Column from Fox Sports' Smiley Rosenthal today in which the leadoff snippet has to do with how (a) The Astros suck, (b) so does their farm system, (c) so it's time to start selling:
Much as owner Drayton McLane hates to concede, he needs to understand that A) his team is going nowhere and B) his farm system ranks last in the majors, according to Baseball America.
Trading closer Jose Valverde, shortstop Miguel Tejada and catcher Ivan Rodriguez would be a start. But Oswalt — even a declining Oswalt — could bring the most significant return.
Oswalt, like Jake Peavy and Astros teammates Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee, has a full no-trade clause. He is earning $14 million this season, $15 million next season and $16 million in 2011. But given the thin states of both the summer trade market and 2009-10 free-agent market, he still would be attractive to contenders.
And that bastard "One NL Scout" has this to say about Roy:
"Every great pitcher has two careers. He hasn't come up with really good secondary stuff to carry him to his next career phase when he loses his fastball. He hasn't lost his fastball, but it's nowhere near as effective. He has lost some movement."
What say you?
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
