Stros - Dan Wheeler for Ty Wiggington

[leemajors]

Just heard this on the radio, but can't find a link. Did Purpura manage to get ripped off AGAIN for a TB 3B?

EDIT: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2952871

[K-State Spur]

it's not a horrible deal for either party.

tampa is desperate for anybody in the bullpen who can occasionally get somebody out. wigginton is a league average player overall (with above average power) who can play multiple positions around the infield (although none of them particularly well...).

[leemajors]

i was just hoping chad balls would go. thx for the info.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

My guess is this seals the Astros trading Loretta or Ensberg for a bag of magic beans.

[Horry For 3!]

Hmmmm. Who in the hell will be in the set-up role and who will replace Lidge whenever he starts fuckin up again as the closer...?

[Horry For 3!]

It looks like Chad Qualls will be the person to fill Wheeler's role.

[Horry For 3!]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AqcKOmxft5XU.quhkL80elUb0bYF?slug=txrays astrostrade&prov=st&type=lgns

Devil Rays trade IF Wigginton to Astros for RHP Wheeler

July 28, 2007

TAMPA (TICKER) -- After trading infielder Jorge Cantu to the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays sent infielder Ty Wigginton to the Houston Astros for righthanded reliever Dan Wheeler.

Both Wigginton and Wheeler are free agents at the end of the season.

Wigginton, who has started games at first, second, third and designated hitter for the Devil Rays, is batting .275 with 16 homers and 49 RBI.

Wheeler is 1-4 with 11 saves and a 5.07 ERA for the Astros.

Cantu was sent to the Reds for minor league pitchers Calvin Medlook and Brian Shackelford and future considerations. Tampa Bay also sent minor league outfielder Shaun Cumberland to the Reds.

Cantu, 25, batted .286 with 28 home runs and a club-record 117 RBI for the Devil Rays in 2005. His batting average dropped to .249 and he hit just 14 homers with 62 RBI last season.

Cantu hit just .207 with no home runs and four RBI in 25 games this year and will be optioned to Class AAA Louisville.

[DOMINATOR]

obviously this is to save money because wigginton is basically a utility player... Lamb who will probably get 5 mil in FA. loretta will be traded. so it saves mr. drayton mcclane money.
qualls will be setup while albers or borkowski will be 7th inning guys. my guess would be they are hoping Nieve could be a late inning reliever next year if he recovers from tommy john.

trade isn't bad but it isn't good.

[leemajors]

chad balls blows. i just think they could have got a better deal for wheels - maybe trade him to a contender for some decent prospects, not an average 3b who has problems turning a double play.

[DOMINATOR]

chad balls blows. i just think they could have got a better deal for wheels - maybe trade him to a contender for some decent prospects, not an average 3b who has problems turning a double play.
nope... see wheeler has a 5+ era and is only cheap for 1 more season but qualls is cheap for i think 2 more. qualls also has a little better stuff (sick slider almost lidge like)
also purpura has to trade for guys that will save his job... guys that contribute now and for at least a couple seasons. he could have gotten 3 prospects that may or may not pan out in 3 years by then purpura would have gotten fired for not making the team compete every year like drayton wants them to. wheeler isn't good enough for a top MLB ready prospect, putting him in the closer role this year screwed him up. wheeler is good when locating but if he isn't... ouch, that what happens when you don't have an out pitch.
trades aren't made for talent really anymore it's mostly contracts and money...
i also think nieve will be better than wheeler if he recovers.

[K-State Spur]

I know he racked up a few saves when Lidge was going through his mental midget period. But I would find it hard to believe that Wheeler has any significant value around the league.

[DOMINATOR]

jason jennings just gave up 11 runs in the first inning only got 2 out...

[FromWayDowntown]

My guess is this seals the Astros trading Loretta or Ensberg for a bag of magic beans.

Or designating Ensberg for assignment.

Frankly, I had hoped to learn that the Astros had traded Ensberg for Spannoulis.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Or designating Ensberg for assignment.

Frankly, I had hoped to learn that the Astros had traded Ensberg for Spannoulis.

Vasili? The Mayor of Midland?

[Slinkyman]

astros pitching staff is solid, they don't need wheeler at all. So what they gave up 18 runs to the 3rd worst offensive team in baseball?

[T Park]

This trade makes no sense what so friggen ever.

[Peter]

If your starter gives up 11 in the 1st inning Drayton McLane can be your setup man.

[AFBlue]

This trade makes no sense what so friggen ever.

They ditched Ensberg today, so it makes a little more sense.

Also, unlike the deal for Tampa's corner infielder last year (Huff), this guy actually has two more years before free agency...so the Astros didn't just "rent" someone.

Wiggy should hit .270 - .280 and have 20-30 bombs a year. He can also play 2B as well as the corner infield and outfield.

And while Wheeler will be a very valuable addition to the Tampa ballclub, he was somewhat replaceable in Houston.

Good trade for both squads....

[ATRAIN]

They ditched Ensberg today, so it makes a little more sense.

Also, unlike the deal for Tampa's corner infielder last year (Huff), this guy actually has two more years before free agency...so the Astros didn't just "rent" someone.

Wiggy should hit .270 - .280 and have 20-30 bombs a year. He can also play 2B as well as the corner infield and outfield.

And while Wheeler will be a very valuable addition to the Tampa ballclub, he was somewhat replaceable in Houston.

Good trade for both squads....


I wonder if Ensberg is worth anything for a trade?

[AFBlue]

I wonder if Ensberg is worth anything for a trade?

Since they got his replacement and he has vastly underachieved....probably has about as much value as David Carr after the Texans brought in Shaub.

They'll probably get SOMETHING for him, but I wouldn't count on it being much.

I'd say the same thing for Mike Lamb or Mark Loretta, who are also being shopped.....

[leemajors]

Since they got his replacement and he has vastly underachieved....probably has about as much value as David Carr after the Texans brought in Shaub.

They'll probably get SOMETHING for him, but I wouldn't count on it being much.

I'd say the same thing for Mike Lamb or Mark Loretta, who are also being shopped.....
loretta is a pretty hot commodity atm, and lamb is a good hitter though subpar in the field... i think it's safe to say both have way more value than ensberg.

[Extra Stout]

What a stand-up job Tim Purpura is doing.

[leemajors]

What a stand-up job Tim Purpura is doing.
McLane should beg Hunsicker to come back.

[ATRAIN]

we should sell the team to Cuban since he wants to own a team.....he would spend the money

[leemajors]

we should sell the team to Cuban since he wants to own a team.....he would spend the money
Drayton has spent quite a bit of money in the last few years.

[AFBlue]

Wheeler pitching well for the Rays in a setup role so far. Their starter got tight in the 4th so the relevers pitched almost 6 innings and blanked the Blue Jays for that slot. Whieeler was solid in the 8th.

This guy might actually help to make the Devil Rays watchable for the first time...ever.