Days after losing Andy Pettitte to the Yankees, Houston acquired right-handers Jason Jennings and Miguel Ascencio from Colorado in exchange for CF Willy Tavares and pitchers Jason Hirsh and Taylor Buchholz. (Houston Chronicle)
Buchholz originally came to the Astros as part of the Billy Wagner trade with Philadelphia. Hirsh was absolutely terrific at Triple A Round Rock last season but struggled during most of his starts after being promoted.
While Purple Row’s Rox Girl calls this “quite a haul,” Bad Altitude’s Mark Donohue is less than psyched :
I hate this deal mostly because it means Willy Taveras will play (probably a lot) for the Rockies next season. Buchholz is pretty much done as a prospect, although Hirsh is much-loved in some circles. The deal as originally discussed had Dan Wheeler instead of Buchholz. Wheeler is one of the best setup guys in the NL, Buchholz doesn’t have any of the original muscles remaining in his right arm. I still didn’t like that deal, because, once again, Willy T. He’s free-swinging, he’s powerless, he’s fast and yet somehow not that good of a basestealer, Clint Hurdle won’t be able to resist hitting him leadoff even though his OBP will hover around .320.
It seems like the Rockies were certain there was no chance of Jennings re-signing. That’s fine. If you can’t make the guy stay, you have to do what you can to get the most value out of him. I think given market conditions the Rockies could have done better than a good starting prospect, a long-term reclamation pitching project, and a sixth outfielder/pinch-runner. But hey, the payroll was in danger of creeping over $50 million for a second there, and we can’t have that.
The Boston Globe’s Gorden Edes reports that Red Sox OF Gabe Kapler has announced his retirement, and will become the manager of Boston’s South Atlantic League affiliate Greenville Drive. Denis Leary was unavailable for comment.
seems like fans of both teams hate this trade, the astros blog on the chronicle’s website is full of purpura hate and it’s much deserved…jennings has an expiring contract and the other dude has had *multiple* elbow surgeries and never broken out of the minors…for an early 20’s near rookie of the year centerfielder, who was completely misused by the astros (read: “scrap iron” is the only NL manager afflicted with down syndrome) and also wanted by just about every team that was in talks with the astros, another dude with a busted elbow, and the best pitching prospect on the astros’ farm.
all for “another one of them good texas boys” that drayton mclane’s so fond of…”HE WENT TO BAYLOR, FOR GOD’S SAKE PURPURA DO YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR JOB?…TRADE THEM THAT TINY MEXICAN THAT GARNER HATES!”
Buchholz is a reclamation project. Tavares is strangely walk-phobic but while plate disciplne is rarely acquired this late…heck, if Rickey Henderson could effectively tutor Jose Reyes, maybe he could help Willy.
But Hirsh is the key to the deal for Colorado. I saw 8 of his starts for Round Rock last season and he was fantastic in all but one of ’em. Hirsh wouldn’t be the first guy to blaze through the PCL and end up exposed at the big league level, but unless he has an abortion of a spring training, he’ll be in the Rockies starting rotation.
For the Rockies fans, there’s obviously frustration they couldn’t sign Jennngs to an extension. But his being in his walk year is precisely why this package is probably the most O’Dowd was going to command. I can only presume that Milledge/Heilman and/or Maine was either too high a price for the Mets to pay, or the Rockies prefered Hirsh.
I love making fun of the Astros, but in all seriousness, Purpura had better be pretty sure Hirsh has peaked (either that or they’re installing a humidor at Ken Lay Memorial). The Cards’ rotation is questionable, the Reds are still the Reds and the Cubs…have spent $300 fucking million dollars in order to win 80 games. There’s still a window of opportunity for Houston…but I still can’t believe they’re gonna send Carlos Lee Carlos Beltran’s paycheck.