Nats Not Interested In Trachsel
Apparently Steve Trachsel has priced himself out of the Nationals’ range ($3 million is too much I guess). Washington is not one of the three teams in the running for him, according to Bill Ladson.
A few days ago, Ken Rosenthal reported that the Astros were talking to Trax but that Tim Purpura did not consider it hot and heavy. The Twins are out now too. So who are these two other teams?
Trachsel was born in Oxnard, CA, so maybe he’d like to play on the west coast. The Dodgers and Angels would be closest to his hometown, but those teams have fully booked rotations. The Padres, Giants, and A’s are further away. I wouldn’t put it past the Giants to sign Trachsel to use instead of Jonathan Sanchez. Or maybe Trachsel could help as the veteran presence in Tampa Bay’s rotation? Perhaps some Kyle Davies insurance for the Braves?
Honestly, I have no idea who the other teams would be.
Astros Flirting With Trachsel
According to Tim Purpura, the Astros are flirting with free agent Steve Trachsel, but no heavy petting has taken place. Or something like that. Ken Rosenthal, for one, thinks the Astros should stop fretting about the $2-3MM price tag and sign him already for some depth.
Personally, I don’t know. I see what Trax has done this decade, and it’s respectable. But the man is in serious decline. PECOTA says Chris Sampson, Fernando Nieve, or Troy Patton could do pretty much the same thing for the league minimum. This smacks of the Ramon Ortiz signing. It’s just not a good way to spend three million bucks. So what if Trachsel’s a known quantity? At least one of the kids has a chance at taking a leap forward.
Astros Flirting With Trachsel
According to Tim Purpura, the Astros are flirting with free agent Steve Trachsel, but no heavy petting has taken place. Or something like that. Ken Rosenthal, for one, thinks the Astros should stop fretting about the $2-3MM price tag and sign him already for some depth.
Personally, I don’t know. I see what Trax has done this decade, and it’s respectable. But the man is in serious decline. PECOTA says Chris Sampson, Fernando Nieve, or Troy Patton could do pretty much the same thing for the league minimum. This smacks of the Ramon Ortiz signing. It’s just not a good way to spend three million bucks. So what if Trachsel’s a known quantity? At least one of the kids has a chance at taking a leap forward.
Astros Sign Richard Hidalgo
UPDATE: The deal is done.
Astros GM Tim Purpura is optimistic about signing Richard Hidalgo to a minor-league deal soon. Hidalgo, 31, is hitting well in the Venezuelan Winter League. He’ll compete for the right field job. He boasts well above average defense, so he just needs to put up a decent offensive showing.
Last offseason was interesting. Hidalgo tried holding out for a Major League deal, but could only get a minor league one with Baltimore. In spring, he left camp to be with his ill wife. Later in March, the O’s released him to pursue offers in Japan. He resurfaced in May auditioning for the Yankees, but that didn’t pan out either. Hidalgo ended up playing 32 games in the Gulf Coast League and did not fare well.
Now they say he got himself into shape and is looking good. The Astros could have a nice bargain on their hands, and risk is minimal.
Randy Hendricks Interview
A must read: the Houston Chronicle’s interview with Randy Hendricks, who represents Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte.
The Clemens situation remains unchanged, but you should read Hendricks’s take on it. He thinks it’s 50/50 that Clemens plays in ’07 and that it would be a shortened season.
Hendricks also offers a lot of insight into Pettitte’s decision and the way the Astros felt about him.
Loretta To Sign With Astros
According to Mark Loretta‘s agent, the second baseman will sign with the Astros. Assuming Chris Burke stays in center field, Loretta would only have to battle a 41 year-old Craig Biggio for playing time at second. The deal is for $2.5MM with another $1MM in incentives.
The signing leaves only Ron Belliard without a home among the formerly large free agent 2B crop.
Astros Interested In Paul Wilson, Pedro Astacio
Some interesting rumor bits courtesy of the Houston Chronicle’s Richard Justice this morning…
Justice mentions that Tim Purpura is discussing a contract with Paul Wilson and examining Pedro Astacio‘s medical records. Wilson had a second labrum surgery in June and has been unable to regain velocity. Astacio tossed just 90 innings this year because of a strained forearm (often a precursor to an elbow injury).
The Astros could invite right fielder Richard Hidalgo to compete for a fourth outfielder job. I like the idea; Hidalgo has always been one of the game’s best defensive RFs.
Justice also adds that after reviewing Taylor Buchholz‘s medical reports, the White Sox requested that Hunter Pence be added to the package of Jason Hirsh, Willy Taveras, and Buchholz for Jon Garland. Now that’s just silly.
Clemens Moving On From Astros?
John P. Lopez of the Houston Chronicle says of the Astros:
"The organization, like you and me, would be surprised if Clemens wears Astros pinstripes again."
I hadn’t realized that Clemens’s departure was considered probable. Right now it appears that the Astros are going with Oswalt, Jennings, Williams, and two question marks. The front two starters can rack up some innings, but Williams could easily go 100 innings and leave the team with half of a rotation. Given the money already spent, I think the Astros should go all out and secure one more starter.
If Houston really has little chance for Clemens, Boston and Texas become the frontrunners.
Jennings To Houston
Ken Rosenthal reports that the Astros have acquired Jason Jennings and Miguel Asencio from the Rockies. In return, the Rockies will get Willy Tavares, Jason Hirsh, and Taylor Buchholz.
Apparently Kenny Williams wasn’t lying when he said there was nothing to the rumor that the White Sox were going to acquire Hirsh and company for Jon Garland.
Clearly, the Rockies made out like bandits on this deal. I liken it to the trade that sent Adam Eaton to Texas last year. The main difference is that the Astros did not a get an Otsuka-like player back in the deal.
Astros’ Options Remain Wide Open
One way or another, Tim Purpura is going to acquire a decent starting pitcher.
The Houston Chronicle reports that Purpura is still in touch with the White Sox, but has a host of other active scenarios as well. In the article, Purpura goes to great lengths to confirm that starter Taylor Buchholz is healthy without actually confirming that he could be involved in a trade. It remains possible that the Astros trade for Jon Garland.
They won’t, however, acquire both Garland and Andy Pettitte. The Astros still have a one-year, $12MM offer out there. The Yankees have already blown that away, even offering to add a second year. It seems clear that Pettitte will only stay in Houston for geographical reasons. Richard Justice
Check out Jose de Jesus Ortiz’s take on the whole Garland thing yesterday. He initially reported the deal was close, based on info from Astros President Tal Smith.
Troy Renck of the Denver Post suggests that the Astros could take another run at Jason Jennings, perhaps offering Jason Hirsh, Willy Taveras, and Dan Wheeler. As I said earlier, that far outweighs Freddy Garcia‘s price and they are comparable pitchers.