Yahoo's Jeff Passan is reporting that one GM says the Astros are pushing Miguel Tejada hard, so hard it earned a repeated "hard."
And then we get to some specifics as to how the sagging economy is affecting the Astros directly:
Wade said the economy has hit the Astros not only in the season-ticket-sales department but also in advertising revenue. A local car dealership that folded was one of its biggest sponsors, as was insurance giant AIG, which received $85 billion in government bailout money.
It's reported that the Astros are willing to eat some of Tejada's $13 million. That's a pretty good indication the Astros and Run-DMc are in some trouble financially - when you're willing to spend $8 million to save $5 million.
But remember, the Astros traded...
Pitchers Matt Albers, Troy Patton, Dennis Sarfate,
Outfielder Luke Scott
Third baseman Michael Costanzo
...to get Tejada...the day before the Mitchell Report came out. What do the Astros need? Cheap pitching and a third baseman. Hm.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
