MVN: Most Valuable Network

Cheapo Drayton McLane is already trying to get rid of 2 of the 5 most productive players on the club so that he can sign a #4 pitcher to yet another long term contract - and not spend any more money, either..

Naturally...

He therefore has to decide whether or not to offer arb to Randy Wolf, who earned 7 or 8 mill last year and would get a raise (but at least it would be a 1 year contract) and Doug Brocail, who is a Type A, who earned 2.5 mill last year and, naturally, would get a raise. Heck, the Cheap-stros didin't even want to pay him the extra 750K to pick up his option, so I have a feeling they will not offer arb - and we won't get him back and we won't get draft picks. For goodness sakes, it would make more sense to offer arb - worst comes to worst, he could be traded for even a few lower level prospects.

But Drayton has long been concerned more with cents than sense.

I understand that they don't want Loretta back, as they certainly don't want to have to pay him even what he got THIS year, 3.5 mill. They let Newhan go to FA, so I don't guess he's coming back. I hope and pray Tomas Perez, one of Eddie's all time fave ballplayers (he'd be nice and gritty, except he is Latino and it is against the Rules of Grit to be Asian, Latino, Negro, or any combination thereof.)

We have only Geoff Blum, who is NOT a good second baseman nor an adequate third baseman, so I am guessing that the Organization is planning to promote Drew Sutton. SOMEbody has to play second WHEN Kaz goes down right on schedule. Not sure who on earth they are planning to use to give Tejada a rest - I guess Manzella, as Sutton can't really play short. Maybe Adam Everett??? Who could probably be had for close to minimum, after he was hurt most of last year.

I am starting to believe that the owners are playing a game of chicken with all the players, to see who gets desperate and signs for cheap. It was, after all, Charlie O Finley who said that ALL players should be made FA every single year. And it was, after all, the Union who was just as opposed to that as the owners, who were all opposed to Finley, just on general principles of him being, um, uh, difficult, let's say.

I am especially thinking this in view of the fact that Drayton-n-Eddie announced that they are, um, dragging their feet on Randy Wolf negotiations. I am thinking that they just really might could want him for just a 1 year deal, youneverknow.

As far as trades, Alyson Footer has written that Carlos Lee has made it more than clear that he will absolutely positively refuse to be traded, that Berkman wouldn't be real too happy and Roy-O just might could.

At this point, the Astros don't have enough to go for anything but mediocrity and Drayton will refuse to tear down and rebuild - which, this year, might not be the worst idea, seeing as how the player market is looking lousy.

I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't much of any baseball news, even at the GM meetings next week neither.

sigh

This is, without question, the slowest offseason I can ever remember. And it will be VERY interesting to see what happens with ticket sales, not just here, but all over the league...