No Bloated Veterans Need Apply!
(Unless you give us a Home-cooked Deal Like Rice Got!}
Astros 2013: Who Are the Free Agency Targets – if anybody?
I didn’t have room for that last qualifier in the title to this piece, but it is both the short accelerator pedal and the quick brake foot-pad on this whole idea of signing any free agents who could help the 2013 rebuilding Astros on their transition into the American League style next year.
Chip Bailey over at MLB.Com made the case yesterday for four affordable, signable players:
http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2012/11/19/4-free-agents-who-would-help-the-astros-in-2013/
Lance Berkman already made sense to most of us as an affordable former Astros star who would fit right in as a nice veteran leader and DH on the young club – and Ryan Ludwick figures to be a good affinity pick for Astros GM Jeff Luhnow, given their shared former Cardinal background together. Starter Dan Haren and closer Ryan Madson also make a lot of sense too, but let’s get real.
The Astros aren’t going to the World Series next year, or anytime soon. The real challenge next year is quality playing time for the young candidates that are ready to get used to the driving, fiery style of new manager Bo Porter – while a handful of fair quality, familiar veterans help lead the way for the younger guys, while also helping the fans maintain their identification with the club as still their Astros.
How about signing Lance Berkman as DH and then going after Andy Pettitte and Roy Oswalt for some home-brew discount contracts to finish their careers at “home” with all kinds of hedges built-in to protect the club from physical disabilities that may limit or prohibit actual performance. They don’t have to be great, they just have to be steady, capably average performers whose reputations are already a reminder that Houston does still aspire to again have major league talent on the field in droves someday. Maybe the Astros could even pick up a lien on Chad Qualls as a reliever with some of the same performance-hedge qualifiers.
Check out the free agency list for yourself. Maybe you will see some candidates that make more sense to you.
The Pecan Park Eagle 
November 20, 2012 at 3:42 pm |
I don’t see where there is anything in the DNA of this front office to consider past Astros. Remember Lance and Roy whined and pouted back in 2010 when the club was more talented than it is now. I could see Luhnow bringing in some former Cardinals more than former Astros but, until proven otherwise, the sense I get is that the new regime is just cheap. Wake me when they spend some money to prove they want to be good anytime in the near future.
January 2, 2013 at 6:22 am |
I never heard of any whining and pouting from Lance Berkman.