According to the Houston Chronicle:
"With free agency set to begin Friday, the Astros have made a contract offer to lefthander Randy Wolf and are still negotiating with the agent for relief pitcher Doug Brocail.
Astros general manager Ed Wade said today the club made an offer to Wolf this week but wouldn’t divulge details. Wade said he is awaiting further dialogue with the agents for Wolf and Brocail, both of whom could sign with other teams beginning Friday.
Thursday marks the final day of the 15-day exclusive negotiating window teams have with their own free agents."
Last year Wolf made about $9 million, once incentives were included. I think the only real incentive you need is: Play baseball for a living or Work at the post office.
However, $9 million for what should amount to a #3 starter...too much?
Wolf had two bad starts for the Astros: August 18 @ Milwaukee, 4 innings and 6 earned runs; September 14 @ Milwaukee against the Cubs in a totally understandable 2.2 innings and four earned runs (Ike). He lowered his season ERA 0.44 points in his time with the Astros, from 4.74 to 4.30. Wolf got 222 ground balls to 213 fly balls - and 57:82 ground ball:fly ball ratio in Houston with the Astros, but that's 46 ground bals and 32 fly balls (I refuse to count a home game in Miller Park) at Minute Maid. So he knows how to pitch in Minute Maid Park, only giving up one home run in Houston.
What the heck else are we gonna do?
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
