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Odds & Ends: Wagner, Astros, Haren, Mora

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [September 25, 2009 at 11:53am CST]

Some more links to check out...

Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reconstructs the day that the Red Sox acquired Billy Wagner with help from the hard-throwing lefty himself.
If you ask Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle, Astros owner Drayton McLane sets an open tone for the entire organization.
Justice believes the Astros need to add an innings eater this offseason and says he expects them to shop for bargains.
Dan Haren says he wants the D'Backs to bring Brandon Webb back next year, according to Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic.
Melvin Mora tells Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun that he'll never tire of thanking the Orioles, even if they don't exercise his option after the season. It would be a shock if the O's picked up Mora's $8MM option.

Comments

What do you all think about a deal for the Astros like Vasquez for Hunter Pence?

Braves have an abundance of pitching and stros' need some...

Posted by: mike | September 25, 2009 at 12:17 PM

You are kidding right? A controllable and young OF'er that is very productive for a highly paid pitcher that is only under contract for 1 more year?

Posted by: johns | September 25, 2009 at 12:25 PM

Vazquez is on a very team friendly contract for his level of production even by traditional statistics(11.5 next year), but I agree with you John, Pence is a very steep price to pay, but Vazquez is an ace.

Posted by: CubFanRaysaddict | September 25, 2009 at 12:28 PM

It wouldn't be a terrible idea for the Astros to trade Pence, but they probably shouldn't do it until at least the trade deadline. They have a wealth of outfield prospects in the farm, but none of the really promising ones are ready. There's one guy who might be able to step in, but he has a broken hand and they'll have to see how he does at AAA before making any moves.

Posted by: Christian Seehausen | September 25, 2009 at 01:21 PM

This is clearly a slow news day....

Posted by: BomberMan26 | September 25, 2009 at 01:26 PM

If they trade Pence it should be for younger talent. Guys with high ceilings in A/AA. They won't compete next year so trading for a guy that is fairly pricey with one year left doesn't make any sense.

Posted by: bjsguess | September 25, 2009 at 01:51 PM

Man, that ray ban ad is a royal pain. I know you need advertising revenue, but have some standards. It interferes with reading the material and won't go away.

Posted by: rememberthecoop | September 25, 2009 at 01:55 PM

Get Adblock and you won't have to whine.

Posted by: karlmalone | September 25, 2009 at 03:42 PM

Puh-leeze! Richard Justice is hilarious; he loves Drayton McLane because he's got Drayton wrapped around his pinkie finger. As Justice has written before, Drayton hates bad press and often overreacts when he gets some. IMHO Justice understands that Drayton takes criticism way too personally and knows he can make Drayton jump by throwing a little his way. That's why Justice has been going back and forth for years between praising Drayton and then hammering him.

So now, Justice praises Drayton because he is "always available"? No kidding. Drayton McLane is afraid of Richard Justice, and Justice knows it.

Drayton should wise up, realize he's being played, and tell Justice to take his good cop/bad cop routine and stick it.

Posted by: Houstonian | September 25, 2009 at 04:40 PM

Astros = rebuild. Fire Sale. Keep Pence, Bourn, Wandy, even LaTroy if he signs reasonably. I would even consider trading Wandy after this monster season, sell high and possibly passing on LaTroy. I love Oswalt, Berkman, and Lee, but it's time to rebuild, and that could do wonders for our farm. If I had to keep one, I say Berkman. Aim for a payroll in the 45-50mm range. there will be enough discount players left over this FA that we can build a NL competitive team. It's time. Now is the time. Yes we can. Yes we can.

Posted by: gibson | September 25, 2009 at 04:45 PM

gibson, there is no chance of the Astros trading Lee until after next season because of his no trade clause. He won't waive it. After next season, they still probably won't be able to trade him because of his gigantic contract. Berkman probably won't waive his no trade clause either. Oswalt might, but he will be hard to move after this year unless he bounces back in the first half and they move him at the trade deadline.

Posted by: Christian Seehausen | September 25, 2009 at 05:34 PM

Seems lke the Braves and Astros would probably make good trading partners over the offseason. Any of the 3 Houston OF would be fits in Atlanta (and Berkman if the Braves don't resign Laroche). And obviously plenty of pitching options in Atlanta.

Posted by: GoldenGlove002 | September 25, 2009 at 08:20 PM

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Odds & Ends: Wagner, Astros, Haren, Mora

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