For everyone who suggested trading Lidge/Everett for Tejada

[jasonact]

Stark's latest column essentially looks at the feasability (or lack thereof) of some of the fan-suggested trades this offseason, including the suggestion that I heard from a number of Astros fans of how to get Tejada in Blood 'n' Mud.

It's actually a pretty funny read.

 The Link

[Arky Vaughan]

"I would like to see JOHAN SANTANA TRADED TO THE CARDINALS FOR ALBERT PUJOLS. I think Pujols is the most overrated player in the history of baseball. I live in St. Louis and I watch Pujols choke more in clutch situations than any other player on the team. I want the Cardinals to get rid of his salary and start to play some other bum in his position! What are the chances of this trade going through???"

[jasonact]

Quote:
"I would like to see JOHAN SANTANA TRADED TO THE CARDINALS FOR ALBERT PUJOLS. I think Pujols is the most overrated player in the history of baseball. I live in St. Louis and I watch Pujols choke more in clutch situations than any other player on the team. I want the Cardinals to get rid of his salary and start to play some other bum in his position! What are the chances of this trade going through???"

I know. Funny, huh?

[Browneye]

Hmmm. What are the chances, huh? What's zero times 1 billion equal? That would be the chances.

"You might want to ask Brad Lidge whether Pujols ever comes through in the clutch," suggested one of our trained professionals, helpfully."

What can you say but WOW, these people are allowed to walk among the rest of us.

[pravata]

"Ever-frugal Astros owner Drayton McLane..." You know, I think some people get an idea in their head and never let it go because they don't know where the next one's coming from.  The Astros started last season 12th in payroll.  How the hell much should they spend?  They gave Clemens the most money in history for a pitcher.  They would have given Beltran $105 million.  How many are caterwauling that they overpaid Ausmus? What's the main problem with the payroll now?  Too much money to too few players. Who's the last player the Astros wouldn't pay for, Hampton? shit.

[Arky Vaughan]

Quote:
"Ever-frugal Astros owner Drayton McLane..." You know, I think so people get an idea in their head and never let it go because they don't know where the next one's coming from.  The Astros started last season 12th in payroll.  How the hell much should they spend?  They gave Clemens the most money in history for a pitcher.  They would have given Beltran $105 million.  How many are caterwauling that they overpaid Ausmus? What's the main problem with the payroll now?  Too much money to too few players. Who's the last player the Astros wouldn't pay for, Hampton? shit.

Hell, they gave some other guy $85 million for six years.  That ain't cheap.

[Browneye]

"Who's the last player the Astros wouldn't pay for, Hampton? shit."

Dude, that says it all right there.

[jasonact]

Quote:
"Ever-frugal Astros owner Drayton McLane..." You know, I think so people get an idea in their head and never let it go because they don't know where the next one's coming from.  The Astros started last season 12th in payroll.  How the hell much should they spend?  They gave Clemens the most money in history for a pitcher.  They would have given Beltran $105 million.  What's the main problem with the payroll now?  Too much money to too few players. Who's the last player the Astros wouldn't pay for, Hampton? shit.

I agree that Drayton's "frugality" is a non-trait that people won't let go of, but I can't see many teams taking on Tejada's contract. That's not quite, but almost, like paying Clemens's 2005 salary each of the next 4 years. Keeping in mind that Lidge and Everett made less than $1 million last year COMBINED, that's a jump in payroll that even the most free-spending owner might think twice about.