![]() |
|
|
| |
« Braves Near Peavy Deal? | Main | Cubs Focused On Lefthanded Bat »
THURSDAY: Wolf told KRIV-TV in Houston last night that he's flattered by the Astros' efforts, but he plans to test the market. His main goal is playing for a winning team, and he says his urge to play on the West Coast is overstated. Astros GM Ed Wade says he'll look at alternatives starting Friday.
WEDNESDAY, 5:30pm: The Astros also made an offer to reliever Doug Brocail. His agent says about a dozen teams have inquired, the Red Sox among them. The Astros would also like to re-sign Mark Loretta, but conversations have not yet begun.
1:46pm: According to Brian McTaggart of the Houston Chronicle, the Astros made an offer to free agent lefty Randy Wolf. They're hoping to get him signed before he hits the open market Friday.
Wolf, 32, tossed 190.1 innings of 4.30 ball for the Padres and Astros this year. According to Ken Rosenthal, at least six other teams have expressed in Wolf already. He could pull in a three-year deal north of $30MM.
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d834515b9a69e2010535e9d4f8970b
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Wolf Will Test Market:


|
|
What has the world come to when Randy Wolf is pulling in 3 years and $30 million...sigh..
Posted by: metzfan22 | November 12, 2008 at 01:49 PM
good that Stros are tryin before he gets a ridiculous offer.wait.......nevermind. I do like the way he pitched for us last year though. Bring em back!
Posted by: AstrosCoverage.blogspot.com | November 12, 2008 at 01:50 PM
You think the worlds financial markets need corrected.....better take a look at MLB to. I suppose Scott Elarton could make a cool 6 million if he comes back.
Posted by: chiefRoyal1 | November 12, 2008 at 01:52 PM
I don't really like Wolf, but it just makes sense for the Astros to try and sign him. After all they really have no depth in the minors to rely on and they probably won't be able to reel in a Burnett.
Maybe they could get Sheets though?
Posted by: myost88 | November 12, 2008 at 01:54 PM
If the Astros sign both Wolf and Sheets, they are good to go.
Posted by: tehasguard | November 12, 2008 at 02:03 PM
Come on back Wolfie!!!! I would love to have him back in an Astros Uniform.... And then Wade could go after Pettitte/Sheets/Hampton....
And myost- I don't think the Astros have a shot a Burnett/Lowe because they want to be on the west or east coast.
Posted by: elcaballofan08/09 | November 12, 2008 at 02:03 PM
If Wolf's going rate is 10M a year, the Astros would be much better off going for a bigger fish like Burnett, Sheets or Lowe for a few extra million.
Wolf might give Ed Wade a discount, though. I wouldn't be surprised to see something like 3/21.
Posted by: bigpat | November 12, 2008 at 02:06 PM
I would be extremely surprised if McClane put up 3 for 30 for Wolf. I think he should be right around there, but Drayton is going to low-ball him as much as possible and in the end he is going to end up in NY for some ridiculous offer
myost88-Why don't you like Wolf? He is an innings eater and had a good run in Houston.
Posted by: H-Town-Baller | November 12, 2008 at 02:08 PM
I guess don't like was the wrong choice of words. Don't trust would be more appropriate. He always seems like he is going to put in a good full season and then the injury bug bites him. I'll admit he did perform well for Houston last season.
Posted by: myost88 | November 12, 2008 at 02:24 PM
I don't know H, Drayton seemed to like Wolf and do remember we have a different GM then Purpura, Wade really like Wolf.... So hopefully Wolf will be back in brick red for a few yrs.
Posted by: elcaballofan08/09 | November 12, 2008 at 02:31 PM
Drayton also liked Beltran and look where that landed him.... He never wants to pony up the bucks and is never the highest bidder. He gave Lee 100, but Lee was offered more from another team. Drayton benefited from Lee wanting to be close to his ranch
Posted by: H-Town-Baller | November 12, 2008 at 02:42 PM
I don't see Wolf landing in New York, unless by New York you might be referring to the Mets?
He's not really the kind of player the Yanks are looking for right now. And if they sign CC they might not go for another lefty.
The only way I see Wolf playing outside of Houston, is if one of the west coast teams offers him a deal. I'm sure he'd like to pitch for the Angels.
Posted by: myost88 | November 12, 2008 at 02:43 PM
Wolf is what he is, which isn't much really. I like the guy and think he's a descent enough pitcher but his value takes a hit because of his durability. He did get through the season though in '08 so maybe that's behind him now? Who knows. Seems like a risky signing for a team like the 'Stro's who really need some pitching.
Gotta give Ed Wade credit for picking up Wolf when he did. It was and still is a stupid move but you can't argue that Wolf did well for Houston and they got back in the race. I'm not saying Wolf is the reason they got back in the race but he certainly helped. The thing is, lightning in a bottle isn't easy to duplicate and if I recall (without looking it up) Wolf is a flyball pitcher and the Juice Box isn't kind to left-handed flyballers... Wade needs to go after a Sheets or Pettite type just to hedge his bet a little.
Posted by: pageian | November 12, 2008 at 02:47 PM
4th starter with 190 IP and a 4 ERA - That is worth about 7 mil in todays market. If the 'Stros can get him for that, it'll be a nice signing.
Posted by: B3NG4L | November 12, 2008 at 02:54 PM
H- Wait a minute, we would have signed Beltran but do remember he and his Agent.... Boras "weren't" talking to teams, while they were and also Boras was a total a-hole to Drayton.
Pageian- Yes Wolf is a fly ball pitcher, so is Wandy.... And last yr Wolf proved he could pitch at MMP. I think our lefties( Wandy and Wolf) gave up less home runs then our righties(Oswalt,Moehler,Backe). But I do agree Wade should go after Sheets or Pettitte.
Posted by: elcaballofan08/09 | November 12, 2008 at 02:55 PM
geeezzzzzussss, if Randy Wolf gets 3/30 million; Sabathia is gonna need one of those Oversized Novelty Checks just to fit the zeros.
If the Stros have 30 million to dump on 3 years of a pitcher, they should go with someone a little more talented.
Wolf isn't a bad pitcher, but he certainly isn't good enough to warrant that kind of money.
Posted by: baxter4218 | November 12, 2008 at 03:02 PM
"4th starter with 190 IP and a 4 ERA - That is worth about 7 mil in todays market. If the 'Stros can get him for that, it'll be a nice signing. "
Posted by: B3NG4L | November 12, 2008 at 02:54 PM
REALLY?
Tim Wakefield - 4.13 ERA, 1.18WHIP, 181 IP
Red Sox will re-up Wake at $4Million this year.
Forget age for a second...and consider over the last few seasons, Wakefield has given the Red Sox plenty of IP, while Wolf has been an injury plagued arm.
If Wolf at 3yr and $7 Million is a good deal, Wakefield at $4million is an astronomically great deal.
Posted by: baxter4218 | November 12, 2008 at 03:20 PM
Yes, because Tim Wakefield is a relevant indicator of what a free agent should make. Here's a hint: when a player only wants to play for one team, and offers to resign every year at 4 million, that does not mean that he has set the entire market for pitchers of his caliber.
Posted by: seanbergmanrules | November 12, 2008 at 03:29 PM
^
lol
Posted by: Kenan and Kel | November 12, 2008 at 03:42 PM
my- I was referring to the Mets, sorry for the confusion. I, as an Astros fan, would like to see him back. But I have a feeling Drayton sees him as a number 2. When in reality he is a 3 or 4. And I think 10 mill for Wolf is about right because that is what he is going to get offered by other teams.
Posted by: H-Town-Baller | November 12, 2008 at 04:06 PM
Houston will most likely sign Wolf. Ed Wade has a man crush on him and it will probably cost the 'stros a more legit starter such as Sheets. I would love if they could pick up Wolf and Sheets but like others have pointed out i dont think they have the room on the payroll.
Posted by: facemelter | November 12, 2008 at 04:19 PM
Guess my point didn't come off clearly.
If you look at the IP of Wolf v.s Wakefield, it is pretty absurd that any team is talking this kind of money with Wolf. He is 32 and has only 3 seasons where he reached 200 IP.
He is not exactly the definition of the ideal #4 pitcher who eats innings for a team at this point of his career.
Then again, this is the same Astros mgt that traded Taylor Buchholz/Willy Taveras/Jason Hirsh for Jason Jennings.
So clearly they are solid at evaluating pitching talent.
Posted by: baxter4218 | November 12, 2008 at 04:45 PM
@seanbergmanrules.
Since Wakefield is not a good indicator for you....here is a list of #4 rotation guys with similar numbers to Wolf for less than $7 Million in 2008. (no particular order)
1. Todd Wellemyer - 1 Mill
2. Scott Baker - $422,000
3. Bronson Arroyo -4.25 Mill
4. Tim Wakefield - $4 Mill
5. Oliver Perez - 6.25 Mil
6. Andy Sonnanstine - $399K
7. Jaime Moyer - $6 Mill
8. Jered Weaver - $425K
9. Jesse Litsch -$395K
10. Dave Bush - 2.5 Mil
There are a few more, but a little more then 1/3 of MLB #4 pitchers last season made less than $7Million
The crazy thing is, if you look at that list, the teams that had #4 pitchers making less than $7 Million were fairly successful teams.
Posted by: baxter4218 | November 12, 2008 at 05:05 PM
"Then again, this is the same Astros mgt that traded Taylor Buchholz/Willy Taveras/Jason Hirsh for Jason Jennings.
So clearly they are solid at evaluating pitching talent." - baxter4218
At this point Baxter, I'll recommend you stop your banter. This is not the same management team. Tim Purpura made the Jennings deal, he is no longer in MLB. Currently Ed Wade is the GM of the Astros and had no hand in the deal you are lampooning him for making.
Posted by: Darin | November 12, 2008 at 05:45 PM
Baxter... most of those guys are still under team control and haven't hit free agency yet, so they also don't really mean anything in trying to figure out Wolf's value.
Posted by: nrmax88 | November 12, 2008 at 05:51 PM
So Baxter, looking at what the Devil Rays paid Longoria last year, and what the Cardinals paid Pujols, I guess the Cardinals got ripped off on that deal, huh?
Posted by: seanbergmanrules | November 12, 2008 at 06:05 PM
uh baxter...that was purpora............
Posted by: AstrosCoverage.blogspot.com | November 12, 2008 at 06:18 PM
baxter4218,
Do you think you before you leave comments? Or do you just fire away?
Jason Jennings had some solid numbers (at Coors Field, none the less) before he came to Houston that would've suggested he was a solid SP. What the numbers didn't show, and what he didn't reveal was that he was suffering from an elbow injury that eventually made him a disaster. His first game with the Astros would've made you think he was a great #2 behind Oswalt. If I remember, he had 7 K's in 6 IP. I don't think anyone predicted the melt-down that later ensued.
Posted by: thered86 | November 12, 2008 at 09:01 PM
once again...The whole beginning point was that Wade made bad decisions for the Astros.........the thing is THAT WAS PURPORA
Posted by: AstrosCoverage.blogspot.com | November 13, 2008 at 09:25 AM
"Then again, this is the same Astros mgt that traded Taylor Buchholz/Willy Taveras/Jason Hirsh for Jason Jennings.
So clearly they are solid at evaluating pitching talent." see!
Posted by: AstrosCoverage.blogspot.com | November 13, 2008 at 09:29 AM
"Wolf might give Ed Wade a discount, though. I wouldn't be surprised to see something like 3/21."
Or he could give a discount to come back to his old stomping grounds and play for a champion...
Eh probably not but I'd take him
Posted by: wayne gomes | November 13, 2008 at 09:38 AM
3/30 is fair market value for Wolf.
I think it would be a stupid deal, but its fair market value.
Posted by: melonis rex | November 13, 2008 at 09:55 AM
Why would Wolf give Wade a discount? It sounds to me like he is looking for a max offer. If the comments are true that his main goal is to play for a 'winning team', what is that saying to Houston.
Posted by: studio179 | November 13, 2008 at 10:02 AM
"If the comments are true that his main goal is to play for a 'winning team', what is that saying to Houston." - stuido179
Seriously? Doesn't EVERY free agent in the history of mankind always say that they just want to play for a winner, and then when some terrible team tosses rediculous money at them, they quickly forget about how important winning is.
My complaint is that just about every Astro fan (and beat writer) believed that for some reason Randy Wolf was a lock to sign with the Astros. Ed Wade tried signing him last offseason and that didn't work out. So what makes this any different? Because he got to live in Houston for 2 months and that somehow is going to sway him into staying? Look I live in Houston and I love it....it's home. But if I wasn't from here, and had to leave San Diego to go to Houston....I'd be a bit pissed. But hey, I'd never have to search for a taquaria in Houston......
Randy Wolf needs to thank Ed Wade for whatever contract he gets, because had Wolf stayed in San Diego and continued to suck he wouldn't be cashing in this offseason. Kind of how Carlos Beltran should be sending Gerry Hunsicker Christmas cards each year with a gift certificate to Pier 1 or something to say "Thanks for giving me the chance to be a $100M baseball player!"
Posted by: Darin | November 13, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Whatever the motive, the result is not good for Houston if it means they lose him. They really need to sign Wolf (or someone comparable) and one other starter.
Posted by: J the Dizzolla | November 13, 2008 at 11:38 AM
He could really end up being a discount (relative to market) at 3-30...especially if Sheets and Burnett both get 4+ years at 15.
Wolf has always missed bats and appears to be fully healthy again coming off 33 starts
Posted by: wayne gomes | November 13, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Darin, my point had more to do with what Wolf was not saying more than what he was saying.
Posted by: studio179 | November 13, 2008 at 12:13 PM