2006 MLB Trade Deadline Thread

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

How many games were the Astros out of the WC before trading deadline last season? It was quite a bit to.

[KingPK 0]

No. The Astros aren't "out of the playoff race" just yet. They're six back with 8 games to go against WC leading Cincinnati. Although the situation looks grim, there's still time for the Astros to either pick up a bat or not pick up a bat and go on a run regardless. Clemens could have signed with either the Yankees or the Red Sox, but didn't because he wants to pitch in Houston. He wants to win a World Championship in Houston. If Clemens pitches in the postseason this year, it will be in Houston.

 

I think it's more the fact that he's getting a nice chunk of change to pitch in a weaker hitting league close to home/family and on a team that he's comfortable with. If he really wanted to go for one more ring, he would have signed with Boston or New York or another contender that's much closer to get to the World Series than Houston is right now.

 

If Houston just wants the team to pick up the rest of his contract for this year, I'd take him. If they want prospects (and I'm sure they do), no thanks.

 

EDIT: Houston actually LED in the NL Wild Card standings at the deadline last year. Half a game up on Washington. They were about 5 or so back at the ASB that year.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Not an actual rumor, but does anyone think the Astros are at least entertaining the idea of trading Roger Clemens? They are basically out of the playoff race at this point and Clemens is costing them big time dollars. He considered pitching for the Yankees and Red Sox this past offseason. Would they move him to one of those teams for a prospect or two out of respect for Roger?

 

No. The Astros aren't "out of the playoff race" just yet. They're six back with 8 games to go against WC leading Cincinnati. Although the situation looks grim, there's still time for the Astros to either pick up a bat or not pick up a bat and go on a run regardless. Clemens could have signed with either the Yankees or the Red Sox, but didn't because he wants to pitch in Houston. He wants to win a World Championship in Houston. If Clemens pitches in the postseason this year, it will be in Houston.

 

The team is effectively out of the race. Not only are they six games back, they are currently trailing Cincinnati, Arizona, San Francisco and Atlanta. They would have to leapfrog all of those teams. Then they would have to make sure that they keep pace with Colorado, Milawukee, Florida, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, who are all either tied with Houston or a game behind. That's not to say they are eliminated, but the stars are definitely aligned against them.

 

I don't think Clemens will be traded. But is it that much of a stretch to envision a gentleman's agreement between the two sides regarding his future if the Astros fell out of the race? Why wouldn't Clemens want to try for one last title with Boston or NY? Houston could at least dump the salary and maybe get a decent prospect out of the whole thing. Seems like a win-win to me.

[vivalaultra 0]

There was talk last year, when the Astros were farther back than they are now, about dumping Clemens. Sources would have had everyone believe that deals were imminent. However, everyone in the Houston front office and Roger Clemens himself found the rumors ridiculous and unfounded. I imagine much the same this season. And I still don't think being 6 games back of the Wildcard with about 60 games left against teams either under .500 or directly in front of the Astros for the Wildcard is out of the race. The Cubs...are out of the race. The Astros aren't.

 

80% of the Astros PR department revolves around Clemens. Drayton McClane is assured of a sell-out everytime Clemens pitches. Clemens gear sells out by the truckload. There's no way in Hell he'd get rid of that. Clemens has a personal service contract for the Astros after he retires...for real. There's no way he'd be a good PR man if he ditched his hometown team after talking about how much pitching at home means to him. "Rocket Sports Bar and Grill" at the Houston Memorial Mall would get vandalized daily.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

80% of the Astros PR department revolves around Clemens. Drayton McClane is assured of a sell-out everytime Clemens pitches. Clemens gear sells out by the truckload. There's no way in Hell he'd get rid of that. Clemens has a personal service contract for the Astros after he retires...for real. There's no way he'd be a good PR man if he ditched his hometown team after talking about how much pitching at home means to him. "Rocket Sports Bar and Grill" at the Houston Memorial Mall would get vandalized daily.

 

Selling out that building doesn't come close to paying for that contract. As for the merchandise, sorry that's an MLB property, and profits are split equally between every major league club. But I'm sorry it got you all huffy, I was just having some fun during a slow news day.

 

The Astros need to keep targeting Tejada. I think they could get him if they put together the right package. They can't just keep punting offense from the SS, C and CF positions and expect to compete in the long run.

[vivalaultra 0]

The contract's only $12 million or so, so I'm pretty sure the sellouts for the Rocket, along with the ridiculous prices of food and drinks, help to pay some of it back. And Clemens has so much invested in being a Houston Astro. He's got his restuarant opening. He's got TV commercials out the wazoo. All kinds of stuff. I doubt he'd blow all that just to go play in the Northeast.

 

Sorry if I sounded huffy. I just got done watching Around the Horn where all the East Coast journalists were once again pretty much saying a deal between the BoSox or the Yanks and the Astros was "imminent". I had to rely on Jay Mariotti to be the voice of reason, which is never a good thing.

 

I'm not sure if the Astros are still targeting Tejada. Drayton McClane said he was backing off on the deal because the contracts between Tejada and the players we were gonna trade for him didn't match up, but I've still got a suspicion that something's gonna go down.

[Precious Roy 0]

The only way Clemens gets traded is if he asks to get traded. And who knows with Roger, I'd say there's a chance that could happen, but I doubt it, since they'll probably still be in striking distance of the WC by the deadline. If they were 10+ out right now it would be one thing, but they're far from out of the picture. He'd probably get more satisfaction trying to make a run with Houston than a sure thing going to Boston or NY (and YES NY is a sure thing, fuck Detroit, fuck Chicago. Fuck Boston for that matter, we're winning the East.)

 

Now, if the opportunity came up I would JUMP at getting Clemens. I'd give up Philip Hughes in a heartbeat, just to say the greatest pitcher of all time made his last pitch in our uniform. Of course then he'd just decide to come back for another year with the Rangers or some shit, so maybe that's not such a good idea.....

 

As far as reasonable trade ideas I'm hoping the Yankees go after Lieber. He pitched well in pinstripes before, I was miffed that we let him go to spend money on Fagvano and Wrong, and we need another starter, I don't trust Jaret at all, and putting Ponson on the mound scares the fuck out of me. Carl's Jr. is never going to pitch again, I'm convinced.

 

And back to the 'Stros, I'd really like to trade for Pettitte, he's another guy we never should have let go

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

The Yankees released Kelly Stinnett, and traded for backup catcher Sal Fasano from the Phillies. They gave up single A 2B Hector Made.

 

Maybe Al can tell me something good about Fasano. On the surface his numbers are almost identical to those of Stinett.

Fasano has a cool Fu Manchu mustache. That's about it. Although he'll probably have to shave it off.

[the max 0]

The Yankees released Kelly Stinnett, and traded for backup catcher Sal Fasano from the Phillies. They gave up single A 2B Hector Made.

 

Maybe Al can tell me something good about Fasano. On the surface his numbers are almost identical to those of Stinett.

Fasano has a cool Fu Manchu mustache. That's about it. Although he'll probably have to shave it off.

 

Another thing I noticed about Fasano is that he runs like he had cement poured into his pants.

 

Also, he looks like a street tough in an 80's flick.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Sal Fasano's the kind of player working class fans adore. He's slow and undisciplined at the plate, but always gives his full effore. When he was DFA'd, he spent time catching at single A Clearwater. He bails and wails, but when he tags one he can hit it as far as anyone.

 

As for the Astros, they've got to compete with eight or so teams to win the wild card. Baseball Prospectus gives them a 3.3% chance at the postseason, basically a 33:1 shot.

[Guest Princess Leena]

The Cubs still have a 3000/1 shot to make the playoffs.

 

Better than the O's. Boo.

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe 0]

I really hope the Yankees don't get Bobby Abreu.

[Precious Roy 0]

I really hope the Yankees don't get Bobby Abreu.

 

why?

[CanadianChris 0]

The Yankees don't need an outfielder, or at least they won't when Matsui and Sheffield come back. They need pitching, badly.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

That was still an odd statement to make. He doesn't want Bobby Abreu if the price is Phillip Hughes, or does he not want Abreu period? It was vague. The Red Sox don't need a 3B, but if someone like A-Rod was available, I would sure as hell want him. I just don't understand the statement "I really hope the Yankees don't get Abreu." It's like saying, I really hope my team doesn't get better by acquiring an awesome player.

[Guest NYankees]

The Yankees don't need an outfielder, or at least they won't when Matsui and Sheffield come back. They need pitching, badly.

 

What do the BJ's need badly?

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

The Yankees don't need an outfielder, or at least they won't when Matsui and Sheffield come back. They need pitching, badly.

 

What do the BJ's need badly?

 

They need pitching, as do the Yankees, Red Sox, White Sox and every other team in the AL not named the Tigers (and they could use an insurance arm as well). Too bad there are none on the market to speak of, unless you want overpaid drek like Jon Lieber, Odalis Perez, Miguel Batista or something in that class.

[CanadianChris 0]

This would never happen, but I wonder what the Jays could get for AJ Burnett.

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe 0]

- I don't want them to give up Philip Hughes.

 

- If they do give up Hughes, it should be for a starting pitcher. Or a really good 8th inning guy, which I don't think is avalible. Farnsworth sucks, Proctor is over worked, and it doesn't seem like Dotel is ever going to show up.

 

- Abreu is signed to huge money through next year, and will probably want his option for '08 picked up as part of the deal. I am hoping the team is starting to phase out these huge deals and start letting some of the guys from within (Melky...) get a fair shot.

 

It's not that they couldn't use a hitter of Abreu's caliber, because anybody certainly could. However, right now with the lineup that they already have, they are the Wild Card leaders and 1 1/2 back of Boston in the division. Hitting won't get you all that far in the playoffs, as they have shown for the last several post seasons. I believe that they are among the league leading teams in several if not most offensive categories, without Sheffield, Matsui, Cano, and an "A-Rod year" from the 3rd baseman.

 

The rotation, on the other hand, is Mussina, who gives you a good outing, Wang, who is very solid, and Randy has picked it up of late. Wright and Ponson/Wilson/Chacon have been downright dreadful, and I think in August when they play Boston for a 5 game series they might need more than 2 good starts and an ok-ish one, and then punting the other two.

[Precious Roy 0]

This would never happen, but I wonder what the Jays could get for AJ Burnett.

 

a sling and some painkillers

[Precious Roy 0]

- I don't want them to give up Philip Hughes.

 

- If they do give up Hughes, it should be for a starting pitcher. Or a really good 8th inning guy, which I don't think is avalible. Farnsworth sucks, Proctor is over worked, and it doesn't seem like Dotel is ever going to show up.

 

- Abreu is signed to huge money through next year, and will probably want his option for '08 picked up as part of the deal. I am hoping the team is starting to phase out these huge deals and start letting some of the guys from within (Melky...) get a fair shot.

 

It's not that they couldn't use a hitter of Abreu's caliber, because anybody certainly could. However, right now with the lineup that they already have, they are the Wild Card leaders and 1 1/2 back of Boston in the division. Hitting won't get you all that far in the playoffs, as they have shown for the last several post seasons. I believe that they are among the league leading teams in several if not most offensive categories, without Sheffield, Matsui, Cano, and an "A-Rod year" from the 3rd baseman

 

The rotation, on the other hand, is Mussina, who gives you a good outing, Wang, who is very solid, and Randy has picked it up of late. Wright and Ponson/Wilson/Chacon have been downright dreadful, and I think in August when they play Boston for a 5 game series they might need more than 2 good starts and an ok-ish one.

 

Oh, we definitely need another reliable starter, and I think we add someone (probably not a 'marquee' name), I'd be happy with a Livan Hernandez or John Lieber type, someone with a track record who's having an off year, but might have enough gas in the tank to pick it up down the stretch

 

But Abreu though, I think when you can get a player of that caliber you take your best shot. His OBP is freaking .430! And he's a great baserunner. I don't even care about the drop in power this year. You can put him in right and DH Sheff if/when he comes back, Bernie sits, Phillips sits, you have more flexibility to put different lineups out there, Damon, Jeter, Abreu, A-Rod is a scary top 4....it improves the team overall. Plus, they're not going to bring back Sheff, so Abreu would have right to himself next season. I like Cabrera, but I'm not convinced he's a full-timer yet

 

That said, supposedly the Yankees and Phillies are far apart on Abreu and talks are pretty much dead, and Abreu has been rumoured to move for a few years now and never goes anywhere, so I wouldn't sweat it

[Annabelle 0]

don't think the tigers need any insurance pitchers. maroth will be back in a month giving them a 6 starter staff. in september they'll be calling up jordan tata and probably humberto sanchez. all of which could throw in a start or two. i wouldn't waste my time looking for pitching. i don't even know if i'd make any trades. i'd get soriano to play second base if the price was right. thats it.

[Just John 0]

On the Astros:

 

In 2004, they were 56-59 and behind 5 teams at one point before they rebounded and got the WC. They aren't out of it by a long shot. The NL was better then too. Of course, so was Houston's pitching, so it all might even out.

 

I don't think Houston needs to trade for anyone, but I wouldn't mind seeing an extra hitter in the lineup. Taveras, Everett, and Ausmus, while bringing either speed or good defense, are black holes in the batting order. Once you get to the 6 spot in the lineup, it's smooth sailing through the bottom of the order. Problem is, the Astros won't part with those 3 for various reasons unless it's part of a huge trade (like for Tejada).

[vivalaultra 0]

Two new news reports about the Astros:

 

Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle mentioned today about how Fernando Nieve is working as a closer in AAA Round Rock, leading him to speculate that the team is looking to deal Brad "Wild Thing" Lidge before Monday.

 

Ken Rosenthal at foxsports.com mentioned that the Astros are looking to be involved in a megasuperhuge deal and "every player in the lineup is up for grabs". I doubt that, but he mentioned by Soriano and Carlos Lee as players that could be involved. Either way, it should be an interesting weekend. As long as Burke, Hirsh, or Pence aren't traded, I'll be happy with a deal.

 

Edit:

 

John Lopez of the Houston Chronicle wrote today on his blog that the chances for a trade involving the Houston Astros either tonite or tomorrow has "gone up exponentially". He says that the FO does not want to give up uber prospects Jason Hirsh or Hunter Pence, but have talked today about dealing Brad Lidge and Willy Taveras. He said that if either the Tejada deal or a deal for Soriano don't happen, the Astros are very interested in looking at Carlos Lee. He also said that FO has been getting upset over reports from ESPN saying that Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte are on the market. He said that a couple phone calls came in about Clemens and Pettitte's availability and when the caller was asked where they heard that the two were available, the caller said "ESPN", to which Astros execs responded, "They've got alot of time to fill right now. Don't believe it."

 

Jayson Stark on ESPN reported today that the Astros have stepped up efforts to acquire Miguel Tejada, but not for Pence or Hirsh, and that the Tejada sweepstakes was a two-horse race, with the Astros competing with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim California United States Northern Hemisphere Earth Milky Way.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

The Astros, as of Thursday July 27 have a 1.17% chance of winning the division and a 2.86% shot at the wild card, for a combined 4.03% chance at making the playoffs. They aren't completely out of it, but it's damn close. If they have a shot at Tejada, it's a deal they should absolutely do. But for a rental like Soriano or Lee they are just mortgaging the future for something that is out of their reach this year.

[sfaJack 0]

What's kind of funny is that the Astros are so scared to trade any of their young prospects because they don't want to mortgage their future, yet they turn around and move them through their farm system at glacial speed, waiting until they're 26-27 years old before getting them to big leagues.

 

There is absolutely no reason why Hunter Pence, who is 23 years old and absolutely tearing it up at AA, should still be at AA. Move him up already! If not to the big club, get him some AAA ab's. Find out how good he actually is. It isn't as if they're set in their outfield for the next four years or anything.

[2GOLD 0]

The Orioles are not going to bring down their price. If you want Tejada, you have to give up your future or the O's won't make the deal.

 

Baltimore doesn't have to deal Tejada and they won't do it unless they are getting what they feel is his value. And they have his value set extremely high.

 

The cost for Tejada will be simple: Hirsh, Pence, Lidge and either Burke or Everett. If the Stros won't give it, I doubt the Orioles will even keep them on the phone.

[vivalaultra 0]

What's kind of funny is that the Astros are so scared to trade any of their young prospects because they don't want to mortgage their future, yet they turn around and move them through their farm system at glacial speed, waiting until they're 26-27 years old before getting them to big leagues.

 

There is absolutely no reason why Hunter Pence, who is 23 years old and absolutely tearing it up at AA, should still be at AA. Move him up already! If not to the big club, get him some AAA ab's. Find out how good he actually is.

 

I agree. The other day on ESPN 790, Tim Purpura said he wanted to move Pence up to AAA, but his reason for not doing it is that there are too many outfielders already in AAA. I just hope that Pence doesn't go the route that Jason Lane went and finally get called up only to be a pinch hitter for 3 years before finally getting a shot. Although I think the ceiling on Pence is much higher than Jason Lane's. It seems like alot of time when the Astros call up young prospects, they're not ready (i.e. Willy Taveras) and when they hold off on calling them up, they fizzle out (i.e. Jason Lane).

 

Edit:

 

Hirsh, Pence, Lidge, AND Burke or Everett? I could see 3/5 of that deal being done. Give Leo a chance to fix Lidge. Let Everett reunite with C-Pat. Either flip Hirsh or Pence...hard choice, but I'd say Pence because Hirsh is going to be needed in our rotation next year. But there's no way Burke's going anywhere. If the Astros ever get rid of Burke, I'll become a Rangers fan. Kid's got hustle.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

If Hunter Pence is that old and still playing AA, you need to disount all his stats heavily. He might not be the prospect the Astros think he is. If they can keep Hirsch out of the deal somehow, they should go for it.

[vivalaultra 0]

Pence is only 23, and the only reason he's still in AA is because of, like sfaJack said, the Astros having a thing about elevating prospects at a galcial speed. By pretty much all scouting accounts, he's a 5-tool player that could make a difference at the major league level tomorrow.

 

I imagine that if the Astros get Tejada, it will involve either Pence or Hirsh along with Everett and Lidge, but not Burke (kid's got hustle~!). If they won't go for that, I'd inquire about Soriano or Carlos Lee or someone else.