Astros owner Drayton McLane says his team would consider absorbing part of a contract in a trade if it meant getting better prospects, writes Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle. McLane admitted that the team will be "willing to look at anything" as the trade deadline approaches, but said that "nothing is imminent right now."
"It's totally and completely dependent on the offers you're getting in return," McLane said of the salary issue. "We'd have to evaluate that at the time."
McLane's willingness to absorb salary could be crucial to the Astros' chances of moving Roy Oswalt or Lance Berkman. A report earlier this month suggested the Astros were attempting to convince potential Oswalt suitors to assume the pitcher's entire remaining salary, which no club seemed eager to do. If the Astros were to pay a portion of the money owed to Oswalt, a trade would seem much more likely.
Oswalt is guaranteed $15MM in 2010 and $16MM in 2011, along with a $2MM buyout for his $16MM 2012 club option. Berkman, meanwhile, will earn $14.5MM this season and has a $15MM club option ($2MM buyout) for next year.
Oh snap well this changes everything.
Would love if the Yankees traded for oswalt at the end of the season if still avaiable
An elite New York prospect and Nick Johnson for Lance Berkman
Why in the world would the Astros want Nick Johnson, even if he wasn’t injured?
Agreed, no way Houston wants Nick Johnson.
And why would the Yankees need to trade for Lance Berkman?
And why would the Yankees need to trade for Lance Berkman?
Drayton, could you say that loud enough for ’em to hear you in Flushing??!
I want Brett Myers in Atlanta!
You want another starting pitcher on the Braves team? The team that will have to move a SP to the bullpen soon because of too many SP. Can’t see why that wouldn’t be a great idea.
Hmmmm…. the fact that the Braves are trying to make a playoff run coupled with:
A.) They currently have a starting pitcher on the DL who’s been struggling in rehab assignments.
B.) They have a starting pitcher that the team does not play behind that is currently 0-9 for the first time in Braves history
C.) They have a starting pitcher who threw a career-high 100 innings last year and is already at 70% of that mark (and Braves fans would kinda him to still have an arm in September)
I guess take your pick of any of those, LOL
Sure JJ haven’t had the best start in his rehab assignement but the important factor was that he threw pain free so he seems to be over his injury. Sure Kawakami have a bad W-L record but that’s not a really meaningul stat to look at it means that most of the time Kawakami starts he have trouble with his run support or when he gets his run support he have a bad start. His ERA today stands at 4.78 which is okay for a fifth starter and that was after his last outing which was his worst start of the season before that he had ERA of 4.42 which is quite good for fifth starter.
Yes Medlens innings is high and thay might try to save his arm but JJ is schedule to return soon which may enable them to move a arm to the bullpen, Chris Resop may fill a starter spot when he gets back from the DL. Now if the Braves lose a arm to an long injury they should probably try to fill that void with trade but before that they have other issues, like CF.
Lance Berkman and Chia-Jen Lo for Nick Johnson Jesus Montero and Manny B
Deal or no Deal? With Astros taking 8 million of the Contract
Brett Myers for Mike Minor and Chris Masters?
Deal or no Deal
I don’t know about the Brett Myers deal, but there is no way in hell that Cashman is going to trade Montero in a package for Berkman, sorry it’s just not going to happen.
I don’t know about the Brett Myers deal, but there is no way in hell that Cashman is going to trade Montero in a package for Berkman, sorry it’s just not going to happen.
Nooooo deal. Brett Myers would be a half year rental to get kawikami out of the rotation. Minor could be a 3/4 in the rotation for 6 years. Maybe Diaz Infante and Masters
Would be thrilled to get Minor as an Astros fan, but yeah, that seems unlikely. Could be one of the other pitching prospects though, since the Braves have so many.
Kawakami will probably be pushed out of the rotation when JJ returns so Brett Myers would do very little for the braves and he’s not a huge upgrade for the Braves. Sure he have better ERA aswell as FIP and xFIP but most of his success this season seems to be related to his low HR/FB rate which is about the half of what his career line is, If that become more to his normal rate they will probably be rather equall. Even if he keeps up that rate he’s really not filling a hole for the Braves with JJ teturning from his injury and Kawakami is still pretty good as the fifth starter.
Also I wouldn’t want to give up Infante as he’s a good option when some of the starters need some rest, like chipper. Still Braves have no need for another pitcher they are pretty filled on SP and RP.
My argument would be to release or demote KK AND move Medlin to the pen in a Myers acquisition. If you move KK to the pen you run the risk of Medlin’s arm being shot come September and in the case that any other pitcher goes down you’re stuck with KK in the rotation again.
Myers acquisition would allow Medlin to be a lights-out long relief that could move back into the rotation if someone goes down. I know the Braves are pretty stacked on pitching. My arguement is that by aquiring Myers (and the improvements that makes to both the rotation AND the pen) the Braves add more wins while giving up less then they would by acquiring a DeJesus or Luke Scott.
What do you dislike about Kawakami? His performance seems okay and he will probably not accept a demotion and releasing him is a terrible idea since he’s still paid for another year and he’s a decent pitcher. Meyer would be an improvement but I doubtful that he would improve much as his HR/FB rate is quite severely out of line with his career norm which hints at a decline in his performance. Also your proposed package doesn’t make alot sense for either team as Braves would be losing important bench player and Astros probably want young prospects like Delgado/Minor/JJ Hoover.
Braves are 4-10 when he pitches. He can have a great ERA and whatever else, but if the team doesn’t play behind him then I don’t want him on the hill. If this was the first time then I’d swallow the pill and hope for better ‘luck’ 2nd half, but it was exactly the same last year. Royals start explains exactly why Braves are unmotivated when he’s on the hill.
I’ve been to two of his starts this year. Braves are a different (worse) team when he is on the field. I love the team we have. IMO I think KK is the weakest link….. IMO.
If that is your reasoning for disliking Kawakami how do you know the same thing won’t happen if Meyers pitch for Braves?, maybe the team won’t “play behind” him either. Zach Grienke also don’t have a team “play behind” him should he be released or traded by Royals because of that? How did the Royals start explain why Braves is unmotivated when he’s on the hill? Because he gave up the lead?
Sure you can say that the team in your eyes play worse while Kawakami is on the mound but you will have a hard time persuading someone else with that argument since it’s completly based on your opinion. Also this makes your trade idea kinda hard to explain since you are searching for pitcher a team “play behind” you don’t have to narrow down to a decent pitcher just someone that the team “play behind” also Meyers have only gone 4-5 despite his shining ERA does that mean Astros don’t “play behind” him either. I think you should search after someone that have proven to get a team to “play behind” him.
The only difference is…. the Astros and Royals don’t ‘play behind’ any of their pitchers. This is also known as: They’re bad teams in general. It’s completely different when you’re pitching for a first place team and have yet to record a win through June. The reason I chose Myers is because he’s having a great year and he’s in the last year of his contract. Braves don’t need a Cliff Lee; just a starter that can move Medlin to the pen and get KK out of the rotation….. IMO.
Look, let’s agree to disagree. I don’t know which team you pull for but I watch 95% of all Braves games. If you think the Braves play just as well behind KK as they do their 1-4 then I believe you must be watching a different game than I am. And after a year and a half I can’t continue to blame it on ‘bad luck’. I feel like there are some intangibles coming into play when KK is on the mound. Intangibles are also how I explain Lowe’s success because if you compair their numbers over the past 230 games, they are very similar apart from W/L.
Trust me, I dont claim to be anything more than an armchair GM. I’m not on here lobbying for Myers in the hopes that Frank Wren will come on and say ‘My, what a great idea ATL_Mindset.” I’m just giving my opinion and in this case I feel like our opinions are on two completely different sides of the spectrum…. nothing wrong with that, BUT I’m bailing on this post and moving up to the top of the board.
Oops, no Diaz on that deal
I still think that Seattle is going to be much more motivated in trading Lee than the Astros will be with Oswalt. I have a suspicion that deep inside, McClane will not be unhappy in the least if Oswalt is still in an Astros uniform in November.My guess is that this statement translates as, “If you overpay us and give us all your best prospects, will consider eating some salary in return.”
with the call ups of the 3 young guys yesterday, does anyone else other then me think Oswalt is almost definately going to be traded now with these comments from Mclane. Myers seems real possible as well. Not sure about Berkman with his horrible year and $16 million option for next year he wants picked up
Ed Wade to the 3 callups “Wow welcome to the big league youngsters, for your first test you get to face Lincecum your first night and Matt Cain your second. Good luck, have fun and don’t mess your pants when you get a 98 fastball at your nose tomorrow night”
My guess is: Berkman to the Rays for salary relief
Also, I still think Wade should trade JR Towles to the Rangers for Chris Davis. Both players are being blocked by superior prospects.
You think the rays will actually pick up a thin dime of salary relief? this is the same team that traded Scott Kazmir to Anahiem, just before Boston rolled into town in the middle of a pennant race last season for salary relief.
this team raises the white flag before they take on 1 thin dime of *usable* salary, much less dead weight like Berkman.
I’m sorry, I misphrased that. I meant the Astros will absorb money to get prospect(s) in return.
You think the rays will actually pick up a thin dime of salary relief? this is the same team that traded Scott Kazmir to Anahiem, just before Boston rolled into town in the middle of a pennant race last season for salary relief.
this team raises the white flag before they take on 1 thin dime of *usable* salary, much less dead weight like Berkman.
If the Astros would want a 1st basemen from the Yankees you can trade Juan Miranda and someone else for Berkman
I think Carlos Beltran is going to be on the trading block, With Pagan emerging as a decent low-cost option in CF…and several up and coming CF’s in the org ( kirk, f-mart )…along with LF locked down for the next 3 years…and Francour has done a serviceable job in RF…
I see nowhere for CB to play…if the mets can trade him to Boston for some pitching prospects, i think that may be a trade that benefits all…he goes to the AL where he can rest his knees once a week…Boston gets a power-hitting gold glove CF…Mets get pitching prospects and salary relief ( CB makes around 18 mil a year )…
then they have the room to sign a Cliff Lee
I was curious as to how many years were left on Beltran’s deal so I went over to Cot’s and found this in his current contract: “club agreed to lease ocular enhancer machine (device that throws numbered & multi-colored tennis balls at 150 mph)” What is up with that?
Its part of his indoor batting cage…
too bad it didn’t throw curveballs
No kidding…he actually had it put in his contract that paid him over 100MM that the Met’s had to loan him their machine?
Not even buy the machine…but loan it…
lol
to his credit he donates a ton of money and time ( more than the average )
I’m sure he’s a great guy, it’s actually in his contract that he has to donate 300K per year to charity, I just thought that it was funny that a guy who signed a 119MM dollar contract decided to borrow a pitching machine.
Typical Boras diva stuff…lets see how far down will the pants go to lure an agent…then again its karma for all the times they gip players…see Pelfrey who took a 2 million dollar paycut this year…( only making 500 K )…it all evens out
Maybe it’s because I’m really tired, but I have no idea what you’re referring to.