Astros to start season without Matsui

Off-season acquisition Kaz Matsui will start the season on the DL for the Houston Astros after undergoing surgery on Monday.

Matsui had surgery on Monday to repair an anal fissure and will miss 2-3 weeks. In his absence the Astros could platoon both Mark Loretta and Geoff Blum until Matsui is ready to return.

Orioles interested in Mark Loretta

According to the Baltimore Sun, the Baltimore Orioles apparently have interest in veteran 2nd baseman Mark Loretta, so much so that the 2 teams could be talking about a trade. The Astros sent a scout to watch the Orioles during their spring training game this afternoon.

The reason this is significant is, it could mean that the Orioles could be close to a deal to send their 2nd baseman, Brian Roberts, packing and it could be to the Chicago Cubs, who have coveted Roberts for the past few months.

Looking Forward to 2008: Houston Astros

Is there a team with more to prove going into 2008 than the Houston Astros, especially coming off a 73-89 season?



What do you do when you need to make big changes to the club that finished 16 games under .500? You bring in a new GM (Ed Wade), a new manager (Cecil Cooper) and get right to work during the offseason to make this team better.



So, with that in mind, new general manager Ed Wade wasted no time in making some jaw dropping moves, trading for SS Miguel Tejada and former Arizona closer Jose Valverde. Both moves, however, have drawn criticism for giving up too much and making a deal for a player who was named just a day later in the Mitchell Report (Tejada).

Arrivals:
2B Kazuo Matsui (free agent)
RHP Doug Brocail (free agent)
RHP Geoff Geary (trade)
RHP Oscar Villarreal (trade)
IF Geoff Blum (free agent)
OF Reggie Abercrombie (waiver)
OF Michael Bourn (trade)
OF Yordany Ramirez (free agent)
LHP Wesley Wright (Rule 5)
SS Miguel Tejada (trade)
RHP Jose Valverde (trade)
RHP Ryan Houston (waiver)
Darin Erstad (free agent)
RHP Chad Paronto (free agent)
RHP Jack Cassel (free agent)

Departures:
LHP Trever Miller
OF Josh Anderson
RHP Brad Lidge
IF Eric Bruntlett
RHP Jason Jennings
OF Orlando Palmeiro
IF Mike Lamb
RHP Brian Moehler
SS Adam Everett
RHP Chad Qualls
2B Chris Burke
RHP Juan Gutierrez
RHP Dennis Sarfate
LHP Troy Patton
OF Luke Scott
3B Mike Costanzo
RHP Matt Albers

Among the additions to the Astros roster are 4 former San Diego Padres. Geoff Blum, Doug Brocail, Yordany Ramirez and Jack Cassell were all signed as free agents this offseason. Though there are new faces to this team, there are a lot of faces that fans had gotten used to seeing that won't be on the field when the 2008 season opens. Chris Burke, Adam Everett, Luke Scott, Mike Lamb, Jason Jennings and Brad Lidge will all be with new teams in 2008, but the one big name missing from the roster is 2nd baseman Craig Biggio who retired after the 2007 season.

The question this team faces is their starting rotation. Leading the rotation is ace Roy Oswalt along with Wandy Rodriguez, Woody Williams and possible Brandon Backe, but are any of those names, with exception to Oswalt and maybe Woody, for sure? I guess we'll see how the younger pitchers fare in spring training.

Prediction Time:

Though the Astros have made a lot of moves, they didn't upgrade their rotation which will end up really hurting this ballclub in the long run. Yes they have a guy who has shown he can shut the door in the 9th (Valverde), but if your rotation can't hand a lead to the bullpen, how many games is he going to be able to close out? Yes, their offense is going to put up runs, especially with guys like Tejada, Carlos Lee and Lance Berkman in the same lineup, but I just don't think it's going to be enough.

Astros - 79-83

Biggio agrees to personal service contract with 'Stros

Recently retired Craig Biggio has agreed to a 3-year personal service contract from the Houston Astros on Monday.

Biggio will work as a special assistant to GM Ed Wade, helping coach young players as well as assisting the Astros on the business side. He'll split time between the Astros and St. Thomas High School, where he's the assistant baseball coach. His oldest son, Conor, plays for the team.

Astros should have waited

Ken Rosenthal has an article out today about the Astros acquisition of Miguel Tejada, who was named in the Mitchell Report less than 24 hours after the Astros sent 5 young minor leaguers to Baltimore for Tejada.

Rosenthal brings up a great point, if the Astros waited even just 1 more day, would they have made the deal? If they did, I think they would have been able to part with much less to make the deal, although Orioles' owner Peter Angelos isn't always the easiest guy to deal with.

Here's what could hit the Astros the hardest. The FBI has opened a preliminary investigation into whether Tejada lied in front of a Congressional Committee in 2005 when asked if he used performance enhancing drugs.

When Tejada was asked, he said it was "B-12", the same B-12 that Roger Clemens says he was injected with by former trainer Brian McNamee....see a pattern here?

Tejada's former teammate in Oakland, Adam Piatt, told the Mitchell's investigators that he had bought steroids for Tejada, and produced canceled checks from Tejada for $3,100 and $3,200 respectively.

Speaking of canceled checks, remember when Fernando Vina, an ESPN Baseball Analyst was asked about checks he had given to former Mets' clubhouse guy Kirk Ridomski, said when asked about those supposed "checks" and what they were for? "I don't know what they were for, maybe for picking up dry cleaning."

So now we have 2 separate, but almost matching, items if you will (B-12, canceled checks) that were produced by Kirk Ridomski and Adam Piatt.

Coincidence? Maybe, but I doubt it....Rosenthal is right, the Astros should have waited and they may pay dearly for it.

Jennings signs with Rangers

Another pitcher coming off shoulder surgery has signed with a new team, this time it's former Astro Jason Jennings.

Jennings signed a 1-year $4M deal with the Texas Rangers on Thursday. They plan to introduce him at a press conference later today.

Jennings was 2-9 with a career-worst 6.45 ERA in 19 games for the Astros last season.

Rays avoid arbitration with Wheeler

The Tampa Bay Rays avoided arbitration with reliever Dan Wheeler when both sides agreed to a 1-year $2,875,000 deal on Tuesday.

Wheeler was acquired via trade with the Houston Astros last season, the Rays sent 3rd baseman Ty Wiggington to the Astros.

Astros sign Backe to 1-year deal

The Houston Astros signed their first arbitration-eligible player when they signed right-hander Brandon Backe to a 1-year $800,000 deal plus incentives.

Astros sign Villarreal to a 2-year deal

After being acquired from Atlanta in a trade for Josh Anderson last month, the Houston Astros have signed Oscar Villarreal to a 2-year $2.85M deal.

The deal, worth $1 million in 2008 and $1.6 million in 2009, includes a $250,000 signing bonus and a $2 million club option for 2010.

Astros sign Darin Erstad

12.27.07 8:46pm PST

Brian McTaggart of the Houston Chronicle gave me his 2 cents on the Astros signing Darin Erstad.

Baseball-Rumors: I like the signing of Darin Erstad, he gives you another veteran on the ballclub and one that brings Gold Gloves in both the outfield and infield. Will he be a full time outfielder or will he also get playing time at 1st?

Brian McTaggart: Well, he'll be a backup and play both. The OF is set with Lee in left, Bourn in center and Pence in right. Loretta, Blum, Ausmus and Erstad give the Astros a pretty good bench.

12.27.07 6:40pm PST

The Houston Astros inked yet another veteran to their ballclub, signing free agent outfielder Darin Erstad to a 1-year deal plus incentives.

With Erstad only being 33, I think he's definetely got something left in the tank. He also brings 2 Gold Gloves in both the outfield (2000, 2002) and infield (2004) as a 1st baseman.

Jason Jennings looking for 2-year deal?

Jason Jennings is still out there on the free agent market, and though I haven't heard his name bantered around that much over the past few weeks, I thought I'd get Houston Chronicle's Brian McTaggart's take on him...

Baseball-Rumors: Any truth to the Astros wanting to bring back Jason Jennings on a 1-year deal, even after the year he had last year?

Brian McTaggart: Yes, there is truth to that. But apparently the Jennings camp wants a two-year deal, and the Astros aren't willing. If no one else gives him that, he could wind up back in Houston.

Mark Prior Update

12.24.07 3:09pm PST

North County Times' Dan Hayes weighs in on free agent Mark Prior's decision between the Astros and Padres.

Baseball-Rumors: I hear that Prior is deciding between the Astros and Padres at this point. Are the Padres going to lose out on yet another free agent or will Prior take the pitcher's ballpark and less money?

Dan Hayes: I do believe Mark Prior is going to accept the Padres' offer if it comes down to common sense but I haven't been able to get a hold of his agent for the past week. Even if Houston makes an absurd offer, Prior would still have to spend all of his games pitching in a hitter's park. I think that's going to deter him especially because he's looking for a one-year deal and to establish that he's a good pitcher again. If that's his true aim, wouldn't he want to pitch half his games at Petco?

12.23.07 8:50am PST

According to the Houston Chronicle, free agent right-hander Mark Prior has narrowed his choices to the Houston Astros and the San Diego Padres.

Prior is currently a San Diego County resident and has been doing all of his rehab there, both work in the Padres favor at this point.

12.21.07 1:00pm PST

The Rangers, after reviewing Prior's medical records, have pulled out of the bidding, according to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.The Rangers had been said to be serious contenders for him prior to this.
12.20.07 7:51pm PST

According to Buster Olney, the Padres are the front runners to land former Cub Mark Prior, who is currently a San Diego County resident.The Padres, says Olney, have offered a 1-year deal with a modest base salary that includes incentives to Prior, who could make his decision in the next 24-48 hours.

12.18.07 10:44pm PST

Ken Rosenthal puts his 2 cents in on Mark Prior. He is of the opinion that Prior's logical destination is with the San Diego Padres, not only because of Petco Park being well known as a "pitcher's park" but because he's originally from Southern California.

The problem with that idea is, the acquisition of Edmonds puts the Padres payroll up to $73M, which is only $2M below their ideal payroll of $75M, but I don't think the Padres can ask Prior to take a San Diego discount, especially if he is getting bigger offers from Houston, St. Louis or any other club.

Brewers Notes

The Milwaukee Brewers are in the market for a 3rd baseman, allowing them to move Ryan Braun (2007 NL Rookie of the Year) to Left Field.

Though there aren't many names out there on the free agent market, a guy that I think could help them out is former Astro and Padre Morgan Ensberg. Ensberg still has some pop and is a decent defensive 3rd baseman, putting him into a hitters park isn't the worst idea, and he's a cheap option.

Prior to decide between Houston, San Diego

12.23.07 8:50am PST

According to the Houston Chronicle, free agent right-hander Mark Prior has narrowed his choices to the Houston Astros and the San Diego Padres.

Prior is currently a San Diego County resident and has been doing all of his rehab there, both work in the Padres favor at this point.

12.21.07 1:00pm PST

The Rangers, after reviewing Prior's medical records, have pulled out of the bidding, according to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.
The Rangers had been said to be serious contenders for him prior to this.

12.20.07 7:51pm PST

According to Buster Olney, the Padres are the front runners to land former Cub Mark Prior, who is currently a San Diego County resident.The Padres, says Olney, have offered a 1-year deal with a modest base salary that includes incentives to Prior, who could make his decision in the next 24-48 hours.

12.18.07 10:44pm PST

Ken Rosenthal puts his 2 cents in on Mark Prior. He is of the opinion that Prior's logical destination is with the San Diego Padres, not only because of Petco Park being well known as a "pitcher's park" but because he's originally from Southern California.

The problem with that idea is, the acquisition of Edmonds puts the Padres payroll up to $73M, which is only $2M below their ideal payroll of $75M, but I don't think the Padres can ask Prior to take a San Diego discount, especially if he is getting bigger offers from Houston, St. Louis or any other club.

San Diego is a logical destination for Mark Prior?

Ken Rosenthal puts his 2 cents in on Mark Prior. He is of the opinion that Prior's logical destination is with the San Diego Padres, not only because of Petco Park being well known as a "pitcher's park" but because he's originally from Southern California.

The problem with that idea is, the acquisition of Edmonds puts the Padres payroll up to $73M, which is only $2M below their ideal payroll of $75M, but I don't think the Padres can ask Prior to take a San Diego discount, especially if he is getting bigger offers from Houston, St. Louis or any other club.

Astros acquire RHP Paronto

Ken Rosenthal reports that the Houston Astros have signed right-hander Chad Paronto to a 1-year $500,000 deal that could be worth up to $675,000 after incentives.

Paronto will move into the bullpen already set with guys like Doug Brocail, Oscar Villareal and Geoff Geary to set the table for newly acquired closer Jose Valverde.

Astros, Cards interested in Prior

Mark Prior is certainly getting a lot of interest around the major leagues, even for a guy who hasn't been healthy for the last few seasons.

The Astros already have an offer out to the right-hander, even after signing minor league right-hander, and former Padre, Jack Cassell.

Larry Borowski reports, that after the Cardinals traded Jim Edmonds, it may have freed up cash to spend on another starter or even a risk with high reward pitcher like Prior.

Rusch still unsigned?

12.18.07 12:01am PST

Glendon Rusch's agency confirms that he became a Padre as of last Friday.

12.17.07 9:09pm PST

On Friday, Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports wrote that the Padres had signed free agent left-hander Glendon Rusch. Now, according to Brian McTaggart of the Houston Chronicle, Rusch has not signed the minor league offer from San Diego and has an open offer from the Astros.

12.14.07 2:41pm PST

Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports checks in, the San Diego Padres have signed left-hander Glendon Rusch to a minor-league deal with an invite to Spring Training.

Rusch is trying to make a comeback after being diagnosed with a life threatening blood clot in his right lung last year.

Pettite admits to using HGH

After having his name released on the Mitchell Report, Andy Pettitte admitted that he used HGH twice back in 2002 while trying to recover from an elbow injury.

"If what I did was an error in judgment on my part, I apologize," Pettitte said in the statement.

"I accept responsibility for those two days. Everything else written or said about me knowingly using illegal drugs is nonsense, wrong and hurtful.

"I have the utmost respect for baseball and have always tried to live my life in a way that would be honorable. I wasn't looking for an edge; I was looking to heal."

Twins add another former Astro in Mike Lamb

The Minnesota Twins reunited former Astro teammates Adam Everett and Mike Lamb after they signed Lamb to a 2-year deal plus an option for 2010.