Author Topic: Trade brewing (Read 5941 times)

Markinf · « **on:** January 13, 2006, 01:08:02 pm »

Aubrey Huff To Houston?
Got a good one today. I admit I was skeptical at first, but an independent source verified the rumor.

It seems that Arizona, Houston, Los Angeles, and Tampa Bay have some sort of deal in the works. It is known that Jayson Werth and Aubrey Huff are involved, but the other players have not yet been revealed. Apparently Werth is headed to Tampa Bay or Arizona - my sources differ in opinion here.

Both sources indicated that Aubrey Huff will be joining the Astros. Such a move would certainly cloud up the Astros' 1B/OF situation. They'd have Lance Berkman, Jeff Bagwell, Jason Lane, Willy Taveras, Preston Wilson, and Huff. We know that Bagwell may not be able to play, and Lane and Taveras are trade candidates. Huff mainly played left field and first base for the Devil Rays this year.

Andyzipp · « **Reply #1 on:** January 13, 2006, 01:15:20 pm »

So assuming Bagwell is done, Huff in Left, Berkman at 1st.

Assuming that Bagwell plays...Looks like Lane would be the man out.

Which, frankly is fine with me.

Froback · « **Reply #2 on:** January 13, 2006, 01:21:16 pm »

Quote:

So assuming Bagwell is done, Huff in Left, Berkman at 1st.

Assuming that Bagwell plays...Looks like Lane would be the man out.

Which, frankly is fine with me.

Umm, ok, if we had Huff, here are the issues:

1 1B, choose from: Bagwell, Berkman, Huff
1 3B, choose from: Ensberg, Huff
3 OF, choose from: Berkman, Taveras, Lane, Wilson, Huff

That is 7 people for 5 positions, even if Bagwell can't play, there are more people than positions, who gets squeezed? Lane? Taveras? Those look like the two most likely candidate.

IF this trade goes through, expect another trade to occur, likely for pitching help or 2-1 OF addition.

ohuett · « **Reply #3 on:** January 13, 2006, 01:24:37 pm »

I'm not too familiar with Aubrey Huff but I looked at his stats and he doesn't look much better than Jason Lane. I know stats don't mean *everything* so can someone talk about what kind of player he is and why he'd be an upgrade for us?

Texifornia · « **Reply #5 on:** January 13, 2006, 01:27:20 pm »

I read your sig line and I think:

"Yea, that's exactly the way MY life is too!"

Somehow, it makes me feel better.

pravata · « **Reply #7 on:** January 13, 2006, 01:33:27 pm »

Meanwhile Wednesday morning, one of the players who has been mentioned in trade rumors said: enough already. Aubrey Huff was a guest on the Cowhead Show on sister station 98 Rock, and expressed concern over the team's lack of major free agent signings. "If I had a chance to go to a contender it'd be great. I don't think with what we've done in the offseason we're going to be a contender. We haven't really made any moves, we haven't done anything," Huff said.
Huff added that he has never met the team's new owners. "If you want to trade me, trade me let's get it over with. If you wanna do it, do it, if not let's stop talking about it."

also, it sounds like Hunsicker is getting the band back together,

On Thursday a reliever much more familiar with the major leagues was added to the bullpen when the Devil Rays announced the signing of Dan Miceli to a two-year contract. Miceli, 35, ...
Also the team announced it has agreed to terms with 18 players, the majority of them pitchers, to minor-league deals. Not many would be familiar to even diehard baseball followers, with the most recognizable of the lot being pitchers Travis Driskill,Justin Miller and Wayne Franklin, infielders Luis Ordaz and Greg Norton and outfielder Darnell McDonald.
The Link

S.P. Rodriguez · « **Reply #8 on:** January 13, 2006, 01:36:22 pm »

Presuming this rumor has any substance, it really depends on what Houston throws into the deal. If Houston includes Lane in the mix, well, that clears up the situation. The primary benefit I can see is that Huff is a lefty and adds more balance. For the D'Rays, they get a comparable player, who can also play 1B, in Lane, with a far better price tag. I don't see Tampa having any interest in Willy as they already have their own version in Gathright along with Baldelli and Crawford.

Or, if Houston is throwing in pitching, I assume it would either be Zeke, Wandy, or Qualls. At which point, as someone mentioned, Lane or Willy could be packaged for some pitching, if necessary.

Or, it could be a package of players and Houston could have to deal with having too many decent hitters on the bench, oh the horror!

edited to add:
I don't know how much substance there is to this rumor but I read the article on Huff earlier today and figured there would be rumors starting. Huff hasn't been a happy camper since before last season. His performance dropped off significantly last season and while it's been too long to find the articles I read at the time, I suspect Huff was pushing for a trade last season.

Markinf · « **Reply #9 on:** January 13, 2006, 02:01:51 pm »

Not my blog - got it from:

The Link

I agree that if this happened then it would just be a first to a second trade, there would have to be some sort of domino effect. And Huff is better than Lane - hands down. Last season was an off year for him, and they don't even mention that he could play third base also (he has in the past), just in case.

VirtualBob · « **Reply #14 on:** January 13, 2006, 03:50:07 pm »

Nice Avatar.

InRoyWeTrust · « **Reply #22 on:** January 13, 2006, 05:47:33 pm »

First some guy gets an email or two saying that so and so heard a deal with Aubrey Huff was brought up in a meeting that his friend overheard, possibly involving team A, etc.

Then said guy posts it as fact on his baseball rumor website, which probably has about slightly less credibility than a cheap tabloid. People see it, it gets posted as "news" on every message board imaginable, and sooner or later we've got "trade brewing" and "GM's working over-night trying to get Huff deal done."

Of course, this deal never happens, and the rumor site saves face by saying "oh, the D-Rays were asking for too much," etc. I love the internet.

JimR · « **Reply #24 on:** January 13, 2006, 06:22:22 pm »

Lane plays hard and is one of the most intense guys on the team. his problem is not relaxing enough.

DVauthrin · « **Reply #26 on:** January 13, 2006, 07:36:03 pm »

The only way a Huff deal really makes sense is if the Astros think Preston Wilson or even Lane can man center full time and replace Willy's bat with Huff's(and it would have to outweigh any potential defensive downgrades), or if the Astros are debating dealing Lane.

Personally, while I wouldn't teach somebody to adopt Jason's swing mechanics at the plate, he settled in really well from June on last season. I think he is fine as a number 5/6 hitter in any big league order.

Author Topic: Trade brewing (Read 5941 times)

Andyzipp

pravata

strosrays

No? in Austin