Astros Looking To Acquire Third Baseman?

I think a trade built around McPherson and J.R. Towles makes sense.

i think dallas is a 1B, but im not sure. It could be the dodgers talking about a package that would include Dewitt for pitching

Don't do that, probably. But the Astros don't have near enough payroll flexibility to add Rolen. Plus they don't have the prospects to acquire him if the Jays were to eat some salary. Doesn't seem like a match.

Korey Casto

Mark Teahen is raking right now...

I think the Royals want him to be the 10th man but he would make sense in Houston

Melvin Mora.

Anyone else here think that this is a sign of a Chone Figgins trade?

Brandon Wood has been tearing it up and having Izzy, Aybar and GMJ all with 1st spot history, it makes sense for the Angels.

Not sure how much sense it makes for the Astros though.

"Melvin Mora probably wouldn't require any serious prospects since it would require a NTC and a salary hurdle (depending on how much the Os eat)"

I could see the Stros acquiring Mora if the O's ate enough salary. Or Ryan Freel, since Roberts won't be traded.

kouz probably wouldnt get any top prospects back. he has been about average from what I've seen(im a dodger fan) and he def. wouldnt get a top SS prospect or a #2 OR #1 potential pitcher.

"i think dallas is a 1B, but im not sure. It could be the dodgers talking about a package that would include Dewitt for pitching"

Dallas is a 3B and always has been. As for DeWitt, the problem is two fold. One, the skilled IF positions are filled with guys who are either injury prone or old. That means a guy like DeWitt is needed as a fall back. Second, the Astros don't have a piece that matches. Wandy isn't worth DeWitt and Oswalt is a non-starter from their end.

"Figgins for Konerko with the Sox eating some salary makes more sense."

To an A's fan, sure. The Angels next best option for the leadoff spot would be Abreu, and that isn't happening. Morales is far younger and far less injury prone and has been swinging a serious bat. Plus, adding Konerko would make the Angels too right handed.

"Anyone else here think that this is a sign of a Chone Figgins trade?"

Here's hoping that is a negative.

"Brandon Wood has been tearing it up and having Izzy, Aybar and GMJ all with 1st spot history, it makes sense for the Angels."

The problem is that none of those guys have a real history as an OBP machine, with Izturis being the only one who really comes close. Besides, Wood is better defensively at SS than he is at 3B. If anything, the Angels should move one of Izzy or Aybar and start Wood at Short.

"Mark Teahen is raking right now...

I think the Royals want him to be the 10th man but he would make sense in Houston"

I think Teahen makes sense as well.

Maybe a Michael Bourn and a pitching prospect for Teahen?

I did think of the Blue Jays but Rolen wasn't the name that I thought of I'd assume Bautista.

Does Morgan Ensberg still have a pulse?

@Devmac: I agree. If the Jays are offering someone, it's Bautista. The price tag is more palatable and the Jays get to keep their infield defense.

Any player the Astros would be interested in would have to be an old washed up former all star. Preferably one that has been linked to steroids.

bobby crosby
jack hannahan
jeff baisley

seems to me, astros are looking for a cheap veteran or cheap mlb reaqdy type...they have a lousy farm system, not much cash to spend so that limits them

Oswalt is a non-starter from their end'

i just want to make sure im reding this right. your saying that Oswalt is too good for Dewitt at this point in his career right? not the other way around? please say you meant the first.

This might be a crazy idea, but it makes sense to me. Might Lance Berkman be available?

Omar Infante, Casey Kotchman, Todd Redmond and either Cole Rohrbough, Kris Medlen or Jeff Locke for Berkman.

The Astros need to rebuild, and 2 great SP prospects along with someone with potential like Kotchman;s would be great. And Infante gives them a good IF option who could play 3rd base.

For the Braves, Berkman's only downside is his contract. Other than that he would be a great fit to go in the lineup behind Chipper. And without giving up much. Heck, they could probsbly still even add in another lower grade prospect.

"i just want to make sure im reding this right. your saying that Oswalt is too good for Dewitt at this point in his career right? not the other way around? please say you meant the first."

I realize you have an unhealthy hatred of pretty much any good player in the Dodger organization, but that was easy to read. Like the old Audi commercial, Wandy is not enough and Oswalt is too much. The 'stros don't really have anything that works.

"The Astros need to rebuild, and 2 great SP prospects along with someone with potential like Kotchman;s would be great. And Infante gives them a good IF option who could play 3rd base.

For the Braves, Berkman's only downside is his contract. Other than that he would be a great fit to go in the lineup behind Chipper."

"The Astros need to rebuild, and 2 great SP prospects along with someone with potential like Kotchman;s would be great. And Infante gives them a good IF option who could play 3rd base.

For the Braves, Berkman's only downside is his contract. Other than that he would be a great fit to go in the lineup behind Chipper."

Forgot this part.

Berkman's contract wouldn't be an issue, because he is worth every penny. That said, I would actually try and keep Kotchman as part of the deal and have Berkman play in the OF, where he is a very good defensive player and where the Braves still need help.

#1, how did we go from discussing the astros 3rd base situation to the braves acquiring lance berkman? just a tad of topic maybe?

#2, berkman isn't going anywhere, especially for the crap you suggested. an mvp caliber player under a reasonable contract is gonna cost you an arm and a leg. tommy hanson would have to be in that deal to get them to consider dealing him

i do like the idea of swapping mcpherson for towles. both are quality AAAA players who could fill voids for the teams

"I realize you have an unhealthy hatred of pretty much any good player in the Dodger organization, but that was easy to read. Like the old Audi commercial, Wandy is not enough and Oswalt is too much. The 'stros don't really have anything that works."

uh, i think you confusing me with someone else. me, cutme, die-hard dodger fan and others have been the ones talking to people like KingMayan! about his hatred for the dodgers young players(martin, Loney, Kemp). i have absolutley no hatred for the dodgers, in fact, i have become a major dodger fan since i moved to LA. so dont kid yourself that im not a dodger fan. however, i was one of about 1/2 of dodgertown that hudson's signing was a good move. it gives Dewitt a true 2B who wants to help the kids survive and become MLB players, unlike Kent. do i want to trade him for a bag of baseballs, hell no, but if he would be packaged to get an ace pitcher midseason, Halladay, Oswalt, etc, i would at least have to consider it. Go to any dodger post and you'll find i have always been pro dodgers, but i am a realist. i realized that Beimel shouldnt have been resign, and is happy that he wont be back. However, I'd love to see Pedro back in dodger blue, along with Ohman donning our colors. So please, get your facts correct, I always have and always will be pro dodgers and all their young players.

"It gives Dewitt a true 2B to learn from"

Given that Hudson has had to fundamentally change the way he fields, he may not be the best choice.

TAKE CHAVEZ PLEASE!!!!!!!!! We'd appreciate anything for him, but please, take him! haha

Cardinals are interesting, but would they trade within the division?

I think the Phillies and Astros match up. Feliz would be good since he's nails on defense, and Dobbs can swing the bat and give them another left handed hitter (which they need in the lineup). He'd basically be Mike Lamb 2.0.

Andy Marte!!!

So Does Chris Johnson get the opportunity to get the nod at the hot corner? Does Blum, who turns 36 in a month, show that he is not a .250 lifetime hitter this year? Does Tejada REALLY make the move to 3rd? Can his arm handle it 5 days a week? Can Maysonett or Manzella make a transition to 3rd? With a depleted farm system and NO cash to spend (Supposedly) it is obvious that the Astros can only obtain someone without a high price tag. My thoughts are a Mark Teahan type. He is almost certain to be the 10th man with KC. Actually, that is what the Stros are probably looking for. Someone on a team where there are toooooo many players and not enough roster spots. With that being said, look out for the end of ST when the Stros pick up a average 3rd baseman to supplement Blum until CJ is ready.

Speculation on what team Wade is referring to:
Orioles - Melvin Mora, Cesar Itzuris OR COULD IT BE WIGGY???
Philly - Pedro Feliz
Angels - Chone Figgins, Brandon Wood
Royals - Mark Teahan
Blue Jays - Scott Rolen

any other team that has a 3rd baseman over 40 also fits the bill.

Think due north, sounds like the Rangers are trying to trade Hank Blalock for some prospects. Rangers are building for 2010 and beyond, This would make sense, and Blalock is hitting as good as anyone.

I could see it being Feliz. Wade and Amaro are close, Feliz is still a monster in the field, and the Phils would probably eat salary plus ask for nothing back.

It's a tough thing, Moyer lives and dies with his 3B, and Feliz is by far the better glove...but Jason Donald looks like the real deal at the plate.

I can see the Brewers trying to dump Bill Hall to make room for Gamel.

I could see the Cardinals being a possibility. This wouldn't be a major trade, so I don't think them being rivals would deter anyone.

I don't think the Astros are going to shoot for the moon looking for a 3B, though. They'll try to find the best player that makes sense, but Chris Johnson's stock hasn't fallen this spring (quite the opposite). So, they don't have to look for a long-term solution, just someone who is more MLB-ready than Johnson right now. I would prefer Johnson got more seasoning at AAA, but I wouldn't be surprised if he made the team out of camp, either.

Stubbs, Encarnacion and Bailey, maybe eve Roenicke and Malony for Pence. Get it done.

if daniels is trying to trade blalock right now, i imagine his value is not going to be that great. i personally would wait til midseason to trade him, as his contract would be slightly less because of mid-season service time, and hopefully his numbers are solid enough to where he can garner a solid prospect or 2.

If Daniels is actually contemplating trading him to the stros, blalock will be playing 3rd a few times in the next week or so in surprise to prove that his arm is healthy enough to play. i think the astros should just pack it in, trade oswalt to the rangers for legit prospects, and make berkman the cornerstone of the team until he retires (Though they already are kinda doing that now). they need to realize their farm is too bad to allow them to compete for a while, and restocking the farm is the best way to go. The rangers have the prospects to deal, and i think long-term the deal would help both teams (because it would probably be ill-received right now).

I wouldn't doubt the Dodgers are trying to send Loretta back to Houston. They have Dewitt now to backup Blake and O-Dawg. Salary release than dump.

Blalock, Rolen, Mora and even Glaus seem to be players that wouldn't require anything but paying their salaries.

Kouz for Bourn and a couple single a or rookie ball pitchers.

Cantu would be an option if the Astros had anything in their farm system. You could add Beltre to that list too for that matter.

What about Garrett Atkins? With Todd Helton hitting for power and looking healthy again and Ian Stewart making a name for himself, the Rockies may decide to go with the less expensive third baseman.