Houston unlikely for Pettitte
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In his career, Andy Pettitte has signed one contract with a team other than the Yankees. He went home to play for Houston in 2003, then he returned to New York three years later.
Now that Pettitte is a free agent again, a second homecoming seems unlikely.
“We have to be realistic of what our situation is at the moment,” Astros general manager Ed Wade said. “Right now we have (Roy) Oswalt, Wandy (Rodriguz), (Bud) Norris. We picked up (Brian) Moehler’s option. And we need to give opportunities to (Felipe) Paulino or (Yorman) Bazardo or (Wilton) Lopez. If we can improve our situation, we’ll try to do that, but at this point in time, we’re pretty much focused on the guys that we have right now and we’ll see what’s out there on the edges.”
Aside from Norris, the Astros other three young guys — Paulino, Bazardo and Lopez — combined to win four games this season and none had an ERA below 6.27. Houston, though, isn’t in the market for significantly improving their options via free agency.
“We can’t add appreciable payroll,” Wade said. “We’ve indicated that publicly, our payroll is going to go in the opposite direction.”
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on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 3:07 pm by Chad Jennings.
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Sam Borden
Josh Thomson
tex and jeter won the GGs
Didn’t even realize that Houston was a possibility for Pettitte. Also, sorry its off topic but Jeter and Tex just won Gold Gloves!
Housten has a problem.
Congrats to Jeter, Teixeira, and Jose Molina on their Gold Glove awards.
I didn’t hear who got it for catcher but I have to assume the voters realize how great Molina is behind the plate, right?
Cano should have won it too (not that I watched much of Polanco) but I’ll take Tex and Jeet.
Repost: (P) Buehrle, (C) Mauer, (1B) Teixeira, (2B) Polanco, (SS) Jeter, (3B) Longoria, (OF) Hunter, Ichiro and A. Jones win AL Gold Gloves.
Houston has fallen into shambles.
They’ve neglected their pitching, failed to trade veterans while they still had value, and as far as I know have not drafted well (I dont know of any MLB ready top prospects in their system).
Boston Dave – XXVII
November 10th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Congrats to Jeter, Teixeira, and Jose Molina on their Gold Glove awards.
I didn’t hear who got it for catcher but I have to assume the voters realize how great Molina is behind the plate, right?
*****************
You almost had me. I was just about to type a
for Molina while at the same time going “wow”. LOL
I assume it will be the same choice this year for Andy – Yankees or retirement.
at his age, why would andy go anywhere else? its NY or retirement, and then put a plaque for #46 out there.
Congrats to Jeter & Tex; sure thought Cano had a shot. Next year maybe?
correction: Houston has Jason Castro at catcher – a pretty good prospect
but that’s it I think
“Congrats to Jeter & Tex; sure thought Cano had a shot. Next year maybe?”
———–
Cano should have a shot but from what I gather, Aaron Hill should have won this year anyway
“SI_JonHeyman: in discussing johnny damon just now, scott boras mentioned that posada got 4 years, and so will jeter”
Heyman being Boras’ mouth piece again but Erica better have a pretend conversation with Johnny in case he’s buying that.
Cano definitely should have won it – but his time will come. He had a great all-around year and hopefully the confidence of a WS win will help him hit better w/ RISP next season.
I don’t think Andy left Houston on good terms. It sounded like they didn’t try to bring him back after his contract expired.
Molina gets a Gold Heart award.
I’ve been wondering ….. since Scott Boras will want to extort the Yankees for Damon, does Matsui slip in by taking a lesser deal? Which of course will be a good offer.
Bronx Jeers
November 10th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Molina gets a Gold Heart award.
*******************
LOL
Perhaps Damon will take a page out of Arod’s book and do what he wants instead of what his agent wants.
champ809
November 10th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
alright here we go with the GG’ers
1b-Tex
2b-Cano(my dude)WRONG
3b-Longoria(the new Brooks Rob)
SS-Jeter
OF-Tori
OF-Ichiro
OF-Adam Jones
P-King Felix WRONG
c Mauer
GG guesses (I didn’t play GTLU all year, but what the heck):
1B: Tex
2B: Polanco
SS: Jeter
3B: Longoria
OF: Hunter
OF: Suzuki
OF: Wells WRONG
C: Mauer
P: Hernandez WRONG
WE have a tie!
BTW Molina had an average year – wake up.
I haven’t heard as many posts about how horrible the Damaso Marte for Tabata trade was lately.
Marte was a key to the WS win. Nady will net the Yanks a 1st/2nd rd compensatory pick.
Tabata hasn’t really progressed yet. Ohlendorf is a quality arm but perhaps not for an AL East team. Karstens is filler.
LOri and Champ tied
Thanks for playing
Bronx Jeers
November 10th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Molina gets a Gold Heart award.
===
He really does have a heart of gold to go with his great glove.
He also had to live through his father’s departure from earth. He and his brothers were incredibly close to their dad. Don’t know who’s seen the piece on that loss, but it hit too close to home for me and it really made me connect with Molina. They ran in earlier in the season and then I saw it again down the stretch.
========
Cano is just better than any second baseman defensively, including Utley. Cano makes plays those guys will never make. I am not surprised he didn’t win, however.
As long as he continues to give us that kind of peerless defense, that’ll be enough for me. Would have been nice for him, though.
Marte got hot at the best time for the Yankees. He was just about the only one who could stop Chutley.
Congrats to Jeter and Tex – yay! Who cares what Joe Sheehan thinks?
Boston Dave – XXVII
November 10th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I haven’t heard as many posts about how horrible the Damaso Marte for Tabata trade was lately.
Marte was a key to the WS win. Nady will net the Yanks a 1st/2nd rd compensatory pick.
Tabata hasn’t really progressed yet. Ohlendorf is a quality arm but perhaps not for an AL East team. Karstens is filler.
======
It wasn’t a good deal to trade away a five-tool OF prospect for a reliever.
I would love for the Yanks to somehow get Tabata back one day, but I doubt that happens.
Marte was crucial in his lefty specialist role, though, and we don’t win the WS without his contribution.
My brother has dubbed him “Lloyd of the Rings.”
That’s got to be the best moniker I’ve heard in a while, and Marte definitely earned it.
Anyone remember Sam Milletello?
pat November 10th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
“SI_JonHeyman: in discussing johnny damon just now, scott boras mentioned that posada got 4 years, and so will jeter”
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Goodbye Johnny
It wouldn’t completely shock me if Damon got 3 years from San Fran.
They have the money and the need and have been known to give out silly contracts (Zito, Rowand). If not a 3 year deal then at least a deal like the one Abreu just got with 2 years and a vesting option for a third.
The question will be whether Damon wants a long term contract or to play for the Yankees.
If he takes the contract then, as I suggested, a guy like Randy Winn would fit in nicely into his vacated #2 spot in the batting order and represent a slight upgrade in the field.
I’m aware Nady was also in that deal…still wouldn’t have done it.
BD, the Yankees can’t force Damon to take their offer. I’m sure they will make him a fair offer (1 and an option perhaps?), but if he insists on a long term deal (and that means 2 years guaranteed), the Yankees have to say goodbye.
Michael Kay thinks the Yanks should go Melky in left, Gardner in CF and Swish in RF if Damon doesn’t return…….
Bodhi
I saw that piece on the Molina family, it was very touching.
thanks for the GG game Uncle E, I was going thru GTLU withdrawal
If Damon gets 3 years from San Fran, then I wish him well.
Bodh, I disagree……First, we won a WS with Marte playing a HUGE role. Without Marte, we may not win the WS. Secondly, Tabata is not that good and, more importantly, the kid was a problem.
Boras is just doing his job, which is to try to get the best deal possible for his client. Of course he is going to ask for something outrageous.
It will come down to whether or not Damon wants to play in NY next year. He’s not getting 3 or 4 years from the Yankees. He might not even get 2.
You can’t blame Damon if he wants to take the best financial deal somewhere else, but the Yankees won’t be strong-armed into giving him any more than they want to, as they were with Posada, who had Yankee pedigree and played a much more difficult to replace position.
I remember Sam – what about him?
bodh-
I wasnt aware of Mr. Molina passing. I wonder if any of the Molinas have any kids. Yanks should just sign one now and in 2017 he can take over behind the plate for Montero/Romine.
Michael Kay thinks the Yanks should go Melky in left, Gardner in CF and Swish in RF if Damon doesn’t return…….
====
Substitute AJax for Gardner and I’m ready to rock that OF.
We have enough OPS in the infield and behind the plate to not have to worry about getting it from the OF.
My logic on AJax is – if you’re going to turn over the CF to Gardner, then give it to AJax instead because although he needs to hone his skills at the plate, AJax trumps Gardner right now offensively right now and is also a much better defensive CF.
The GG selections were pretty cut and dry. The only change I would have had was at second base and go with Aaron Hill, but Polanco was in the top three in almost every second base category. It’s also hard to argue against a guy that makes only 2 errors in over 150 games at 2nd base.
If Marte stays healthy he has a chance to be the 8th inning guy for NY next year. Thank God there is no WBC this year.
Damon four years is crazy talk. If some GM does offer him that contract then I guess Damon will have to decide between that and having a legit chance to win a few more rings with a 2 year deal from the Ynakees.
The originial generation trey:
Sam Milletello
Domingo Jean
Mark Hutton
Betsy-
My brother in law just ran into him in a Florida airport. They were talkin baseball when this guy tells him he used to play for the Yankees. My brother in law says “yea right buddy whats your name” and shoots me a txt “Do you know who sam militello is?” Naturally i answer yea he was the next ace of the Yankees in the early 90s. Apparently Sam is a college coach down in Florida at a major school. Just thought it was pretty funny.
There is no chance, none, zilch, zero, zip – that the New York Yankees go into next season with an OF of Melky, Gardner, Swisher. They will not go with two fourth outfielders and Nick Swisher on an everyday basis.
If the Yankees don’t keep Damon then they will use the money they allocated to his signing on a free agent or trade target.
If Bay and Holliday were off the market by the time Damon makes his decision then they will focus on:
Marlon Byrd
Randy Winn
Mike Cameron
Dan Uggla (who they would convert to LF)
Rick Ankiel
or bringing back Xavier Nady.
Mr. O,
I really think Gary Sanchez is our catcher of the future.
The guy is 17 and already has a power bat and is very good defensively behind the plate.
He’s going to GCL this coming year – that’s quite a jump from DSL and shows you how advanced his bat is.
I’m hoping Montero can hack it behind the plate – what a two-headed monster we’d have there.
# Boston Dave – XXVII November 10th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I haven’t heard as many posts about how horrible the Damaso Marte for Tabata trade was lately.
Marte was a key to the WS win. Nady will net the Yanks a 1st/2nd rd compensatory pick.
Tabata hasn’t really progressed yet. Ohlendorf is a quality arm but perhaps not for an AL East team. Karstens is filler.
————————————————————
A-HA, but you cleverly neglected to mention MRS. TABATA.
Somewhere in the Tri-State area there’s a shy young man who did not get to enjoy a “Mrs. Robinson” moment because of that trade.
“SI_JonHeyman: in discussing johnny damon just now, scott boras mentioned that posada got 4 years, and so will jeter”
So what does that have to do with the price of a camel?
Let’s not forget that last time around Boras was shopping Damon for a 7 year deal.
This year’s crop of of FA outfielders is poor.
But the crop of Shortstops is decent.
Orlando Cabrera, Marco Scutaro, and Tejada are available.
You could sign one of them and put Jeter in LF. Save Jeter’s body the wear and tear of playing short and you fill the corner outfield hole.
betsy
November 10th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Bodh, I disagree……First, we won a WS with Marte playing a HUGE role. Without Marte, we may not win the WS. Secondly, Tabata is not that good and, more importantly, the kid was a problem.
====
Well, it really depends on how you look at things.
The Red Sox gave up Hanley Ramirez for Beckett. So far, they have one WS to show for it – so you may or may not think it was worth it to them.
All I know is, they have no short stop, instead of having one of the best hitters in the game who plays an up-the-middle position (albeit not all that well).
Still, a Red Sox fan might consider that one title worth it.
I would disagree.
In this case, Tabata isn’t Hanley – he’s not a SS and probably will end up a COF, although he can play CF – that’s a huge plus (you saw what it was like having only TWO players who we could even think about putting in center).
But Marte isn’t a front-rotation starter – he’s a reliever out of the pen.
I do not deal a potential every day star who can play CF for a reliever.
I am nonetheless grateful for what Marte did – and we had a huge strategic advantage over the Philles with our two lefty starters and Marte for specific hitters.
Finally, you – and I – have no idea what Tabata will do over the course of his career.
Based on potential alone, I wouldn’t make that trade – but it really can’t be evaluated quite yet.
As for Tabata not being “that good,” – having seen him a bit, I think he will be very good.
How often have you seen Tabata play?
Just curious.
“SI_JonHeyman: in discussing johnny damon just now, scott boras mentioned that posada got 4 years, and so will jeter”
========================================================
boras also wanted 4 years for manny and varitek…and got 2 instead…
damon isn’t getting 4 or even 3 years – it’ll come down to how much less money will he take to play in the WS again with the yankees..
If Damon wants to join Barry Zito in bloated contract land (San Fran), then I’d have to say adios and thanks for the memories. He has been a great contributor over the past few years and its his right to choose where to play.
There’s no way that Damon can hold up for 4 years and he knows it. This is just postering.