Less Geoff Blum

Maybe 200 at-bats would be OK. Not 300.

Astros’ Blum preparing for utility role

from Houston Astros News by Brian McTaggart
When veteran infielder Geoff Blum signed a one-year contract in October to return to the Astros for a fifth season, he was aware his playing time would likely be reduced from the 381 at-bats he got last year.

He’s still the boss

Looks like Drayton McLane will be behind home plate for a while, getting his name misspelled.

Astros release statement; no sale

from Alyson’s Footnotes by alysonf

"The group that was given a 30-day negotiating window by Astros owner Drayton McLane to make an offer to purchase the club has not made an official offer prior to the Jan. 31 deadline, the Astros announced on Monday."

What took so long?

This is not a surprise.

Bourn named Astros’ MVP for 2009

from Houston Astros News by Brian McTaggart
After setting career highs in almost every offensive category in 2009, Michael Bourn was named the Astros’ Most Valuable Player at the 25th annual Houston Baseball Dinner.

What’s Wandy worth?

Interesting post here.

Arbitration Information

from MLB Rumors – MLBTradeRumors.com by Tim Dierkes
Here’s a page to bookmark – Maury Brown’s chart of 2010 arbitration filings over at The Biz of Baseball. The biggest gaps: Tim Lincecum at $5MM, Joe Blanton at $2.75MM, Justin Verlander at $2.6MM, and Wandy Rodriguez at $2MM. Obviously there is some disagreement on the appropriate salary for a top-tier starter.

Three signings down, three to go

They’re $1 million apart on Pence, $2 million on Wandy and $600,000 on Byrdak, if memory serves.

Astros agree to deals with Bourn, Lindstrom, Quintero

from chron.com Sports
Right fielder Hunter Pence, lefthander Wandy Rodriguez and righthander Tim Byrdak are the only remaining arbitration-eligible cases for the Astros.

Will Brett Myers win 15 games or pitch 200 innings? Not likely.

Brian McTaggart had this to say in his most recent mailbag:

If [Brett] Myers is healthy and focused, he could pitch 200 innings and win 15 games. The rotation got better, but it still has a few question marks. All this talk has given me a case of spring fever, and with Spring Training only five weeks away, I can hear the popping of mitts in my head.

The closer we get to Spring Training, the more optimism I have for this season. Perhaps that’s a natural reaction to a mild case of spring fever, but if Roy Oswalt, Wandy Rodriguez and Myers deliver and Bud Norris continues to progress, this could be a pretty good rotation.

Brett Myers may well work out, but he has never won 15 games and he has pitched 200 innings once, although he has gotten to 190 three times. His career has been more down than up lately. He came back in September after missing June, July and August and wasn’t that good in the 8 innings he pitched. That’s why he was available.

Twenty good starts would make Myers a nice pickup. Penciling him in for 15 wins or 200 innings is fantasy.

Bring on those draft picks!

Well, yes, Dave. This is why Astros fans are happy today.

Valverde To Detroit

from FanGraphs Baseball by Dave Cameron

As we mentioned this afternoon, there continues to be mounting evidence that this is a strong buyer’s market. Adam LaRoche’s signing continued the trend of non-star players receiving contracts in the $3 to $3.5 million per win range, as we’ve seen all winter, and even dating back towards the second half of last off-season.

As we head towards February, players are finding themselves with fewer and fewer options. Rather than having teams bid for their services, they are seeking out one team that may have a spot for them and asking for a contract offer. Wins are cheap and plentiful, as budget conscious teams continue to drive prices down.

And then, something like this happens – the Tigers give Jose Valverde a 2 year, $14 million contract, surrendering their first round draft choice in the process, since he was the last remaining Type A free agent on the market.

Playoffs? Playoffs?

Haven’t read the article, but I wish the Astros would quit talking like this. This is a team that needs to take its lumps for a year or two, and maybe last year was the first. But Ed Wade says playoffs, and I hear that Coors Light/Jim Mora commercial.

Wade likes how Astros are stacking up

from Houston Astros News by Brian McTaggart
The Astros are feeling better about their chances to compete for a playoff spot in 2010 than they did this time last week.

The Myers deal is done

No take-backs now.

Astros complete Myers signing

from Houston Astros News by Brian McTaggart
Right-hander Brett Myers, who won three games as a starting pitcher in the playoffs while helping the Phillies win the World Series in 2008, completed a one-year contract with the Astros on Tuesday.

What the Chronicle has on McLane

And here’s another one, from the Chronicle. Not sure what else McLane could say.

McLane: Deal to sell Astros not imminent

from HoustonChronicle.com — Chronicle

Astros owner Drayton McLane acknowledged he has entered into an exclusive negotiating period with an out-of-town investment firm regarding possible sale of the team, but downplayed reports that a deal is imminent.