Astros Offseason

[kramnoj]

Here are the commitments for the Astros going into next year:

Tejada SS $13M
Berkman 1B $14.5M
Oswalt SP $14M
Lee LF $18.5M
Matsui 2B $5M
Valverde CL Arby $6M-7M?
Wiggington 3B Arby $5-7M?
Geary RP Arby $2M?
Erstad OF $1.75M
Backe P Arby $1-2M?
Byrdak RP Arby $1M?
Moehler SP $2.3M
Wandy SP Arby $3M?
Sampson SP/RP Pre-Arby $.5M
Bourn CF Pre-Arby $.5M
Pence RF Pre-Arby $.5M
Abercrombie OF Pre-Arby $.5M

I have about $91M, and maybe a bit more for 17 players.

Needs: C (they have 2 guys on the roster in Towles and Quintero, but they were both awful as hitters. CF? Bourn was just an awful hitter. SP (Wolf is FA).

Opening Day payroll was just under $89M, and they highest payroll they have had is $92.5. I don't really see the Astros being players in the FA market unless they trade away some of their high salary players.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

Lots of high salary players and bad contracts. The Farm system is horrible too. I disagree and think they will keep spending. Houston is a huge baseball market so they should be able to go out and get Sheets and some more pitching to make them one of the favorites in the NL Central next year.

[Phenomenal Smith]

I don't see the Astros doing much in the off-season. By finishing 86-75 they (or at least Drayton McLane) think that they are a good team already. It's silly, but there it is. They might have made a play for Sheets since he's kinda a local guy, but his injury has presumably rendered them uninterested.

[fallingleaves]

Lots of high salary players and bad contracts. The Farm system is horrible too. I disagree and think they will keep spending. Houston is a huge baseball market so they should be able to go out and get Sheets and some more pitching to make them one of the favorites in the NL Central next year.

I don't think their contracts are all that high, Tejada, Lee, Oswalt, and Berkmen produce on the field. If you want to talk bad, high salary contracts, there is no need to look any further than Bill Hall and Jeff Suppan! I think the Astros will land Sheets this offseason. My cap is off to Cecil Cooper. I think the Astros may overtake us next year.

[Ennder]

I think Bourn is the CF still, he had an injury marred season but he showed enough OBP skills in the minors to believe he will stick.

[logan82]

I think the Astros make a push for some starting pitching. Their offense isn't terrible. A couple good starters and they could make the playoffs next year.

[twobrewers]

I love how the Astro's always make that push to respectable - and save everyones' job!

 

To me, they look like they build for an 85 win team and then just hope for the best.

 

I think they might make one big splash (Sheets), but no chance at two. I still say Sheets ends up wearing a Rangers uniform.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

I wonder if they resign Randy Wolf. It seemed like kind of a waste to acquire him unless they were going to lock him up long term.

[JohnBriggs12]

I think there's a good chance they'll re-sign Wolf. That will give them 3 decent starters. They have a solid closer. If they solidify the back end of their rotation, they are real contenders.

 

The key to their lineup is Pence. He's a lot like Corey Hart in that he's undisciplined and likes to run. But unlike Corey he closed the year strong. If he gets back to his rookie year production, look out.

[CportBadger]

I still say Sheets ends up wearing a Rangers uniform.

I don't see Nolan Ryan being interested in Sheets. He was on ESPN during a game this season and he was saying that he wanted guys who could go deeper into games and that as an organization they were going to focus on that. I think he would be turned off by Ben's injury history.

[nate82]

I don't see Nolan Ryan being interested in Sheets. He was on ESPN during a game this season and he was saying that he wanted guys who could go deeper into games and that as an organization they were going to focus on that. I think he would be turned off by Ben's injury history.

Going deeper into games and pitching for a whole season are two different things. Sheets does go deeper into games which is evident in the amount of complete games he has pitched.