Your 2008 Astros
It's never to early to start planning for next year. The Astros have perhaps their most important off season in over a decade. With the end of the line near for many of their key players, Houston has some very big decisions to make.
Long time Catcher Brad Ausmus is a Free Agent at the end of the year. With his weak bat and advancing age (he'll be 39 next spring) Ausmus is outrageously overpaid. Look for the Astros to go with a Humberto Quintero/Eric Munson platoon next year in his place and save about $3.5 million on the payroll.
Lance Berkman is locked in for years to come at 1B. The only question is whether he could move back to RF if an attractive FA were to appear. I'm going to guess Berkman stays at 1B.
2008 is the year Chris Burke finally gets his chance. Sure his moxy seems to have expired of late but hopefully Burke can regain his form and return to the clutch, "whatever it takes" play he's shown in years past. He definitely deserves the chance. Mark Loretta is a 2B by trade but his contract is up after the 07 season. Look for the Astros to possibly trade him if they're out of the hunt or simply let him go after the year. Either way, he's too pricey (and too good for other teams to pass up again) as a backup.
Adam Everett hits just over the Mendoza Line every year but his defense more than makes up for it to me. He'll bat 7th next year for an upgraded Astros offense that should better hide his deficiencies there.
Many would think Morgan Ensberg won't be in Houston next year provided he keeps going at his current pace. I would concur. But the 08 free agent crop at his position is not good. A-Rod isn't coming here and Mike Lowell will likely fetch a higher price than we're willing to pay. Mike Lamb and Pedro Feliz are the other options (enough said). With Ensberg eligible for arbitration, look for the Astros to tender him a 1 year deal unless a trade materializes. In the minors are a 31 year old AAA would be rookie and a couple guys platooning at AA so no Pence redux at 3B.
The OF should return Carlos Lee in LF and Hunter Pence (the 07 ROY?) in CF. In RF look for the Astros to cut ties with Jason Lane and/or Luke Scott. They may possibly keep one in a backup role. Josh Anderson is one to keep an eye on at AAA. Last year at AA he hit .308 with 43 steals while playing CF. He's struggled a bit this year but he's surpisingly only 24. Most Astros prospects his age are stuck in A ball so that's saying a lot. Anyhow, look for the Astros to trade/sign a player for RF or possibly CF and move Pence to RF. The best fit I see is Trot Nixon at RF. His avg season is 21HR, 86RBI with a .277BA and a .366OBP. He's 33 and making $7.5M this year. With Jermaine Dye (34), Bobby Abreu (34), Ichiro Suzuki (34), Milton Bradley (30), Geoff Jenkins (33), Jose Guillen (32), Shawn Green (35), and Eric Hinske (30) all RF FA's, someone will fall b/c of the shear number of available players. Nixon would be great at around $10M per for 3-4 years.
Your everyday lineup would look something like this:
Burke 2B
Pence CF
Berkman 1B
Lee LF
Nixon RF
Ensberg 3B
Everett SS
Quintero C
Mike Lamb would be resigned again. He wants a full time gig but he continues to be a butcher in the field. I doubt anyone would be that desperate so he'll accept his role here where he seems to be relatively comfortable. He'll spell Berkman/Ensberg and be the #1 option in pinch hitting roles. Eric Bruntlett will reclaim his utility role from Loretta. I pick Scott to the the #4 OF and the Astros to sign a veteran to replace Orlando Palmeiro as the #5 OF. These are the 13 position players the Astros break camp with next year.
Tomorrow will bring the Pitching Staff.
Long time Catcher Brad Ausmus is a Free Agent at the end of the year. With his weak bat and advancing age (he'll be 39 next spring) Ausmus is outrageously overpaid. Look for the Astros to go with a Humberto Quintero/Eric Munson platoon next year in his place and save about $3.5 million on the payroll.
Lance Berkman is locked in for years to come at 1B. The only question is whether he could move back to RF if an attractive FA were to appear. I'm going to guess Berkman stays at 1B.
2008 is the year Chris Burke finally gets his chance. Sure his moxy seems to have expired of late but hopefully Burke can regain his form and return to the clutch, "whatever it takes" play he's shown in years past. He definitely deserves the chance. Mark Loretta is a 2B by trade but his contract is up after the 07 season. Look for the Astros to possibly trade him if they're out of the hunt or simply let him go after the year. Either way, he's too pricey (and too good for other teams to pass up again) as a backup.
Adam Everett hits just over the Mendoza Line every year but his defense more than makes up for it to me. He'll bat 7th next year for an upgraded Astros offense that should better hide his deficiencies there.
Many would think Morgan Ensberg won't be in Houston next year provided he keeps going at his current pace. I would concur. But the 08 free agent crop at his position is not good. A-Rod isn't coming here and Mike Lowell will likely fetch a higher price than we're willing to pay. Mike Lamb and Pedro Feliz are the other options (enough said). With Ensberg eligible for arbitration, look for the Astros to tender him a 1 year deal unless a trade materializes. In the minors are a 31 year old AAA would be rookie and a couple guys platooning at AA so no Pence redux at 3B.
The OF should return Carlos Lee in LF and Hunter Pence (the 07 ROY?) in CF. In RF look for the Astros to cut ties with Jason Lane and/or Luke Scott. They may possibly keep one in a backup role. Josh Anderson is one to keep an eye on at AAA. Last year at AA he hit .308 with 43 steals while playing CF. He's struggled a bit this year but he's surpisingly only 24. Most Astros prospects his age are stuck in A ball so that's saying a lot. Anyhow, look for the Astros to trade/sign a player for RF or possibly CF and move Pence to RF. The best fit I see is Trot Nixon at RF. His avg season is 21HR, 86RBI with a .277BA and a .366OBP. He's 33 and making $7.5M this year. With Jermaine Dye (34), Bobby Abreu (34), Ichiro Suzuki (34), Milton Bradley (30), Geoff Jenkins (33), Jose Guillen (32), Shawn Green (35), and Eric Hinske (30) all RF FA's, someone will fall b/c of the shear number of available players. Nixon would be great at around $10M per for 3-4 years.
Your everyday lineup would look something like this:
Burke 2B
Pence CF
Berkman 1B
Lee LF
Nixon RF
Ensberg 3B
Everett SS
Quintero C
Mike Lamb would be resigned again. He wants a full time gig but he continues to be a butcher in the field. I doubt anyone would be that desperate so he'll accept his role here where he seems to be relatively comfortable. He'll spell Berkman/Ensberg and be the #1 option in pinch hitting roles. Eric Bruntlett will reclaim his utility role from Loretta. I pick Scott to the the #4 OF and the Astros to sign a veteran to replace Orlando Palmeiro as the #5 OF. These are the 13 position players the Astros break camp with next year.
Tomorrow will bring the Pitching Staff.
posted by christopher at 1:53 PM
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