Comments on: Hot Offseason Action: Houston Astros http://umpbump.com/press/2009/03/03/hot-offseason-action-houston-astros-2/ In-your-face baseball commentary Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:44:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Nick Kapur http://umpbump.com/press/2009/03/03/hot-offseason-action-houston-astros-2/comment-page-1/#comment-58571 Nick Kapur Thu, 05 Mar 2009 05:46:10 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=4983#comment-58571 I agree with Sarah that what the Astros absolutely *should* be doing is blowing up the team so that they can rebuild as soon as possible, and that this would definitely entail trading Oswalt and Berkman, the only two really marketable pieces. And preferably at the trade deadline when teams are most desperate. But I also agree with Melissa that the Astros will definitely not do that. Thinking rationally about baseball has never been one of Drayton McLane's fortes. I agree with Sarah that what the Astros absolutely *should* be doing is blowing up the team so that they can rebuild as soon as possible, and that this would definitely entail trading Oswalt and Berkman, the only two really marketable pieces. And preferably at the trade deadline when teams are most desperate.

But I also agree with Melissa that the Astros will definitely not do that. Thinking rationally about baseball has never been one of Drayton McLane’s fortes.

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2009/03/03/hot-offseason-action-houston-astros-2/comment-page-1/#comment-58569 Sarah Green Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:13:44 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=4983#comment-58569 Well, it depends. Will the Astros ultimately recognize that they need to rebuild? If so, trading an expensive player for prospects will get them there quicker. I think once a team realizes that rebuilding is inevitable, everyone over 30 is on the table. Of course, Melissa is totally right to bring up Biggio and Bagwell. We all saw how long the 'Stros held onto them, so who knows. I'm just trying to think of who they could deal to get the most bang for their buck. I don't know that they could actually move Tejada, and the rest are guys they'd like to hang on to (Pence, Towles) or that no one ever, ever would want. The other impediment to moving Oswalt or Berkman, as Coley points out, is that Oswalt and Berkman aren't cheap. They are both in the 14-15 million range for this season. But for comparison's sake, that's about what JD Drew makes, and less than AJ Burnett. Would you rather have Berkman and Oswalt, or Drew and Burnett? Easy choice. Well, it depends. Will the Astros ultimately recognize that they need to rebuild? If so, trading an expensive player for prospects will get them there quicker. I think once a team realizes that rebuilding is inevitable, everyone over 30 is on the table.

Of course, Melissa is totally right to bring up Biggio and Bagwell. We all saw how long the ‘Stros held onto them, so who knows. I’m just trying to think of who they could deal to get the most bang for their buck. I don’t know that they could actually move Tejada, and the rest are guys they’d like to hang on to (Pence, Towles) or that no one ever, ever would want.

The other impediment to moving Oswalt or Berkman, as Coley points out, is that Oswalt and Berkman aren’t cheap. They are both in the 14-15 million range for this season. But for comparison’s sake, that’s about what JD Drew makes, and less than AJ Burnett. Would you rather have Berkman and Oswalt, or Drew and Burnett? Easy choice.

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]]> By: melissa http://umpbump.com/press/2009/03/03/hot-offseason-action-houston-astros-2/comment-page-1/#comment-58567 melissa Thu, 05 Mar 2009 03:06:36 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=4983#comment-58567 I don't think there is any way the Astros will trade Oswalt or Berkman. They see those guys as the faces of the franchise much like Biggio and Bagwell in their prime. I don’t think there is any way the Astros will trade Oswalt or Berkman. They see those guys as the faces of the franchise much like Biggio and Bagwell in their prime.

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]]> By: Coley Ward http://umpbump.com/press/2009/03/03/hot-offseason-action-houston-astros-2/comment-page-1/#comment-58565 Coley Ward Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:01:10 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=4983#comment-58565 I think there will be a lot of teams looking to trade expensive players at the deadline this year (due to the recession and all), and so I suspect Berkman's and Oswalt's value will be less than in an ordinary year. I'm basing this expectation on life experience and on my one semester in college of macro economics. I think there will be a lot of teams looking to trade expensive players at the deadline this year (due to the recession and all), and so I suspect Berkman’s and Oswalt’s value will be less than in an ordinary year. I’m basing this expectation on life experience and on my one semester in college of macro economics.

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2009/03/03/hot-offseason-action-houston-astros-2/comment-page-1/#comment-58562 Sarah Green Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:30:05 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=4983#comment-58562 But on the plus side, at least the Astros have some assets to trade at the deadline. Oswalt and Berkman could bring quite a good haul. But on the plus side, at least the Astros have some assets to trade at the deadline. Oswalt and Berkman could bring quite a good haul.

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