Huff headed to Houston?

[KeepTheFaith1229]

MLBtraderumors.com reports:

 

"It seems that Arizona, Houston, Los Angeles, and Tampa Bay have some sort of deal in the works. It is known that Jayson Werth and Aubrey Huff are involved, but the other players have not yet been revealed. Apparently Werth is headed to Tampa Bay or Arizona - my sources differ in opinion here.

 

Both sources indicated that Aubrey Huff will be joining the Astros. Such a move would certainly cloud up the Astros' 1B/OF situation. They'd have Lance Berkman, Jeff Bagwell, Jason Lane, Willy Taveras, Preston Wilson, and Huff. We know that Bagwell may not be able to play, and Lane and Taveras are trade candidates. Huff mainly played right field and first base for the Devil Rays this year."

 

 

Does this make Lane or Taveras expendable? Also, if the deal is completed, would it compell the Rocket to come back for one last year?

[Cityofchampions33]

I wouldn't mind getting Taveras as a one year guy at all. Great speed and decent contact.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

I wouldn't mind getting Taveras as a one year guy at all. Great speed and decent contact.

 

 

I don't know...maybe if we're going to go with a guy like that we should just go ahead and break Ellsbury in.

[riverside sluggers]

There's a difference there, Ellisbury has faced pitchers who are just coming out of college and might not even make it to the majors. Taveras has actually proven himself in the majors after spending more than 1 season in the minor league system.

 

I think its best to not rush him so quickly, and have him gradually climb the ladder. Trot Nixon was a center fielder in Single A but had later made the transition to right field. Maybe Ellisbury could so the same.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

There's a difference there, Ellisbury has faced pitchers who are just coming out of college and might not even make it to the majors. Taveras has actually proven himself in the majors after spending more than 1 season in the minor league system.

 

I think its best to not rush him so quickly, and have him gradually climb the ladder. Trot Nixon was a center fielder in Single A but had later made the transition to right field. Maybe Ellisbury could so the same.

 

 

I agree; maybe we can stick Taveras in as a stopgap for a year, and hopefully Ellsbury will be ready next year.

[26 to 6]

I don't know...maybe if we're going to go with a guy like that we should just go ahead and break Ellsbury in.

I dont think they will be trading him (but of coarse I could be wrong).

But Taveras would definately fit well with the Sox.

 

...Back on topic here..

 

If the Astros were to get Huff, as mentioned before, they would have a nice little number of outfielders there. This is what I thihnk they would do:

Preston Wilson/Willy Taveras in Left. Willy Tavares/Preston Wilson in Center. Aubrey Huff in Right. Lance Berkman at first. Or they could also move Huff to first and throw Berkman in left than move the Preston Wilson/Willy Tavares combo to right. But of coarse this is assuming that Bagwell wont be able to play, which he likely wont be able to do. If he is however I think Garner and the Astros might let Willy Tavares and Jeff Bagwell split time. Basically platoon Bagwell and Tavares. That would be difficult considering both are righty hitters, but one day for example you could have Wilson (Or Berkman) in Left, Taveras (Or Wilson) in Center, and Huff (Or Tavares) in Right, with Berkman (Or Huff) at first. And then the next day throw Bagwell at first, take Berkman, move him to the outfield, put him where Preston Wilson played, and move Wilson to where Tavares played or something like that. But like I said before, I would be surprised if Bagwell was healthy enough to play much first base this year.

 

As for Lane, he was an Astros bench player for a few years prior to last year, and im sure he could easily move back into that role (not sure how he would respond however).

[KeepTheFaith1229]

I dont think they will be trading him (but of coarse I could be wrong).

But Taveras would definately fit well with the Sox.

 

...Back on topic here..

 

If the Astros were to get Huff, as mentioned before, they would have a nice little number of outfielders there. This is what I thihnk they would do:

Preston Wilson/Willy Taveras in Left. Willy Tavares/Preston Wilson in Center. Aubrey Huff in Right. Lance Berkman at first. Or they could also move Huff to first and throw Berkman in left than move the Preston Wilson/Willy Tavares combo to right. But of coarse this is assuming that Bagwell wont be able to play, which he likely wont be able to do. If he is however I think Garner and the Astros might let Willy Tavares and Jeff Bagwell split time. Basically platoon Bagwell and Tavares. That would be difficult considering both are righty hitters, but one day for example you could have Wilson (Or Berkman) in Left, Taveras (Or Wilson) in Center, and Huff (Or Tavares) in Right, with Berkman (Or Huff) at first. And then the next day throw Bagwell at first, take Berkman, move him to the outfield, put him where Preston Wilson played, and move Wilson to where Tavares played or something like that. But like I said before, I would be surprised if Bagwell was healthy enough to play much first base this year.

 

As for Lane, he was an Astros bench player for a few years prior to last year, and im sure he could easily move back into that role (not sure how he would respond however).

 

 

That's a bit complicated; I think they'll trade at least one of them, though. As for Lane, he was pretty productive last year and they could probably get decent trade value for him rather than have him on the bench.