HOUSTON -- Astros manager Brad Mills told the media during a Wednesday luncheon at Minute Maid Park that Carlos Lee will likely serve as the club's starter at first base for the 2012 season.
Lee, 35, hit .275 with 18 homers, 94 RBI, 38 doubles and a career-best four triples over 155 games for the Astros last season.
He made 70 starts at first base and began to play the position on a daily basis once Brett Wallace was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
With Lee entering the final season of a six-year, $100 million contract and left fielder J.D. Martinez continuing to progress, Mills plans to keep both players in the lineup at their current positions.
"I think we were all able to see how well Carlos played at first base last year," Mills said. "As we head into Spring Training, we're looking for him to be our first baseman. J.D. [Martinez] emerged on the scene a little bit. He kept swinging the bat well. It enables us to go ahead and be able to move Carlos to first base."
What does that mean for Wallace?
According to Mills, the Astros intend to give Wallace a look at third base during Spring Training and see if he's a potential fit.
Wallace, a first-round pick by St. Louis in 2008, played third base at Arizona State University and also fielded the position in the minors.
He'll be given every opportunity to prove himself at third base and compete for the starting job along with Chris Johnson and Jimmy Paredes.
Wallace has been working out this winter as part of strength and conditioning coach Dr. Gene Coleman's group at Minute Maid Park.
He's also preparing for his new challenge by working with first-base coach Bobby Meacham on his defensive fundamentals at third.
"As far as Brett goes, we're going to give him a look at third base," Mills said. "He played there in college and in the minor leagues when he first signed. I think it's something we need to at least venture into and see if it's a possibility. Here is a guy that has hit at every level. I know he's had some issues here. At the same time, if we can get another left-handed bat in the lineup, that's good.
"Bobby Meacham has been taking him out and working with him at third base, along with Chris Johnson, so far this winter. We are going to look into that a little bit, as we begin Spring Training."
Wallace hit .259 with five homers, 29 RBI, 22 doubles and 37 runs scored over 336 at-bats in 115 games for the Astros last season.
He spent the month of August at Triple-A in order to focus on improving his weaknesses, but ultimately rejoined Houston in September.
"I think we are going to give him [Wallace] an opportunity to, at least, take a look at him over there," Mills said. "Look at the guys we're going to have. We've got C.J., Paredes and Wally [Wallace]. Diory Hernandez is coming into camp, as well. Jed Lowrie is going to come to camp as hopefully our shortstop. We also have a Rule 5 guy in Marwin Gonzalez. We've gotten great reports on him. We're going to kind of see how it all fits together.
"We'll see how Wally's able to respond."
Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow drafted Wallace as a third baseman with the Cardinals organization and believes he's capable of fielding the position as a starter at the major league level.
"My belief is that he's capable as a third baseman," Luhnow said. "We'll give him an opportunity to try this spring and see how it goes. The competition between him, C.J. and Paredes should be good. We want to field the best team. We will not block guys. For Wallace, his most important milestone is to get back to his swing and the offensive production we know he's capable of.
"Whether that ends up being as a third or first baseman, his offensive production is what we want to see. In talking to him, he's got a good attitude about it. He's been taking grounders at third.
"We'll see what happens."
For the latest Astros news, click on the Subscribe button at the top of the page. Also, be sure to follow Houston Astros Examiner Stephen Goff on Facebook and Twitter, or email sgoff80@yahoo.com.
Comments