Astros deal Dotel for Beltran

GraingerGuy · 06-24-2004, 08:34 PM

Wow.....that's all I really can say.....wow.

Beltran for Dotel, John Buck (A good prospect) and cash.

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASApp..._hou&fext=.jsp

Quote:

HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros acquired the center fielder they have sought for years by obtaining Carlos Beltran on Thursday night from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for closer Octavio Dotel.
Houston will also send Triple-A catcher John Buck, 23, and cash considerations to Kansas City, which will then ship Dotel to Oakland for several prospects.

"This is obviously huge for our organization," said general manager Gerry Hunsicker, who made the announcement in the bottom of the fourth inning in the pressbox at Minute Maid Park.

"I can't think of any other in-season trade, other than Randy Johnson in 1998, that rivals this," he said. "Carlos Beltran is one of the most exciting, most complete players in our game today. There's really nothing he can't do."

The public address announcement at Minute Maid was greeted with cheers.

"He's the prototype we've been looking for for a long time," Hunsicker said of Beltran. "He is a switch hitter. He is a prototype center fielder. He's got that rare speed and power combination. He's going to be a very exciting force to be put somewhere in the middle of that lineup."

Beltran, 27, was hitting .278 with 15 homers and 51 RBIs for the Royals this season. He hit 24 or more homers and drove in 100 or more runs three years in a row from 2001-2003.

Dotel, 30, who succeeded Billy Wagner as Houston's closer this season, was 0-4 with a 3.12 ERA and 14 saves in 17 opportunities. But he had been booed several times by the hometown fans.

Brad Lidge, 1-3 with a 2.61 ERA and two saves, is expected to move into the closer role for the Astros.

"When you make a trade like this, there is some risk with regard to our bullpen," Hunsicker said. "Octavio Dotel is a very talented young arm. We're going to miss him. The guys in the bullpen are going to have to step up in a big way."

The big question is what happens to Astros icon Craig Biggio. The former catcher and second baseman switched to center field for the 2003 season after the Astros signed Jeff Kent.

Biggio could return to second with Kent moving to third, but Hunsicker said Wednesday that he had seen Kent play third base 10 years ago and it wasn't a pretty sight.

Morgan Ensberg and Mike Lamb have shared third base this season for Houston.

Hunsicker refused to discuss exactly who would be playing where in Houston's new look lineup.

"I think Jimy (Williams) will address how this will effect our roster postgame," he said.

The Astros did strengthen their bullpen June 17 when they acquired right-handed reliever David Weathers from the New York Mets in the Richard Hidalgo trade.

Houston, predicted by some to reach its first World Series, has been a disappointment to date. The Astros went into Thursday's game at 37-34, trailing St. Louis by five games in the National League Central.

"Hopefully this will provide a spark for us to take off," Hunsicker said. "This club has obviously scuffled for a while. We still need to get our act together and play solid baseball.

"There's not too many players in the game who are really impact players. I don't expect him to come here in carry us on his shoulders. But he significantly makes us better."

Wow.

gear02 · 06-24-2004, 09:34 PM

as much as I want to shout "WOOHOO", I feel like this is a futile attempt. I remember all to well the Randy Johnson experiment. Plus our pen is so much weaker than last year, and it's not like our starting rotation has gotten leaps and bounds better (excluding clemens).

slaus · 06-24-2004, 09:39 PM

I'm happy because it keeps beltran away from the Red Sox

GraingerGuy · 06-24-2004, 11:42 PM

Yeah....but we don't know....maybe Beltran will want to stay. From what I hear it was because of his wife and kid that RJ didn't want to stay.

And yeah....our pen is much weaker this year. Let's hope Lidge does a good job as closer.

But, on the other hand, Munro looks like he's doing pretty well, Miceli also seems like he's ok. I still have no clue about Weathers.

slaus · 06-24-2004, 11:48 PM

Beltran is represented by Scott Boras who always tests the market and goes to the highest bidder.

zenbooty · 06-25-2004, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slaus

I'm happy because it keeps beltran away from the Red Sox

I'm happy because it keeps Beltan away from the Yankees

attgig · 06-25-2004, 10:15 AM

I'm unhappy cuz my fantasy guy Lane loses his playing time...AGAIN!

slaus · 06-25-2004, 01:13 PM

I'm happy because I have Beltran and he'll be hitting in Houston now

06-25-2004, 10:15 AM	#7
attgig Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: the burbs of baltimore Posts: 11,924	I'm unhappy cuz my fantasy guy Lane loses his playing time...AGAIN! __________________

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06-24-2004, 09:34 PM	#2
gear02 Admiral Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 7,223	as much as I want to shout "WOOHOO", I feel like this is a futile attempt. I remember all to well the Randy Johnson experiment. Plus our pen is so much weaker than last year, and it's not like our starting rotation has gotten leaps and bounds better (excluding clemens).

06-24-2004, 09:39 PM	#3
slaus Commander Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 1,189	I'm happy because it keeps beltran away from the Red Sox

06-24-2004, 11:42 PM	#4
GraingerGuy Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Working....and working...and working some more Posts: 3,573	Yeah....but we don't know....maybe Beltran will want to stay. From what I hear it was because of his wife and kid that RJ didn't want to stay. And yeah....our pen is much weaker this year. Let's hope Lidge does a good job as closer. But, on the other hand, Munro looks like he's doing pretty well, Miceli also seems like he's ok. I still have no clue about Weathers.

06-24-2004, 11:48 PM	#5
slaus Commander Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 1,189	Beltran is represented by Scott Boras who always tests the market and goes to the highest bidder.

06-25-2004, 01:13 PM	#8
slaus Commander Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 1,189	I'm happy because I have Beltran and he'll be hitting in Houston now

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