Latest On Lidge

Today brings four new articles mentioning ousted Houston closer Brad Lidge.  MLBTradeRumors reads them so you don't have to.

Ken Davidoff of Newsday simply drops one sentence on the topic, writing that Lidge is not available for the moment.  Well, that's a start.

Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger names Lidge one of his "Five Closers Who Had A Tough Week."  I really think Ugueth Urbina belongs at #6.  Graziano mentions that the Devil Rays have been one of the most aggressive teams calling on Tim Purpura for Lidge, but that the Astros have shown no eagerness to trade him.

Speaking of those Devil Rays, Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times is well-connected to the club as the beat writer.  He says Lidge trade chatter is ongoing, but that if the Astros do decide to trade him they might avoid the Rays.  Why's that?  Former Astros pitching coach Jim Hickey might be able to fix him, and the Astros don't want to be shown up in a trade.  In essence, they want Lidge to continue to fail if they trade him. 

Side note: I couldn't figure out a good destination for Jorge Cantu, ultimately leaning toward the Mets.  But Topkin says the Blue Jays and Twins have come up in rumors in the media.  I didn't catch those articles, but maybe he is referring to reporter chatter.

Scott Lauber of the Wilmington News Journal again connects the Phillies to Lidge.  I'm starting to think he's got more than speculation there.  Lauber feels that Lidge needs a change of scenery, but obviously the Astros are reluctant to sell low.

Comments

[xxxJamesxxx]

Lieber for Lidge might serve both teams well. Houston needs SP, Lieber is a league average SP currently in the bullpen, and Lidge needs to get out of Houston. There wouldn't be pressure on him to close in Philly, or even set up, he could pitch the 7th inning and in the event of Gordon going down and Alfonseca sucking, he could close games with little pressure, since he'd be basically forced into the role.

Phillies can add a B- prospect to the deal or cover the other 2 million owed to Lieber.

[wihargo]

I could see the Twins taking a shot at Cantu if the price is low enough. Maybe he could give them a bit more power than they have been getting out of the DH spot so far.

[Deviation]

The idea that the Twins have interest in Cantu just mystifies me. Jason Kubel (the Twins current DH) is miles above Cantu when it comes to hitting talent and Cantu is so poor defensively that I can't ever see the Twins having interest in him - it's not like he adds the kind of power that a Soriano would have and I'm starting to think people mention the Twins and Cantu in the same sentence just because the Twins were in the mix for Soriano for a couple of seasons.

[boomshwa12]

i agree with you about the lidge for lieber proposal james, especially since the stros just put jennings on the dl. i think the phillies would need to add a pretty good prospect to seal the deal though, preferably a young catcher if they have one.

[plh903]

I wouldn't mind Cantu taking the right-handed share of the 2B AB in St. Louis. Kennedy is a terrific defender, hits right-handers well, just doesn't hit lefties for shit. Cantu is right-handed, and well, I don't think the team should be concerned about the defense -- ignoring LF, it should be stellar.

Or maybe I just hate Aaron Miles that much. That's probably it actually.

[zubes007]

Lidge is the Oliver Perez of relievers...I think like the Pirates did for Perez, the Astros will look for a major-league contributor, not a prospect (b/c no team will give them a good prospect).

[touchmymonkey]

How about Lidge ending up on the Yankees? They can then shift Proctor to starting rotation ( I beleieve they were prepping him in ST to start). Might have to get 3rd team involved - not sure Yanks would give up anything Astros would want. Lidge to Farnsworth to Rivera has potential

[mitch4ya]

As a Stros fan, thanks but no thanks on Lieber, watched him pitch in the Phils-Stros series and I think he looked way worse than Lidge. Even the outs he managed to get were hard hit. Rather see Lidge go to the rays for some 3rd base prospect plus a pitching prospect.

[Marvel]

I really like Jim Hickey but you have to remember Jim Hickey was the Astros pitching coach last year, if he could have fixed Lidge, he would have done it then and would still have his job.
Even with Lidge performing as poorly as he did last year, I don't understand why they let Hickey go. Pitching was the Astros strength last year. I guess Garner and Purpura needed a scapegoat.