UPDATES AT BOTTOM.
Now this is a shocker. The Houston Chronicle reports that the Astros are set to announce a trade for Jon Garland. The righty turned 27 in September. He makes $10MM in ’07 and $12MM in ’08.
Jose De Jesus Ortiz mentions that the buzz is that Willy Taveras and Taylor Buchholz may be involved.
Can you believe it? In two days Kenny Williams has sent away 40% of his rotation. While I find the Garcia bounty reasonable, it doesn’t seem to be the best possible return. Same here, if it’s really Buchholz/Taveras.
There will be all sorts of competition in spring as the Sox try to get younger in the rotation with Gavin Floyd, Brandon McCarthy, Taylor Buchholz, and Charlie Haeger.
UPDATES: Ken Rosenthal reports that Jason Hirsh is in the deal too. Ahhhh, MUCH better. Kenny Williams says no deal is close, however.
Ken Davidoff of Newsday reports that the teams are leaving Orlando without a deal in place yet.
Jayson Stark notes that a Taveras/Buchholz package wouldn’t cut it.
Jon Heyman at SI.com says the deal has fallen through because Buchholz failed his physical.
Buchholz himself says he did not fail a physical, though. He didn’t even take one. Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle says the talks have stalled or even died nonetheless.
Scott Miller of CBS Sportsline reports that the deal appears "more dead than alive." Kenny Williams is disturbed by the way the media has handled this. Williams tells MLB.com, "we’ve got nothing going on."
