Jennings closer to home at cost of Taveras, Hirsh and Buchholz

[BagwellFan]

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061212&content_id=1760234&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou
It's nice to secure a number two pitcher, but I do not like the costs of this trade one bit. Don't get me wrong, I understand Jennings is a bonafide number two starter behind Oswalt, and you have to trade talent to get talent but come on. Giving up your starting centerfielder and two guys who were in the rotation down the stretch? I will be the first to eat my words if Jennings is fabulous and Willy, Hirsh, and Buchholz falter, but this looks familiar to me. Is there anyone else that wishes Freddy Garcia, and Carlos Guillen were still around?
The opening day outfield looks like it may be Lee, Burke, and Scott, left to right, but I liked the idea of Willy T. being in center. I liked his hustle, and as much as people knock him, I think he fit the Astros. He will be truly missed by this Astros fan.

[KCGHOST]

Taveras is an offensive illusion and the Astros are well shed of him. As for Hirsh and Buchholz I guess Purpurra figure he would rather have a bird in the hand rather than two in the bush.

[PopTop]

I'm with you at this time, BagwellFan. Love adding Jennings, as long as we can re-sign him (not sure if he's a free agent after the -07 season or the '08 season?).

But we have no genuine centerfielder right now. I love Chris Burke, and he's got a better stick in my opinion than Chilly Willy T. But with lardbutt Carlos in left full-time and Luuuuuuke Scott probably the leading candidate for the most playing time in right, we need someone who can cover the ground and has the arm for center like Taveras.

KC, I think your comment about Willy T's offense being 'an illusion' is overstating his inabilities. No, he's never going to make anyone forget Craig Biggio in his glory days at the top of the Houston lineup. I've always wondered about him hitting #1 or #2 anyway. But the Astros are going to miss his defense - - range and arm - - in the vast expanses of centerfield. I'd have much rather given up Burke in the deal instead of Taveras.

[Brandon1537]

He turned multiple double plays by being in center field that most others would never be able to.

[TheJourneyman]

Thought the 'Stros gave up too much to get a mediocre pitcher. All he is going to do is make you miss Pettite more.

[The Kid]

Horibble trade.

[Dalkowski110]

As a Mets fan, I've interpreted this as a bit like trading Endy Chavez (Taveras), John Maine (Taylor Buchholz), and Phil Humber (Jason Hirsh) for Jennings. And as a Mets fan, I can say that would be a TERRIBLE trade.

[Old Sweater]

I think it was a good trade for the Astros. They got a good #2 starter and Asencio (avg middle reliever) and the Rockies got 2 pitchers that had 6.00 era's in 2006 and a CF'er with no pop in his bat with a low OBP. His arm is a plus the Rockies can use but Taveras is already in some trade rumors. With Dealing Dan O'Dowd and the Monforts you just never know.

[PopTop]

And as a Mets fan, I can say that would be a TERRIBLE trade.I'd agree, that would be a bad trade in my opinion for the Mets to make. However, Maine is much, much farther along in terms of showing what he can do on the MLB level than either Buchholz or Hirsh, so I don't think the scenario you painted from a Mets angle is really that close comparitively.

Wish we could've made the deal without having Taveras be a part of it, as I mentioned. But if we can resign Jennings beyond this year to a reasonable contract - - 'reasonable' by baseball standards - - this could wind up being a pretty good deal for both clubs.

When was the last time Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd got the better of someone on the trade front?

[Go Stros]

As a fan you certainly can't control what your GM does or doesn't do. I thought we gave up our future, possible 6 yrs of Hirsh to 1 yr of Jennings.

Hopefully Jennings pitches well this year and might could sign him for a few more years since he'll be a FA after the season.