Nooz and Noats from the 1st Day of the Winter Meetings...
*Luhnow would like to get "one or two" deals done this week.
*The Astros' focus, according to Jeff Luhnow (via Jose Ortiz) is relief pitching, then lineup help, then starting pitching.
*RIP SauerKrauss, who was claimed off waivers by the Angels.
*The Astros are interested in bringing back former Astros legend Jed Lowrie. Evan Drellich writes that his infield versatility could play to the Astros needs not only at SS, but 3B, as well. MLBTR sees a 3yr/$30m contract for Lowrie.
*The Braves aren't necessarily willing to trade presumed Astros target Evan Gattis, but the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's David O'Brien says the Rangers may have the pieces to get a deal done.
*The Astros are "absolutely" open to bringing back Jose Veras. Veras, who signed with the Cubs last season, realizes mistakes were made:
I really made the mistake to sign with the Cubs instead of to sign with Houston early in winter time. But that's the way it is. You learn by mistakes...I'm available to do anything.
*The Astros were never apparently very interested in Jason Hammel, to whom the Astros were connected for some reason or another.
*I'm thinking about blogging about this at some point in the very near future, but Jerry Crasnick is tweeting that the Astros not only offered Andrew Miller more money than the Yankees ($40m to $36m), but they also offered him an option for a 5th year.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
