In Jon Heyman's column on potential trade candidates, closer Jose Valverde landed at #9. His take:
Houston owner Drayton McLane probably isn't as attached to Valverde as he is to Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman.
I haven't seen a drop-off in production from LaHawk and Sampson in the closer role over Valverde. So that may mean that Valverde is expendable, and I would be all for shopping him for some minor leaguers - even if they were Double-A guys. You?
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
