Ryan Zimmerman.
Also, Preston Wilson is no longer an everyday CF'er or for that matter, much of an everyday anything.
And unless the offer blew my doors off, no way I'm parting with Chris Burke!!
Posted by: astrosfanfromNY | July 30, 2006 at 03:47 PM
Even if the Nationals didn't have Zimmerman, they probably wouldn't want a slumping 3rd baseman over 30 that's still on the DL.
The only team I see Soriano going to is the Angels, since they're full of big-time prospects..I doubt that the Astros are willing to part with what the Nationals are asking for..
Posted by: texasrangers | July 30, 2006 at 08:44 PM
It looks like the Astros are out of the running for Tejada* so I'd be mightily surprised if they deal Lidge to Texas at this point. If the O's want Blalock, I think they'll need to deal directly with the Rangers.
*See: http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5831512
The Nats don't need Ensberg, but Willy Taveras or Pence would be welcome I imagine.
Posted by: baseballfiles | July 31, 2006 at 08:27 AM