to the Mets for David Weathers.

You beat me to it, Costanza.

I wish they could've got more than a future middle reliever, though.

Good stuff.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1823843

Good call....It'll save the Astros $4M this year & $2M next year which can be used to upgrade some areas that need to be upgraded.

That link reports that the money goes down like this:
Hidalgo ($12M this year) + $4M
for
David Weathers ($4M this year)

Hidalgo has a $2M buyout for 2005 or will make $15M. I can't imagine that the Astros wouldn't have bought out his '05 season so they saved that $2M and the $4M difference in the actual trade.

David Weathers is a free agent at the end of this season.

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Dang, that sure happened fast. I wasn't expecting much to happen for at least a few weeks. Good luck to the mets injecting "juice" into their lineup with Hidalgo. Right now, there's not much "juice" happening with him at all. Actually, with the Astros luck, he'll probably turn it around by mid July and end up being an MVP candidate.

Good move by the Astros. Now they need to use the extra money to get Randy Johnson for the rest of this year like they did a few years ago.

How about Clemens, Pettite, Johnson, and Oswalt as your starting four in the playoffs?

Assuming we actually make the playoffs?

i know he's been struggling lately and never lived up the hopes we all had for him, but i've always liked hidalgo. he's been a pretty good clubhouse guy and a solid right fielder. i wish him the best.

I always liked him but the day they signed him to a $45M contract after one standout season I had a feeling it would come back to bite them in teh butt.....ala Jose Lima

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That team needs a Weathers in the worst way.

I'll miss seeing Hidalgo gun guys down from RF. He's just too much like another strong-armed former Astros right fielder, Glenn Wilson: his arm didn't offset his lack of production at the plate.

Jason Lane, your time has come.

How about moving Lane to CF and Biggio to RF?

At this point I bet Biggio will do anything to get out of center and away from Tal's Hill. I would say its worth a shot if Lane has the wheels to play center (maybe not mid-season though, thats a tough call). I'm fairly certain that we have a guy in AA (Willie Taveras) that has great speed but doesn't bat very well (sort of like Glenn Barker was a few years ago), so they might be hesitant to move Lane to center if they are planning on calling up this guy in the near future.

I'll agree though that I will miss seeing Hidalgo's cannon in RF. Best of luck to him in the rest of his career.

[This message has been edited by aston158 (edited 6/17/2004 1:04p).]

i'm not sure if lane can handle center or not, but i'm very sure that biggio's arm cannot handle right field. runners from first could take third base at will on singles to right.

willie taveras in AA is actually hitting the ball pretty well. granted it is AA, but he's hitting .356. only 5 extra base hits, but he's stolen 29 bases in 34 tries. only 17 walks and 33 strikeouts has me a little concerned.

In the offseason I thought we were going to have to trade Hidalgo to get Clemens and Pettite. Good thing we were able to get somebody else for him. Another reliever would help Miceli, Lidge, Dotel on their many appearances. Lane would go to right beause he has the best arm. Lane's bat is powerful but inconsistent. We'll have to see how he pans out.

Can anyone give me some info on the kind of stuff this guy brings (fastball (mph), curve, slider, etc.)? Greatly appreciated.

I can't believe someone took that lame dead pull hitter with a ridiculous contract off our hands.

Weathers is a bulldog and I hope he still has some left in the tank.

Regardless.... it's Lane time now!

jackie-

Good point about Biggio's arm. He would be a huge liability in right field. Hopefully Lane can continue to develop into the kind of hitter that Hidalgo was when he was hitting well.

biggio in right? you can't be serious...
my 12 year old sister throws better than biggio...

How about Biggio in left, Lane in center, and Berkman in right?

could be decent...
how's berkman's arm? i know that lane's arm is probably the best of the three, but he'd probably make a better centerfielder...

can anyone say carlos beltran?

and yes, i realize we have no shot at that happening

I don't want to say Carlos Beltran. That guy wants a record deal that would make Hidalgo's look like pennies. Lane is the guy. Now they need to use the extra money to pick up another pitcher.

Get ready for Hidalgo to go on a tear. I'm sure he'll hit .325 and 25 hr and 50 rbis from here on out.

How about Lane in Left Beltran in center and Berkman in right. Might as well go for it all

I knew that a shake-up was coming, but I will miss Hidalgo. The guy had a gun in right field and I will guess that his bat will come around later this season. Good bye, doggy!

[This message has been edited by 86 Tex Ag (edited 6/17/2004 4:39p).]

i think the rangers will end up with a better record

as a huge met fan, I'm VERY HAPPY about getting Hidalgo.

I used to cringe every time I heard the broadcasters announce David Weathers coming into the game.

I think Hidalgo could revitalize himself in NY. Oftentimes, a struggling player rebounds when he gets traded. It's like a fresh start.

the mets could use the HR power.

he can't be any worse than what we have out there now....

[This message has been edited by NyAggie (edited 6/18/2004 11:27a).]

[This message has been edited by NyAggie (edited 6/18/2004 11:28a).]

i wouldn't have any problems with hidalgo putting up good numbers for new york. this wouldn't be one of those situations where we trade a guy like kenny lofton or curt schilling, who prove to be very good, we just didn't give them time. hidalgo has been given a very fair shake to prove himself and sometimes it just takes a change in scenery to bring that out of someone.