Houston Astros news and notes

Roy Oswalt requests to be traded

Houston Astros starting Pitcher Roy Oswalt has asked his ownership to be traded to a contender by the July 31st trade deadline. Roy would like to move on to a contender and has informed the Astros front office that he would waive his no trade clause if a deal can be worked out. The snag in all this is Oswalt struggled  through 2009, but so far in 2010 he seems to have regained his form. The bigger snag here is the money he is owed. Oswalt will make 15 million this year, and 16 million in 2011. Any club who would want to add him will have to assume a big chunk of that money.

2010 MLB preview: Houston Astros

The Astros hit a second half skid that cost Manager Cecil Cooper his job in 2009. Now the Astros enter 2010 with ex Boston Red Sox Bench Coach Brad Mills at the helm. They won 74 games a year ago, but face big questions. They picked up Brandon Lyon in free agency to be their closer, but he is recovering from shoulder surgery. One has to wonder about Roy Oswalt, is there enough offense, and if this is Lance Berkman’s final year in Houston?

2009 MLB season in review: Houston Astros

This is a team with a lot of issues. They have a lot of payroll tied up in aging players, their farm system is depleted, and they played so poorly in 2009 they got their manager fired. Cecil Cooper was let go with two weeks left in the regular season, but the Astros are looking to find some direction. With one great hitter, and a bunch of really good hitters this is a team that needs to add some pieces for 2010, but with a bare farm system it will be hard to trade, which means this team would have to find talent on the free agent market meaning the payroll is going to have to go up if they want to improve.

Houston Astros fire their manager

With 13 games to go in the 2009 MLB season the Houston Astros have decided to fire Cecil Cooper as their manager. This firing is not a complete surprise as the Astros have severely underachieved though out the 2009 campaign. As of Monday afternoon this team sat 70-79, while sporting a 103 million dollar payroll. The two biggest stars on this team, 1B Lance Berkman, and SP Roy Oswalt have had very disappointing years, and all of that equals a manger looking for a new job. Third base Coach Dave Clark took over the team on an interim basis.