Astros talking to Trachsel

[Post Count Padder]

Steve Trachsel-S-Mets Feb. 1 - 6:38 pm et

 

 

The Astros are talking to free-agent right-hander Steve Trachsel, but no deal is close.

 

"It's not hot and heavy; we're still kind of flirting with it," Astros GM Tim Purpura told FOXSports.com. "We're up against our payroll number. We're sitting right in the mid-90s." As mediocre as the Astros' alternatives are at the bottom of the rotation, bringing in Trachsel would make a lot of sense. Jason Hirsh and Taylor Buchholz are gone, and Fernando Nieve, who might otherwise be the top candidate for the fourth spot in the rotation, is a question mark because of his elbow. The Nationals are the only team known to have made an offer to Trachsel. The Mets don't want him back, and Trachsel's agent wasn't able to interest the Twins in his services.

Source: FOXSports.com

[tkenm356]

I always hated Steve Traschel, I never thought he was worth a crap. I'm surprised he still has interest

[Balsa]

That's the last time I want to see any GM say "hot and heavy".

[Blizzau]

That's the last time I want to see any GM say "hot and heavy".

 

It would have been better if, before speaking, the GM had thought, "It's like I'm trying to get a little squirrel to come over to me here. I don't wanna make any big, sudden movements. I'll frighten him away."

[Amazing_Grace]

I'm torn.

 

I hope Houston signs him because that's money that won't be used on Clemens and they'll be wasting their payroll on a guy who is like an old version of Jason Marquis.

 

On the other hand, I hope he doesn't sign with Houston because his games are painful to watch on account of how it takes him like 60 seconds between each pitch, and we'd have to probably watch several.

[NCCubFan]

I always hated Steve Traschel, I never thought he was worth a crap. I'm surprised he still has interest

Unquestionably not true. He had three good years with the Cubs (alternating with three putrid years) and was a solid contributor to the 1998 Wild Card team (notwithstanding his giving up McGwire's 62nd HR).

[SouthSideRyan]

He was pretty consistently decent for the Mets as well.

[Soriano12]

I remember, he was good one year, bad the next, good again...like clockwork.

 

That was pretty weird.

[CuseCubFan69]

Since the Astros don't have the Bagwell contract hanging over them, doesn't that give them extra money to spend or have they already spent it?

[NCCubFan]

I remember, he was good one year, bad the next, good again...like clockwork.

 

That was pretty weird.

That was his pattern during his entire time with the Cubs. Kyle Farnsworth had the same pattern with the Cubs.

[JeffH]

I've never seen a pitcher who had such poor overall command and such pedestrian stuff do so well.

 

I don't know how he did it.

[photoguy9883]

I've never seen a pitcher who had such poor overall command and such pedestrian stuff do so well.

 

I don't know how he did it.

 

He just waited for the hitter to doze off before he delivered the pitch.

[oldstyle81]

Since the Astros don't have the Bagwell contract hanging over them, doesn't that give them extra money to spend or have they already spent it?

 

Carlos Lee?

[CuseCubFan69]

Since the Astros don't have the Bagwell contract hanging over them, doesn't that give them extra money to spend or have they already spent it?

 

Carlos Lee?

 

Oh yeah that's right, thanks os81!

[tkenm356]

I always hated Steve Traschel, I never thought he was worth a crap. I'm surprised he still has interest

Unquestionably not true. He had three good years with the Cubs (alternating with three putrid years) and was a solid contributor to the 1998 Wild Card team (notwithstanding his giving up McGwire's 62nd HR).

 

Yeah, I know, but I still hated him AND his guts.

 

It sucked because I've always been a Cubs fan but back then I didn't follow the Cubs like I do now, I'd just occassionally catch a game on WGN coming home from school or something, and for some reason every time I'd turn it on it'd be Steve Trachsel pitching at home, and he's ALWAYS lose. He'd have no problem winning on the road, or at least road games I'd see, but every home game it was loss after loss after loss.

 

That made me hate him. Probably more just bad timing on my viewing part, but it was enough for me to despise his existence in the major leagues.

[Pushfrog98]

didn't Traschel have a 2:1 ratio of pick-off attempts:pitches?

 

It always seemed like he threw to first 200times per game.

 

Or am I thinking of someone else during that same time period?

[CuseCubFan69]

didn't Traschel have a 2:1 ratio of pick-off attempts:pitches?

 

It always seemed like he threw to first 200times per game.

 

Or am I thinking of someone else during that same time period?

 

I'm not sure about his ratio of PO/Att but between him and Scott Sanderson I don't know who else Cub wise that took so much time in-between pitches. I hated playing behind pitchers like that.

[Northsider]

What struck me about this was not that the Astros are so desperate for their rotation, but rather that Purpura doesn't seem to understand that the terms "Hot and heavy" and "flirting" are mutually exclusive. Or, at least, I've always heard of the latter occuring first, and in no case simultaneously . . .

[Banedon]

The Cardinals, Nationals and Astros appear to have emerged as the front-runners to sign Steve Trachsel, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark has been told by clubs that have inquired about Trachsel.

 

Trachsel on the Cardinals could either be a ton of fun for us, or a ton of pain if he does the "I'm on the Cardinals and now I'm a great pitcher" routine...