Odds and Ends: Howard, Aardsma, Odalis

Yeah, Aardsma has little MLB value at this point -- considering his 6.40 ERA last year and career 1.61 WHIP.

There's one team that values pitchers like him -- and they just DFA'd him.

If he makes it through to the Jays, I wouldn't mind taking a chance with him. It's already the best bullpen in the league so we don't have to rely on him for anything if it doesn't work out. I think Arnsberg can help him locate his slider. Arnsy has done wonders with the rest of the staff.

Why do the Phillies continue to treat Ryan Howard like crap? Just pay the man already! He won the NL ROTY in 2005 in literally half a season and has averaged 52 HRs, 142 RBI with a .290/.408/.621/1.030 line as a full-time player in 2006 and 2007. Why didn't they offer him an extension after his rookie season considering how pricey he's going to get through arbitration?

Dan Miceli, if you are reading this I just want you to know that I still blame you and Pete Munro for killing the Astros playoff drive in 2004. Why couldnt we have the 2004 playoff offense and the 2005 playoff pitching!

Humor me here, I dont have a playoff berth to look forward to until at least 2013.

I think we should definetely condsider aardsma an asset. I think that if I had a weak bullpen, and I was looking for some depth, I would definetly take a look at aardsma. It is ashame that we can't atleast give him one more chance, because his option is up and he is being passed up by other Sox pitching prospects on the depth chart like Perez,Day,Vasquez. He would a good fit on the astros. Maybe even the d-backs. How about Aardsma for Burke? Both are former top prospects that have not panned out so far. I know Burke was just traded to the d-backs, but they will resign o-dog, and Burke might be able to break out at the cell. As for Aardsma, I think moving out of the AL Central and into the NL would benifet him. He can still reach 99 mph on the gun, and might end up turning into a closer, and replace Velverde, although Pena seems like a better option at the moment. I know I might be streching the potential of these players, but potential is still there.

Aardsma will more than likely be traded for a Low-A borderline prospect and get an Invite to ST with his new club. He cant hold much value to other teams because he is the epitome of “we have to have someone better in our system we could use than to trade for that guy”.

…I am somewhat on the same page as GoTribe though, and wouldn’t be surprised to see him resurface in a couple years somewhere to find some success (ala Bobby Horwy, but maybe not to that extent)