Email a copy of '2012 Contract Issues: Houston Astros' to a friend
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By Tim Dierkes | at
Email a copy of '2012 Contract Issues: Houston Astros' to a friend
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Bob H
Important to understand here is that the Astros have an agreement with Comcast and the Houston Rockets to launch a new cable sports channel in 2012. The Astros’ first season on the network will be 2013. That means the new ownership group is going to need to have some “name” players to promote the club as it tries to sell the new package to cable companies and fans.
So expect that there will be a “big splash” signing of some type this winter, assuming a sale is made, who can then be used to promote the new channel. If Albert Pujols is on the market, I could see a new ownership group grossly overpaying for him since it will not only be the “big splash” they want but would also weaken a key division rival in the process. I don’t think Pujols will be on the market, so don’t get too excited, but this is the sort of “big splash” I’m talking about – a guy even casual fans have heard about and would be interested in watching.
Therefore, while the Astros have been slowly rebuilding, new ownership won’t be that patient. Remember, Drayton McLane went out and signed Doug Drabek and Greg Swindell after buying the Astros. It didn’t work as planned but the point is that the signings were meant to revive interest in a flagging franchise. Fortunately, Astros fans were only beginning to discover how good Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio would be.