Today is the day that the Astros will learn whether or not Jose Valverde will accept arbitration, and it looks like he's leaning toward accepting, according to Smilin' Ken Rosenthal, who is saying that Valverde could return to Houston in 2010 (scroll down to "1:15 am")
Rosenthal:
Perhaps another team would sign him to a multi-year contract, but the free-agent market is deep in late-inning relievers, and several others are available in trade. Teams also will be reluctant to give up two high draft picks for Valverde, a Type A free agent.
Thus, Valverde might decide that a one-year, non-guaranteed contract from the Astros is his best option. The team then could settle with him on a guaranteed deal before the two sides went to a hearing.
Either way, the Astros would pay a high price.
Wow. Would a team ever get so pissed about returning one of the top closers in the game?
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
