I know I'm a day behind on this (work, and all), but Easy Eddie has set a Monday deadline for working out a deal with Byrdak, Pence, and Wandy - or a hooded Tal gets on the case.
Wade:
"We think that it presents ample opportunity to get things done. The agents for the three remaining players are aware of the deadline, and we'll continue to work through the process and do everything we can within reason to get them done. We think that it presents ample opportunity to get things done. The agents for the three remaining players are aware of the deadline, and we'll continue to work through the process and do everything we can within reason to get them done...
...Realistically, there is enough data available at this point in time for us to afford a settlement. Without a deadline, you're in position where there's a lot of preparation taking place and a settlement could be reached today or all of a sudden takes place on the courthouse steps, so to speak."
Let's see here. I would like the Astros to get a deal done with Pence on a multi-year basis, but there's no real reason to do so. I actually prefer the idea that the Astros are being a tad more hesitant in handing out larger contracts, because Wandy has really only had one great year. And he just turned 31 four days ago (a card's on the way, Wandy). In his five seasons with the Astros, Wandy has thrown 150+ innings just twice, and has one ERA+ over 100 (139 in 2009, and 119 in 2008 when he threw only 137.1IP.)
Pence is a little different. He's a likeable guy, he's got a good arm, hits reasonably well. But the point of the arbitration years is to control a player for a certain amount of time, and Pence still has quite some time under the Astros' steely grasp.
And Byrdak? Just sign your deal.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
