Cafardo Rumors: Wigginton, Ibanez, Rodney

josh roenicke from the reds and maybe a low level prospect for kelly

Kelly Shoppach should not be exchanged for a closer. If he is to be traded (and I really don't think so), it should either be for infield help or a starting pitcher.

Give the job to Jensen Lewis. Get some middle relief guys on the cheap.

In no way do I even think of Olsen as a centerpiece. He is a soft throwing lefty "which we have an abundance of" with a bad attitude and meh numbers. If I had control I would:
1. Trade Shoppach, an outfielder and a lefty arm for an ace or solid #2.
2. Sign Juan Cruz as back up closer
3. Use prospects to acquire a middle infielder. The farm has definitely improved greatly, and I wouldn't be opposed to shipping off one of our top prospects and a lower level prospect for a solid starting 2b.

To tell you the truth, I think it's great fun to hear the Yankees inquired about Berkman. They need to be thinking 'outside-the-box' and not count on Texeira.
Who are some other, established first basemen who might be had for the right price? ... knowing fielding is a concern or they would just re-sign Giambi. Derrek Lee / Chad Tracy / Adam LaRoche / on a lower-level ... Ross Gload (I say go with Johnny Damon instead of Gload or an internal option like Miranda, though)

Well I have heard Lewis isn't an "untouchable" for the Indians..... Maybe the Astros can pry one of the Indians young pitching prospects for Wiggy?

Wiggy is a lot better then the Indians 3rd baseman... What did he hit a .211?? No Wiggy isn't a A-Rod but he can hit 20-25 home runs, and is pretty good defensively... And also he can play multiple positions if needed.

And the Astros do have players that can play 3rd base..... Blum, if we resign Loretta or Newhan, both can play third and also we have Johnson and Saccamanno that we could bring up from the minors that play 3rd.

chad tracy really wouldn't be a good addition and adam laroche seems to only hit in the second half so a trade deadline deal seems more likely...so neither of those candidates seem likely. However, I think of all the teams that match up well with the brewers for a trade of the PRINCE, I think the yankees are probably the best team

yes that is all true MORNEAUVP, but if manny pulls one boston stunt than Omar Minaya looks like a complete idiot and most likely looses his job...I think they have good trade candidates like Jon Niese and should try to enter any talks invloving Jake Peavy or a corner outfielder like Matt Hollidat

Correct if I'm wrong but weren't there talks a couple of years ago about oswalt being traded to boston

Morneau- it was an example.... I don't think Loretta would play everyday( plus I don't think the Astros will resign him either)

Blum did a surprising job at 3rd when he needed to fill that hole.

And Newhan ... Is a lot faster then Loretta, and would be cheaper... So i see the Astros keeping him...

And I did say we have 2 kids down in the minors that can play 3rd.

What young closer type (besides Papelbon, obviously) do the Red Sox have? And no, Masterson is not a closer type. He's a ROOGY.

"

yes that is all true MORNEAUVP, but if manny pulls one boston stunt than Omar Minaya looks like a complete idiot and most likely looses his job...I think they have good trade candidates like Jon Niese and should try to enter any talks invloving Jake Peavy or a corner outfielder like Matt Hollidat"

Dude. Matt Holliday is the type of move that the Mets should avoid. Their farm system isn't that great. You're giving up a few guys off the list of Jon Niese, Brad Parnell, Brad Holt, Nick Evans, Wilmer Flores, Daniel Murphy, etc.

The Mets have money. Keep the prospects.

yes but the mets are a win-now type franchise that is willing to give up prospects...i.e. JOHAN theres no doubt that the mets would give up maybe 2 of those guys for an all-star corner outfielder

Matt- well.... Its a very complicated place where the Astros are. They were only 3.5 out of the WC in '08.... So IF we say the Astros add a Sheets or if they get this Lewis kid in a grade from the Indians.... They can compete.

Ok Here could be the astros rotation

Oswalt- Ace... Hopefully he stays healthy

Sheets- IF we get him.... Look he was way OVER USED with the Brewers, if he came here and wasnt over used and managed correctly I think he could do well.

Wandy- IF he stayed healthy I canhim eating innings and repeating '08season.

Wolf( if resigned)- innings eater and did well in Houston

And the thing that we can't rebuild is that Lee probably won't Waive his NTC.... Because
1. He wanted to be an Astro for a long time
2. Got rid of Boras so he could play in Houston
3. Is getting paid less in Houston, then say the Giants.
4. Why would anyone want to get rid of a RBI machine?

So if he doesn't want to move, Berkman wouldnt want to move so that more then likely mean Oswalt won't move either... And also Oswalt has said he isn't pitching any more after his contract is up in 3-5 yrs.

So if the Astros pick up/ trade for a Starter and keep everything the same with offense I can see them contending.

PS... We need another catcher also.

Moehler- he did very well, if he hits his spots( corners) he can be unhittable...

And I

If the Mets add another Power OF the Braves are in trouble.

I'll start off with Oswalt and Berkman. They are as untouchable of players as there is in baseball. They both LOVE Houston, and the favor is very much returned. They both want to end their careers as an Astro, the same way it started. They both are ridiculously underpaid, to their approval. The Astros plans are fully to rebuild while contending, and even if the idea of contending gets thrown out of the window, that will not change the fact that neither guy is being traded. Tejada, could be moved, Lee could be moved, Valverde could be moved, but no matter what kind of rebuild the Astros go on, these 2 will stay with the team. There are only 2 reasons either player will be traded.

A) The Astros get blown away with an offer impossible to refuse. Even then, whomever it is being traded would have to waive his NTC to make the trade happen.

B) Roy or Lance request it.

Other than that, you can count on those two ending their careers and lives as Astros.

Now, on to Wigginton. He hardly is untouchable, but the Astros are not actively shopping him. They're content with his play last year, he's a good guy who doesn't complain, and with a 4.35 mill contract for 2008 his contract will not expand too much, at least not beyond his worth. The Indians clearly have a pool of nice young arms, so that certainly could be the basis of a trade. Here is what is intriguing to me, though. Tim claims the Indians are interested in Wigginton, Tim also claims they are shopping Kelly Shoppach. The Astros are searching for a catcher to replace Brad Ausmus, and are hardly sold on the idea that J.R. Towles can be the full-time starter for 2009. I know Tim said the Indians want a closer for Shoppach, but if there is an established interest in Wigginton, then why not swat Soppach for him? Both teams acquire a player in a position that has a very weak FA pool. It's interesting to think about, at least.

Redsfan... I dont think so.. Josh Roenicke is best described as:

"...Roenicke is a 26-year-old relief prospect, but he is nothing more than a low-end middle reliever for the deepest of NL-only leagues that use true middle men at this point in his career.."

and that's the evaluation of this kid from a Fantasy Baseball league perspective.

Jared Burton, on the other hand is a couple of years older and not much better. More trash.. no thanks..

Redsfan, keep your trash and be happy with it.. He's not nearly enough for Shoppach.

What say you?

I'm pretty sure the Oswalt to Boston rumors were before Oswalt got his NTC. As a matter of fact, I'd say they were the reason he got a long contract and NTC.
As an Astros fan, I'd be okay with a full rebuild. I'd say this team is good enough to almost make the playoffs every year but, as the t-shirt says, second place is the first loser. I'd rather lose for a couple of years and build a solid foundation on which to win. However, McLane is only concerned with filling seats and being "the first loser" is good enough to do that.

lowercase zach-

"Lets not forget, Travis Hafner is a complete uncertainty. You cannot count on his production, that mistake was made last season. The Indians might have to play V-Mart at DH a lot of next season with Shop at C and Garko at 1st. "

Agreed.

Way too many uncertainties to trade Shoppach.

Sure we( the Astros fans) can say what IF....since were close to the playoffs. But a lot of people don't realize the Astros weren't expected to do NOTHING last yr, they were suppose to be last. So yeah they are 1-2 starters away from actually being a full "contender". And a better hitting catcher.

Also, i'm not really sold on the Shoppach/Wiggington trade idea.Shop-vac just had his knee cleaned out and although he went to Baylor and wouldnt mind coming here, i just dont feel that is the best idea. Wiggington could bring in the young pitcher types the Pad's are after?....think everyone knows where im going with that one. On the other hand, it would be nice to "stock the pond" and have some young GOOD pitching prospects just kinda worried about Lee/Berkman/Oswalt getting older and not winning it all. Very fine line of what to do for this club.

Teej, I understand that fully. I would be more than happy with a trade for a minor league arm or two. I just thought it was an interesting scenario that was realistic in both value and their availability.It clearly is pure speculation on my part, but it does make some sense and would hardly be shocking.