Astros Rumors

Astros Not Ready To Close The Door On Tejada

By Mike Axisa | November 17, 2009 at 1:38pm CDT

The Astros may only have enough payroll to make minor additions, but MLB.com's Brian McTaggart notes that the team isn't ready to close the door on a Miguel Tejada return.

"Everybody is aware Miggy is a free agent and that's a 199 hits and guy who did a really super job for us and two-time All-Star [with the Astros]," (GM Ed) Wade said. "We're not prepared to close any doors with Miggy."

If Tejada were to return to the club, McTaggart notes that it would likely be as a third baseman. The 35-year-old former AL MVP hit .313/.340/.455 in 2009, though just .283/.313/.395 away from Minute Maid Park.

Eight Teams Express Interest In Billy Wagner

By Tim Dierkes | November 16, 2009 at 4:21pm CDT

Eight clubs have expressed interest in free agent closer Billy Wagner, according to his agent Bean Stringfellow (Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reporting). Stringfellow generously named five of the suitors: the Red Sox, Braves, Nationals, Astros, and Orioles. The agent says Wagner's Type A status hasn't scared teams off, and that of these five only the Red Sox spoke about a non-closing role. Stringfellow expects multiyear offers, though Wagner turns 39 in July.

The FOX authors speculate on possibilities for the remaining three teams by mentioning the Tigers, Cubs, Mariners, Rangers, White Sox, Rays and Marlins.

Washington's interest in Wagner and Mike Gonzalez makes you wonder if they'll tender a contract to their current closer, Mike MacDougal. MacDougal is due a raise on this year's $2.65MM salary. Perhaps they just like him more for a setup role.

Certainly nothing will happen with Wagner until after December 1st, when we learn definitively whether the Red Sox will offer arbitration.

Valverde Could Return To Astros

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | November 15, 2009 at 8:25pm CDT

The agent for Jose Valverde says there's mutual interest between the Astros and their free agent closer, according to MLB.com.

The Astros have communicated to Jose their desire to bring him back," Gene Mato explained. "He really enjoyed his time there and is open to the idea of returning."

Valverde wants to explore free agency, so the Astros are just one of his options. As a Type A free agent, he'll cost a top draft pick if the Astros offer arbitration. That's not a sure thing, since the reliever could cost about $10MM next year, but rival GMs tell ESPN.com's Buster Olney that the Astros should offer arbitration.

Astros GM Ed Wade said in September that he'd "love" to bring Valverde back. The righty saved 25 games and allowed just 40 hits in 54.0 innings this season, striking out 56.

Olney On Lackey, Astros, Rangers, Doumit, Carroll

By Mike Axisa | November 14, 2009 at 12:41pm CDT

In today's blog post at ESPN.com, Buster Olney writes about Michael Bourn, and how he went from hitting .218 with a .273 OBP in the first half of 2008 to hitting .285 with a .354 OBP in 2009 thanks to a suggestion from Astros' coach Dave Clark.

Here's a roundup of Olney's rumors…

The Angels last offer to John Lackey was a $72MM package, made earlier this year.
Olney's educated guess is that the Mariners are the best bet to sign Lackey, followed in order by the Angels, Brewers, Mets, Red Sox, and Yankees.
Olney hears that the Astros "are cutting payroll, and will have the flexibility to make only minor moves, such as getting a right-handed hitting third baseman, to platoon with Geoff Blum."
Tom Hicks is still trying to find a way to hold onto the Rangers, but bids from prospective buyers are due next week.
The Pirates "first made it clear" they were willing to deal Ryan Doumit before the trade deadline, while the Dodgers have been having "internal conversations" about bringing Jamey Carroll aboard as a utility infielder.

Odds & Ends: Bonds, Bay, Astros, Mulder

By Tim Dierkes | November 13, 2009 at 3:15pm CDT

Another stash of links for the afternoon…

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal says Red Sox GM Theo Epstein will have to be creative to keep the team competitive in both the short and long-term.
Contrary to a report last month, Yahoo's Tim Brown says former Mets executive Tony Bernazard is not working for Scott Boras.
Brown talked to Barry Bonds' agent Jeff Borris, who said he has not filed retirement papers because Bonds is "not retired – he was run out of the game."
WEEI's Alex Speier talked to Jason Bay's agent Joe Urbon, who said "interest has been well distributed between the two leagues."
Astros GM Ed Wade spoke to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart about his unsettled bullpen situation.
Dialogue has continued between the Brewers and Mark Mulder's agent Gregg Clifton, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy.
NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman passes along a report indicating the Braves are interested in 36 year-old Japanese righty Hidetaka Kawagoe.

Odds & Ends: Astros, Schmidt, Callaspo

By Luke Adams 2 | November 12, 2009 at 6:31pm CDT

A few Thursday evening links to browse through….

MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports that the Houston Astros will decrease their spending in 2010, after the team's payroll exceeded $100MM the first time in 2009.
Filing for free agency may have just been a formality for Jason Schmidt, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. The 36-year-old righty looks headed for retirement.
Dick Kaegel of MLB.com hasn't heard anything that substantiates rumors of an Alberto Callaspo–A.J. Ellis swap between the Royals and Dodgers.
Evan Brunell of The Hardball Times is "horrified" that the Phillies are considering Placido Polanco for their third base opening.
Jenifer Langosch at MLB.com fields Pirates-related questions from readers. Most of them react to Pittsburgh's recent acquisition of Akinori Iwamura.

Heyman On Figgins, Pineiro, Braves

By Tim Dierkes | November 11, 2009 at 2:38pm CDT

SI's Jon Heyman reports from Chicago, where the GM Meetings are wrapping up…

The Phillies are "intent on pursuing Chone Figgins hard," while the Mets are also fans of the Seth Levinson client. The Angels still hope to re-sign Figgins. Joel Sherman of the New York Post has more on the Mets' interest, explaining that moving Luis Castillo would make signing Figgins easier. Sherman thought another reasonable addition for the Mets might be Carlos Lee, but his idea was shot down by Ed Wade and a Mets official.
Heyman senses mixed signals with the Mets and Matt Holliday – Omar Minaya loves the player, but the money required will be huge and the Mets might be better-served spreading it around.
The Mets are interested in Joel Pineiro, and Minaya met with his agent Arn Tellem.
On Page 2 of the article, Heyman quotes a couple new Scott Boras gems.
Braves GM Frank Wren admitted he'll field offers on his starting pitching excess. It appears inevitable that the Braves will trade one starter, Derek Lowe or Javier Vazquez according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman.
My Billy Wagner-Cubs idea should probably be put to bed, as Jim Hendry said he wouldn't spend a lot of money on a closer given Carlos Marmol's talent. Marmol himself is due a large arbitration raise.

Odds & Ends: Smoltz, Holliday, Varitek, Tejada

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | November 10, 2009 at 3:12pm CDT

Let's round up a few more links in a busy day of rumors….

John Smoltz wants to pitch next year, according to this tweet from ESPN.com's Peter Gammons.
The Mets will ask the Blue Jays about the price for Roy Halladay, as they did this summer, according to Newsday's Ken Davidoff.
As Chad Jennings of the Journal News reports, Andy Pettitte isn't likely to return to the Astros.
We knew Matt Capps could be a trade chip for the Pittsburgh Pirates this offseason. According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates offered Capps to the Milwaukee Brewers for J.J. Hardy.
Many expect Matt Holliday to end up in New York in 2010, but both the Mets and Yankees are downplaying their interest in the outfielder, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Sherman also writes that if Jason Varitek doesn't exercise his player option, the Mets could be interested in the 37-year-old.
MLB.com's Mychael Urban agrees with Tim: Miguel Tejada fits in Oakland.
Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star notes (via Twitter) that the Royals' payroll reached $82MM this past season.

Crasnick Polls Baseball Executives

By Howard Megdal | November 9, 2009 at 5:36pm CDT

Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com has a fascinating piece up discussing how various baseball executives view the emerging free agent and trade market. Among those polled:

Of 20 executives, 11 would want Matt Holliday, nine Jason Bay if money or length of deal were not an issue. Despite Holliday being younger, better defensively and having a better career OPS, Bay's success in the pressure cooker of Boston swayed a large number of executives.
For John Lackey's destination, eight believe it will be the Yankees, four the Mets, three the Angels, and the Dodgers, Astros, Orioles and Brewers getting one vote apiece. One executive abstained. Prices ranged from three years, $36MM to six years, $100MM.
Andy Pettitte is the overwhelming choice of the Yankees' free agents to return, while one executive thinks it will be both Pettitte and Johnny Damon. Just two of twenty executives think World Series MVP Hideki Matsui will be back in The Bronx.

The entire piece is well worth your time.

Odds & Ends: Torre, Figgins, Mora

By Luke Adams 2 | November 8, 2009 at 11:43am CDT

A few links to browse while we continue the countdown to the GM meetings….

2010 may not be Joe Torre's last season in Los Angeles after all, according to T.J. Simers of the Los Angeles Times.
Bob Ford of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes that any Phillies fans expecting the club to go out and land another elite starting pitcher this offseason will be disappointed.
FOX Sports's Jon Paul Morosi explains why the trade market might be busier than usual this year, and looks at what players could be dealt next.
MASN's Roch Kubatko examines the Baltimore Orioles' third basemen, past and future. He's skeptical that the Orioles will pursue Chone Figgins this offseason because manager Dave Trembley wants a power hitter at third base. He also wonders if Melvin Mora might end up in Philadelphia.
Kirk Gibson won't earn a shot at a managerial gig this year, but he may get an opporunity in the not-so-distant future, according to John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press.
The Houston Chronicle's Richard Justice is ready to cut ties with Miguel Tejada and hand over the Astros' third base job to Chris Johnson.
Steve Slowinski at DRays Bay asks what the Rays ought to do with Andy Sonnanstine, and formulates his own solution.

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