Brad Lidge Heading East?

by user 206.166.181.162

In this mornings Houston Chronicle there is an article, which states that one high ranking American League East official has informed the Chronicle that his/her team is attempting to obtain demoted closer Brad Lidge from the Houston Astros. We can speculate as to which team is making the run. My guess is that it is the Boston Red Sox. A few weeks back, ESPN's Buster Onley reported that the Sox attempted to obtain Lidge, but Tim Purpura informed the team that Lidge, along with Dan Wheeler and Chad Qualls was unavailable at that time. As we have seen this week, Theo Epstein is looking to add depth to the Red Sox bullpen. I could see a scenario in which the struggling Lidge is shipped to the Red Sox for a similarly struggling Coco Crisp or Wily Mo Pena. Houston is in need of some pop in their lineup and the Red Sox need to continue to add arms to their pen if they want to be playing deep into October. I am not saying an even swap of Lidge for Crisp or Pena will happen, but I believe that they could be the centerpiece to any deal. The Astros have depth in their pen and the Red Sox have outfield depth with Eric Hinske and David Murphy and Alex Ochoa in the minors, not to mention top prospect Jacoby Ellsbury could be ready to hit the primetime later on this season. Let the rumors begin, Lidge could be on his way to Boston!

SchellisLittle Leaguer

973 days ago

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The problem I have with that is that its not like the Astros are lacking in OF's. They have Scott who is somewhat underated, Burke, and Lee not to mention top prospect Pence, along with Berkman at 1B. Really if they are going to go after someone it should either be a near major league ready prospect or a starting pitcher. I do agree that it is the Red Sox that are asking about him though. Another question is just how much of his contract would the Astros be willing to pick up. That would improve what they would be able to get back for him.

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Anonymous Fanatic #1

973 days ago

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All good points Schellis. I do not think the Sox would ask for a portion of the contract to be picked up, but as you said maybe thats a way for the Astros to increase their take home from a deal. I would love to see Lidge wearing a Sox uniform and setting up Papelbon.

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TylersaltAll-Star

973 days ago

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I guess Lidge would be a setup guy? I'm all about trading the no-hit Crisp to make way for a guy like Ellsbury... but it's not like Lidge would be the closer in Boston. Maybe if this trade had happened in the offseason, but not now that Paps is ensconced there for the forseeable future. There's no way I do it if we trade Wily Mo, though.

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SchellisLittle Leaguer

973 days ago

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With his contract and well publized failures I think the Astros probably would be better off using Lidge as a low pressure reliever, just to get his stats more favorable as well. Right now he's a poor reliever that is very expensive. No team is going to give up alot for something like that. I suppose Crisp would be a posibility since he's been disappointing in Boston. Right now though that is probably the best case scenerio for the Astros. Someone elses problem that has shown some success at the ML level, or a AAAA type prospect. Do you take the risk and trade him just for that and have Lidge rebound and get back to what he was prior to the Pujols homer, of do you keep him and hope that his value goes up. Right now its not like its going to get any worse. I really think that dealing him now would be something of a panic move.

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Anonymous Fanatic #2

973 days ago

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I am an Astros fan and a Lidge fan, but he needs a change of scenery. I would not be for shipping him to ANY National League Team, but would be okay if we could get a good YOUNG backup catcher with a good arm or a starting pitcher or a proven hitter or any combination of the above that would fit the 'Stros needs. I would not be for letting him go cheap just to provide a change of scenery. He is more valuable to the Astros even pitching in AAA than just giving him away to someone.

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SchellisLittle Leaguer

973 days ago

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Just going with what is on the main site, There are some hints that it is actually TB that is intersted and Drays Bay posted up a rumor that it could be Lidge for Joel Guzman. I think that makes some sense for both teams. Guzman is buried on the TB depth chart, TB also has no closer, some cash and plenty of talent to deal. Houston could use a minor league 3B, though catcher and SP are bigger needs, just in case Ensberg doesn't rebound. That deal fits, and is about the maximum that I would expect Lidge to bring back right now. If I was calling the shots I believe I would sit on him and hope that he pitches better in a less demanding role.

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Anonymous Fanatic #3

973 days ago

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The problem with the Astros is not their OF, it's the Ausmus/Everett/Pitcher black hole at the bottom of the lineup, which Biggio is quickly becoming a part of too. Burke isn't going to set the world on fire with his bat either - he's a nice player but when you've got so many awful hitters in one lineup he hurts more.

The Astros need need to decide which position is more important to them - catcher or SS, because you can only go with little league quality hitters at one of them. My guess is it will be catcher since they're not going to find a good hitter there. Biggio should be shown the exit once he gets his 3000th hit.

In short, they should be looking at middle infielders. I don't see a fit with the sox. Not that many other teams have a glut of good hitting SS/2B either though.

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SchellisLittle Leaguer

973 days ago

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The only team that I can think of that has a glut of middle IFs is the Angels. They have so many that they're converting some of them to CF's 3B's and so on. However I disagree I think with their defensive skills Everett and Ausmus could stay on the team however you have to get offense out of every other player.

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Anonymous Fanatic #3

973 days ago

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Yeah, but unfortunately Burke and Biggio don't really fit on a team with Ausmus and Everett, unless Lee and Ensberg turn into Manny and ARod. Of course Berkman is great and Lee is very good. Ensberg and the Scott/Lane platoon are nice as well, but not with the other guys. And I love Burke but you just can't have that many average and below hitters at once.

Too bad the Angels aren't a good fit - their pen is strong.

Of course the Astros could also go for starting pitching prospects, as you can never have too many. There might be a fit with the Sox there. Maybe Philly? Tampa Bay? Seattle?

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Anonymous Fanatic #4

973 days ago

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Biggio though has to retire a Astro. That is part of the price you pay to have a player spend his career with one team, usually they take something of a discount to stay, but you still end up paying something (either a over priced contract or paying a player that should be retired) at the end. LEtting Biggio stay with the team as a backup role type player once he reaches 3000 is far perferable to having him show up in another teams uniform. Went thru it with Larkin and the Reds myself. Even though it was probably best for the team to deal him prior to his last contract, I could think of him coming back to Cincy wearing another uniform.

I think that you have to give Burke some time before you lump him into a below average/average hitters group as well. Not every team has a 1-9 team of near all stars after all. Everett is excellent defensively and Ausmus is ok as far as catchers go, there are very few that actually make a difference offensively. If the Astros could get a solid 2B out there and the Scott/Lane platoon produces they'll be fine.

They really need arms in the rotation, between injuries and trades they're somewhat thin.

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Anonymous Fanatic #3

973 days ago

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Don't get me wrong - I really really like Burke. But this is not the right lineup for him to be learning in. Point taken about Biggio - I know there is virtually no chance of him leaving - I just was saying, statistically speaking, what would be best for the Astros.

I do think you don't realize just how bad Ausmus is at the plate. Virtually any other catcher in baseball would represent at least a one game improvement offensively. Maybe he offsets that with defense and handling of the staff, but my point is just there is so much pressure on the top 6 to produce when you know the bottom 3 are basically guaranteed to do nothing.

I really don't know how to fix this team. They have to keep Biggio, as you said. They're not going to find a SS or catcher with any pop.

If we're just going to crazy with speculation, what about something like Lidge, money and a prospect for Chris Snyder and Callaspo. Play Snyder a bit over Ausmus (maybe when their weaker starters are pitching), and play Callaspo 75% of the time, replacing Everett and Biggio.

I believe Ensberg will hit, so you don't mess with him (or Lee or Berkman obviously). Maybe put Lane in CF against some RH?

Is there any chance Lamb could play some 2B?

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KelsdadAll-Star

973 days ago

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The problem with Lidge isn't physical, he's tipping his pitches, and every hitter knows it. No one's going to take much of a chance, or give up too much, if they know he's going to get shelled every time out. He's still the Astro's best option at closer, all he needs is a few non-pressure situations to iron out his mechanics.

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ChristofMVP

973 days ago

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Phils may make a play for Lidge.

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Anonymous Fanatic #5

973 days ago

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Lidge to Tampa Bay for Jorge Cantu makes all kinds of sense, doesn't it?

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

973 days ago

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you might be on to something there Anon #1...

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

973 days ago

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get your knowledgable self Armchair'd up!

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SchellisLittle Leaguer

973 days ago

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Lidge for Cantu does make sense, but I'd like to think that Lidge has more value then someone that really will be lucky to be more then a bench player at the ML level. Plus Cantu can't field at all.

The guy that I think could work if the Diamondbacks were interested would be Hairston. Callaspo is a viable option at SS/2B/3B/OF Guys with that kind of versistily are hard to find and I certainly wouldn't deal him for a MR with Lidge's problems. But Hairston who can't be sent down without going thru waivers I believe is viable.

But Cantu or Guzman is probably the most likely out come.

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SashaDiv-I Stud

973 days ago

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Hairston is in the bigs to stay and there is no way in hell that they give up Callaspo, the snakes have enough inconsistent pitching as it is.

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KelsdadAll-Star

973 days ago

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Hairston can't play, he's only in the majors because he's out of options. Hairston for Lidge would be the steal of the century. People go to prison for less larceny than that.

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Anonymous Fanatic #6

973 days ago

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It is worth mentioning that the Red Sox were interested in Lidge for their closer search, and I think SI.Com lists an AL EAST team as Tampa Bay.

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