The Astros have officially signed Chia-Jen Lo, a 22 year old closer out of Taiwan.
**UPDATE** It's official, the Astros inked Hawkins for $3.5 million plus incentives.
Not earth shattering news, but JJO had this insider information from the GM Meetings:
The Chronicle has learned the one-year deal is essentially done for close to the $3.75 million Hawkins earned last season. A press release announcing the deal will be sent out sometime Friday morning or early afternoon.
If Hawkins can repeat his second half performance of:
This will be a great signing, but that would be unrealistic expectations. Hopefully whatever adjustment the Astros scouts saw Hawkins make in July will keep him as effective this year as he was for two months last year. If so, the Astros have a clear set-up guy for Valverde. Now we just have to hope that Geary and Sampson can be as effective as they were pre injury.
0 recs | 13 comments
I feel conflicted about this.
On the one hand, I think Latroy is a decent pitcher, and he is a good part of the Stros’ bullpen. Even if he doesn’t repeat his ridiculous performance, he can make a good contribution to late innings.
On the other hand, what made the Hawkins trade so good was that Latroy was incredibly undervalued. Because everyone had given up of the L-Train, we were able to pick him up for next to nothing. A good bullpen can be constructed from those types of players without devoting significant cash to relievers – you just need to be willing to gamble a bit on the waiver wire. So maybe committing $3.5 million to the guy is a bad decision. But it’s only for a season, so it can’t really burn the Astros too much.
I’d say it’s a solid, sensible signing, but Wade could probably do very well without signing him.
Only_A_Lad - November 7, 2008
I had the same thoughts
And it’s crazy how I wrote them off as: it’s just $3.5 million.
I want to now have a contest though for great nick names for Chia-Jen Lowe. I’ll go first with: The Killer J-Lo.
Stephen Higdon - November 7, 2008
Funny how one's perspective of a million dollars changes in baseball
Whatever – higher marginal productivity and all that.
Let’s see:
“The Taipei Strangler” (Because he choked, get it?)
“Lives Out Lo” (Keeping with the Lidge tradition)
Only_A_Lad - November 7, 2008
I like J-Lo
Joe in Birmingham - November 7, 2008
Barker says that the Astros will begin Lo as a reliever, because he is more
comfortable as a closer, but later in the article he says that Lo has the pitch repertoire to be a starter, and the Astros may evaluate his role. That is an interesting comment in light of the quotes I saw earlier from the Astros’ cross checker scout who saw him and projected him as a starting pitcher.
clack - November 7, 2008
Nice
He could be our Chien-Ming Wang.
Stephen Higdon - November 7, 2008
Hopefully he can run better than Wang
Only_A_Lad - November 7, 2008
Zing
Stephen Higdon - November 7, 2008
he's issue
I watchd him pitch a few times in Taiwan, the biggest problem for the prospect of Lo being a starter is his size. he’s a max delivery smallish pitcher. he can dial it up to the mid 90s without much problem with some devastating breaking balls as well. injury will be a concern as alwasy though.
he is the best young pitcher in Taiwan that wasn’t signed though, that much is clear, as a RP he’s pretty likely to make it. as a SP? I think workload is my biggest concern
RollingWave - November 8, 2008
Tim Lincecum?
Then again, that guy’s mechanics are just ridiculous.
Roy O seems pretty short though, and he’s been as good as a starter you can get.
I do agree, workload could be a problem.
jonthefon - November 9, 2008
Loretta wants full time 2d base job...
and this article indicates that the D-Backs are interested in signing him to be their starting 2d baseman.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/129929
Since it appears likely that Loretta will leave, I hope the Astros offer arbitration so that they can get Type B compensation. The other question, who would replace Loretta as back up at 2d base? It’s not unimportant, since Matsui has a history of requiring plenty of back up. My guess is that Wade may rely on Newhan. Although Newhan had a nice couple of months at the end of 08, I am skeptical that he can do that over a full year.
clack - November 8, 2008
How would
our bench look next year if Loretta leaves? Assuming Bourn keeps his starting job, something like:
Towles (C, can he bounce back?)
Newhan (can play both average IF, OF, hit reasonably with a little pop)
Blum (infield positions, again average, showed some power this season off the bench…14 seems like a career high)
Abercrombie (OF, speed, not sure about his average and a little power)
Erstad (1B, OF, hit well this year when he played)
Maybe another utility player we can resign. Heh, Ramon Vazquez.
jonthefon - November 9, 2008
I think the Astros would be fairly weak at backing up shortstop....
As best I can tell, Newhan has never played shortstop in the major leagues. He has played every outfield position, 2d base, 1st base, and a tiny bit (4 or 5 innings over several years) at 3d base. With that configuration, Blum probably is the back up shortstop….and I don’t think that is his best defensive position. Given that Tejada wants to be an “iron man” in terms of playing time, maybe that works. But I think the Astros should consider giving Tejada more rest in the future, given his offensive decline this last year. Biggio had to learn to accept more rest as he aged.
clack - November 9, 2008
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