A different topic

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

Jimmy Bowden heard a story:

Astros manager Brad Mills says Carlos Lee will be the Astros’ starting first baseman in 2012, and that could open up a deal involving Brett Wallace to the Cleveland Indians. The Indians have been discouraged by Carlos Pena's (No. 17 on my free-agent board) high asking price and are not convinced that Matt LaPorta is going to hit well. Wallace has been in four different organizations since being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2008.

Link (Insider)

If we can get something for Wallace now, and Singleton progresses, I'm cool with it.

[hostros7]

Jimmy Bowden heard a story:

Link (Insider)

If we can get something for Wallace now, and Singleton progresses, I'm cool with it.

Trading Wallace now will concede the Oswalt trade as a hindenburg equivalent (and, to a degree, starting Lee at first over hoping Wallace will develop will PT is pretty much the same net effect).  Wallace won't yield the organization shite on the trade market today. 

[Jacksonian]

Trading Wallace now will concede the Oswalt trade as a hindenburg equivalent  

Disagree.

[hostros7]

Disagree.

Really?  Because trading Wallace for a spare part or two, an ineffective JA Happ, and Villar seem like a good return for Oswalt plus $17mm (IIRCC)?  I haven't given up on Wallace or Happ, and Villar seems like he has the potential to be a future piece, but, right now, the trade doesn't look good for the Stros, in my opinion. 

[Jacksonian]

Really?  Because trading Wallace for a spare part or two, an ineffective JA Happ, and Villar seem like a good return for Oswalt plus $17mm (IIRCC)?  I haven't given up on Wallace or Happ, and Villar seems like he has the potential to be a future piece, but, right now, the trade doesn't look good for the Stros, in my opinion. 

Your opinion of Oswalt is different than mine.  I see him as high priced pitcher on the downward side of his career.  Happ has issues, yes, but he has talent and is under club control.  Villar has the talent to be more valuable than Oswalt for his career.  He alone can make this trade look brilliant.  We have no clue what the Astros might get for Wallace at this point.

[BUWebguy]

Villar has the talent to be more valuable than Oswalt for his career.

Wow... that is a strong statement.

[Jacksonian]

Wow... that is a strong statement.

Terrific shortstop.  His defense can be AE level with perhaps a bit more range.  He needs to cut down on the K's offensively but has the talent to hit 1 or 2 eventually.

[Arky Vaughan]

This is all rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

[Houston]

The new reality is that Houston will need a DH in another year. Why not keep Wallace to see if he can handle that job?

[Limey]

This is all rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

The traits required for a shortstop in the AL are that he hits for power and/or average.  If he has shitty range but can perfect a jumping pirouette, he'll be a HoF lock.

[Fredia]

i always thought of this move more like an iceskater doing a jump...but gay is gay

[ValpoCory]

Terrific shortstop.  His defense can be AE level with perhaps a bit more range.

So Villar is just like the best defensive shortstop in franchise history, only better.

[Jacksonian]

So Villar is just like the best defensive shortstop in franchise history, only better.

As long as he's consistent (which is an issue), I believe so.

Side notes.  When AE was the same age as Villar is now, he was beginning his junior year of college.  Villar reached AA as a 20 year old.  AE got to AA when he was 22, the year after he was drafted and the year before he was traded to Houston.  Too, AE was a first round pick by Boston in 98.  Had he gone to college, 2012 would be Villar's draft year.