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.
Astros/White Sox Jon Garland Confusion
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."
The Market For Jason Jennings
The Denver Post has the latest on hot trade commodity Jason Jennings.
The Phils are now out of the running after acquiring Freddy Garcia. This leaves the Astros as the top candidate. Troy Renck says "the Rockies are eyeing 24-year-old starter Jason Hirsh, reliever Dan Wheeler and center fielder Willy Tavares." Renck notes that Houston’s interest will heighten if Andy Pettitte signs with New York. The three-player haul mentioned here certainly seems to top what the White Sox got for Garcia, a fairly comparable pitcher for 2007.
The Blue Jays and Mets remain plenty interested if other options don’t work out.
Ted Lilly, Gil Meche, and Vicente Padilla are all off the market. Left in Tier 2:
Jason Jennings
Jeff Weaver
Jeff Suppan
Miguel Batista
Batista may be the next to go.
UPDATE: Should Houston acquire Jon Garland, they’d obviously no longer be the frontrunner for Jennings.