Astros beat Valverde in arbitration

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Astros won their arbitration case against right-handed reliever Jose Valverde, the club announced Friday afternoon.

Valverde, who led the big leagues last year with 47 saves, asked for $6.2 million, while the Astros countered with $4.7 million. The closer earned $2 million in '07, his first year of arbitration eligibility...

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繼1997年的 Darryl Kile 之後，Astros 球團再度和球員走進仲裁廳，這次的對手是去年花了一大把功夫交易到手的 Valverde。Valverde 要求6.2M，而球團只願意出4.7M，最終結果是球團獲得壓倒性的勝利。對照被交易走的 Brad Lidge 之前和 Phillies 簽下的6.35M，Astros 在 closer 的部分省下了一些錢，而這些錢將可以用來撿目前 FA 的菜渣。

Valverde 會比 Lidge 還令人放心嗎？我想這個問題很難回答，兩位 closer 的控球都有很大的問題。雖然 Valverde 去年有著蠻亮眼的成績，不過 BS 的次數也高達七次，和 Lidge 的八次比起來好不到哪裡去，生涯的 K/BB 2.98也輸給 Lidge 的3.30，而且觀察 Valverde 的生涯成績，可以發現 Valverde 的奇數年總遠優於偶數年的有趣規律，對於有些「逢高買進」的 Astros 而言，只能祈禱這個規律終止於今年。

接下來 Astros 還有 Mark Loretta 的薪資仲裁尚待解決，Loretta 開價4.9M(居然比井口資仁的3.85M 還高)，球團則是2.75M，兩方有2.15M 不小的差距。

Valverde 為我們示範什麼叫作「查埔人」的 guts︰

Astros have veteran Chacon on radar

HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros have made an offer to right-hander Shawn Chacon, one of a handful of free-agent pitchers still looking for work in the final stages of the 2007-08 offseason...

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能夠簽下 Chacon 無疑是對 Astros 的投手戰力增加不少的深度。Chacon 的控球一直是他存在的大毛病，不過去年在 Pirates 的牛棚主要擔任 set-up man 的工作，成績在平均水準之上，而先發又是 Chacon 的老本行，假使 Astros 簽下他的話，Chacon 將可以在春訓與 Chris Sampson 角逐第五號 SP 的位置，落敗者則進牛棚提供戰力。

另外，目前 FA 剩下的搶手 SP 之一的 Livan Hernandez，在今早已經確定以一年5M 的價碼落腳 Twins。Twins 在失去
Johan Santana、Carlos Silva 和 Matt Garza 後，的確需要一位能吃局數的 SP，而且老經驗的 Hernandez 在 Twins 的 rotation 也有母雞帶小雞的功用，雖然 Hernandez 在美中區被打得很慘大概跑不掉。

Pirates, Astros Scout Colon

Free agent starter Bartolo Colon was scouted by the Pirates and Astros last night, according to ESPN's Enrique Rojas. It seems that Colon worked between 88 and 91 in the Caribbean Series start.

After earning $14MM to throw 99 lousy big league innings in '07, Colon is one of the more intriguing free agents still on the market. He recently indicated a preference to pitch in the National League, and should sign soon.

The Pirates are set with a rotation of Tom Gorzelanny, Ian Snell, Paul Maholm, Matt Morris, and Zach Duke.I assume Duke will have to fight for his spot if Colon is signed. Meanwhile the Astros are going with Roy Oswalt, Wandy Rodriguez, Brandon Backe, Woody Williams, and Chris Sampson.

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目前看起來是 Pirates 和 Astros 兩隊爭奪 Colon，而且很有機會在近日內被簽下。但是在 Curt Schilling 可能動刀提前結束 MLB 生涯之下，Red Sox 也有可能再參一腳。

Astros Interested In Bartolo Colon

According to Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes, the Astros will have two scouts watching Bartolo Colon pitch Wednesday in the Dominican Republic. Astros GM Ed Wade said he's not at the point of talking contract yet, which makes sense. A factor determining Wade's budget will be the arbitration hearings of Mark Loretta and Jose Valverde.

Colon indicated a preference to pitch in the National League, and expects to sign next week.

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Colon 的健康一直是個大問題，之前傳出他在冬季聯盟的球速最快只剩87～89 mph，導致像 Indians、Mets、Royals 和 White Sox 等這些原本對 Colon 有興趣的球隊打退堂鼓。當然，如果能夠用便宜的價碼，甚至是小聯盟約搞下這位前賽揚獎得主賭一把，那倒是挺不錯的。像 Livan Hernandez 或 Freddy Garcia (況且他今年回不回得來還是個問號) 這些實力退化到跟 Colon 差不多的投手，簽了可能還會掉選秀權。

Astros sign pair to minor league contracts

Right-hander Brian Moehler and utility player David Newhan agreed Tuesday to minor league contracts with the Houston Astros.

Moehler was 1-4 with a save and a 4.07 ERA in 42 games for Houston last year, and the 10-year veteran has a 64-83 record with a 4.75 ERA.

Newhan appeared in 56 games with one homer and six RBIs for the New York Mets last season. He also spent time last year with Triple-A New Orleans, hitting .347 with seven homers, 12 doubles and 30 RBIs in 44 games. He also has played for San Diego, Philadelphia and Baltimore.

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Moehler 在去年是 Astros 牛棚的其中一員，主要是長中繼和延長賽吃局數，或是敗戰處理，在八九月的表現相當不錯，拉低整體的防禦率不少。今年春訓的首要任務仍和去年一樣，擠進開季牛棚名單。Newhan 主要則是外野的工具人，偶爾也會插花當內野手，競爭外野板凳是今年春訓的目標。