Houston's management team is putting one of these in every locker this offseason. The reason behind this move is due to all of the transactions in and out of the organization as of recent. Houston is financially strapped for money thus can't sign any free agents for the next couple of season a minimum so needed to make a splash in the trade market. The Alcoholics will let the fans decide if the moves they made were worth it or not.
13 players out . . . 13 players in
AQUISITIONS:
OUT:
C Haywood Taylor - Taylor took over behind the plate full-time 4 years ago and has done a phenomenal job. Hitting .339 for his career in Houston, Taylor could also steal bases, leading the ML with 24 at the position (20 high than the next catcher) Currently ranked as the 12th best catcher in the league.
IN:
C Michael Riggs - Riggs was dealt away 4 years ago making the way for Taylor to take over the starting spot and also bringing over SP David Ortiz. This offseason Houston traded away a top SP prospect to bring Riggs home. Riggs is currently rated as the 3rd best catching in baseball.
OUT:
2B Pat Floyd - currently rated the 5th best 2B in baseball, Floyd moves on to Boston. He had a down year last season due to injuries, but when he did play, the #s supported that ranking.
IN:
2B David Tedder - a prospect coming over from Washington. Tedder has excellent speed to go along with his top notch gap hitting ability. He looks to jump right into the starting lineup for Houston. He is the 5th best 2B prospect.
OUT:
3B Joe Murray - while fans and the stats are very sad to see Murray depart (via trade to Boston), the clubhouse was not. Murray was constantly causing commotion in the locker room. Due to his elite on-field performance, his behind the scene distractions were over-looked. The city of Houston is torn with the loss of Murray (3rd best 3B in ML)
IN:
3B Jay McMahon - acquired from Boston, McMahon as the ability to be a solid offensive contributor to the ML club very soon. He is exceptional defensive abilities at the "hot box" position (posting +1.1 at the position this past season). McMahon may still be a year out from making the ML club, but will be given a long hard look this spring.
OUT:
SS Mario Sanchez - the veteran SS hit free agency this past off-season. During his 4 years in Houston he hit .297 while posted a 9.7 WAR. His subpar defensive skills helped make this lose a bit easier.
IN:
SS Kelsey Sisler - acquired via trade with Washington, Sisler will bring the same offensive skill set as Sanchez but has elite defensive abilities. At 23, Sisler should be a drunk SS for many years to come. He is currently rated as the 5th best SS prospect.
OUT:
CF David Cruz - shipped to Philly via trade, Cruz is a top notch CF/leadoff hitter. He had a down year this past season due to lack injuries in the organization, feuding in the locker room and bad managing to start off, but finished 2068 strong. He is the 4th best CF in ML.
IN:
CF Will Waddell - acquired via trade from Boston, Waddell looks to feel the shoes of Cruz. Though he does give up some on the defensive side of things, Waddell looks to make up for it at the plate as his hitting ability is above that of Cruz. Waddell is rated the #27 OF prospect in baseball
OUT:
SP Logan Rose - Rose was apart of a deal that brought Riggs back home. 22nd rated SP prospect. A young flamethrowing lefty, the former 1st round pick in 2066 could have a bright future ahead.
IN:
SP Zong-ming Zhang - apart of the Philly trade that included Cruz, Zhang helps offset the lose of Rose. A hard lefty with 4 pitches, if able to fully develop could be a pivotal part of the Houston "remodeling" project.
OUT:
SP Edgardo Velazquez - an international find by Houston, Velazquez departs to Washington where they have a high success rate in developing foreigners.
IN:
SP Ron Lee - brought over from Philly in the Cruz deal, Lee looks to jump right in the Alcoholics' starting rotation.
OUT:
CL Jason Hood - came over from New England before the 2065 season but never saw the mound that year as he tore his labrum during spring training. He did have a good couple of bounce back years in 66 and 67, until imploding last season (along with most every other Houston pitcher
IN:
RP Ruben Navarro - another piece brought over in the Cruz deal with Philly , he helps fill the void of Hood. An established hard throwing right-hander, Navarro has top notch slider helps keep the ball on the ground allowing his defense to do their job
OUT:
SP Angelo Cabellero - apart of a big deal that sent Riggs away 4 years ago, Cabellero seemed to spend more time on the DL than on the mound. When he was pitching, Cabellero was lights out, unfortunately he didn't pitch often. His huge contract is off the books as he retired at the end of this past season saving Houston over $30 million over the next 2 season.
IN:
SP Sander Alkemade - brought in with Riggs from Washington, Alkemade was an international discover in Thunder Crabs organization. He may get the call up this season and could earn a spot in the starting rotation.
OUT:
SP Mike Eaton - lost to free agency, Eaton did not pan out after being trade to Houston from Orange County back in 2065.
IN:
SP Mark Wilson - apart of the Boston trade, Wilson is a 4-ptich prospect that can change speeds on you real quick. Houston is in no rush to bring him up but hopes to see him in the ML clubhouse in the next 3-4 years.
OUT:
SP/RP Julio Valdez - picked up from free agency back in 65, tore his UCL causing him to miss the entire season. Valdez as never the same and Houston had to eat the contract until it finally expired after this past season.
IN:
RP Gene Washington - coming over in the Washington trade that included Riggs, Washington hopes to find a spot in the Houston bullpen soon. Maybe not this upcoming season, but at only 24, and being a lefty, his top notch cutter and slider shouldn't keep him in AAA for long.
OUT:
RP Armando Pena - coming over before the 65 season from OCD, Pena had 3 good seasons in the pen until this past season was derailed (again, like the rest of the Houston arms) and he decided to retire
IN:
RP Pete Salgado - acquired from Seattle this off-season, Salgado is a veteran that can eat up middle of the game innings.
OUT:
2B Travis Kennedy - looks to be a solid player at the plate, Kennedy moves over to Washington in the Riggs deal. Houston had plans on Kennedy being their starting 2B soon, but with the acquisition of Tedder, he was expendable.
IN:
RF Ryan Lawrence - brought over in the Boston deal, Lawerence has a huge offensive upside but could be the odd man out with the acquisition of RF Best who looks to take the reins at RF. Lawrence could find himself mainly at DH he is stays in Houston with a few reps at times in RF.
ROTATION AND BULLPEN (as of today)
SP R David Ortiz
SP L Greg Burton
SP L Pepe Castellanos
SP R Ron Lee
SP R Chad Jones (R)
CL L Joseph Jordan
CL/Setup R Raymond Palmer
Setup R Ruben Navarro
MR R Luis Manuel Hernandez
MR R Pete Salgado
MR R Tony Thompson
MR/LR R Kichisaburo Goto
Other players that will get some looks this spring will be:
SP R Armondo Cardenas (R)
SP R Juan Martinez (R)
RP L Gene Washington (R)
SP/RP R Ben Cochrane
STARTING LINE-UP AND DEPTH CHART (batting order TBD)
C R Michael Riggs
1B R Glen Norman
2B S David Tedder (R)
3B S Jay McMahon (R Tim Nichols if he isn't ready)
SS R Kelsey Sisler
LF L David Marino
CF L Will Waddell (R)
RF R Bob Best (R) (R Mark Young if he isn't ready)
DH R Manny Sanchez/L Edgar Avila
C R Jose Torres
1B/2B R Ted Goodman
2B/3B/SS L Jason Johnson
Other's getting some looks will be:
1B/2B R Pedro Tarazon
CF L Hector Castillo
Season Prediction:
82-80
