Odds and Ends: Crede, Swisher, Astros

Links for Wednesday…

• RotoAuthority identifies a bunch of sleepers who had between 200-400 at-bats in 2008 in posts here and here.
• Joe Crede remains on the Rangers’ radar, but they have not made an offer.
• All kinds of interesting thoughts from Peter Gammons.
• Fred Claire contrasts Pat Burrell and Milton Bradley.
• Dave Sheinin says the Nationals inquired on Nick Swisher, but their offer did not impress the Yankees.  Chico Harlan mentioned the same yesterday.  Joel Sherman notes that the Mets and Braves had interest in Swisher before he was traded to the Yankees.
• In that post, Sherman also predicts the contracts for Derek Lowe and Manny Ramirez.
• The Astros are mostly done, unless Drayton McLane pulls a surprise move.
• Murray Chass reflects on Carl Pohlad.
• Eric Stashin talked to Wayne Graczyk of the Japan Times about various Japanese pitchers.