Astros trade Billy Wagner to Philly

[bigdawg2003]

ESPN link (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1652893)

Hopefully some of these players to be named later are good. If not, the Phillies better be paying all of Wagner's salary so we can sign Pettitte.

[WSUCougar]

WOW. Wagner is a top-shelf MLB closer. Decisive move by the Philberts.

[RPI-Fan]

Good trade for the 'Stros, assuming we got some prospects and don't pay ANY of Wagner's salary. Dotel should be fine as a closer, and Stone and Lidge both have looked really good at times.

[Cringer]

I loved Billy Wagner.....i almost lusted after him. 100 mph pitch after pitch....thats just impressive. And that Duckworth guy blows IMO. McLane blows too. Add in Jimy with one M and you have the makings of a gay orgy. I wish i was a Marlins fan right now........

[Ksyrup]

I be happy. If you can't build a relief corps of 5 excellent guys to distribute the saves to, you have to get that one guy, even if it means paying him $8M a year.

Duckworth isn't a bad prospect. I think the Phillies just want to fill his spot with someone with a little less learning to do, since they will be in the playoff hunt (I hope). Someone like Pat Hentgen.

[Huckleberry]

Good trade for the Astros and Phillies both.

[Qwikshot]

WOOT WOOT, Ed Wade you sneaky bastage...

[Eaglesfan27]

I really like this trade. Go Phillies! :)

[bosshogg23]

Relievers are valuable but 8 mill is alot of cash. Apparently the Phils feel they have it to go around now though.

Wagner is certainly a good player and will replace the pitiful Mesa but wouldnt it be better to try and acquire a SP with that money(trade or FA). Replacing Millwood wont be easy if he doesnt resign.

The move improves the Phils for sure but I cant see it improving them THAT much.

[Leonidas]

So now Steinbrenner can move in on Jose Mesa (wishful thinking for the Yankees to be so cursed)

[BishopMVP]

As a Red Sox fan, I like this move. Hopefully Pettite signs with Houston now.

[Draft Dodger]

and life again imitates the RWBL

[Neuqua]

freaky ain't it?

[JeeberD]

:(

I knew that it was coming but I was hoping that it wouldn't happen. Dotel should do a good job as closer, but there's only one Billy Wagner...

[Dr. Sak]

Originally posted by Draft Dodger
and life again imitates the RWBL

First it happened to my team with Jim Thome and now Billy Wagner. DD, you and I can see the future.

[JimboJ]

Good trade for the Phils. Duckworth has potential, but every time they've brought him up, he's struggled.

I don't think the Phils are done yet either. I wouldn't be suprised to see them go out and get a #1 starter too (assuming Millwood doesn't re-sign). I'd love to see Javier Vasquez in that rotation.

[MizzouRah]

Well, I guess I did hear that right on the radio tonight on my way home.

Are you kidding me Houston? Wagner is one heck of a closer, but I think he's wanted out of Houston - or at least wanted them to get another starter or two. Anyhow, I'm glad he's out of our division.

Now, if the Devil Rays can take Tino off of our hands, I would be estatic. Heck, I might streak through the neighborhood for that one.


Todd

[Ksyrup]

If the D-Rays take on any of Tino's contract - especially after letting Travis Lee go rather than paying him the paltry sum of $2M to play great defense and hit a little - they would take stupidity to new heights.

Wagner knew before the season was over that he was going to be traded, so I don't think he necessarily wanted out, he just knew it was coming. This trade makes perfect sense for the Astros, since they have a cheaper alternative. And one of the prospects they got is a top-level #2 starter/closer type. Good trade for both teams.

[daedalus]

I think the point for the 'Stros is that they want to clear up some room to make a run at Pettite . . . and, uhhh, they wasted way too much money being locked into Kent (in my opinion).

Personally, I really wonder how long Dotel will last as a closer. His stuff is unquestionable, I'm not sure if he really has the makeup to do it. [Of course, I've been wrong before and hopefully, I'll be wrong again this time.]

[JeeberD]

Dotel has done decent as our closer before (a couple of years ago when Billy was inured). He wasn't as dominant as Billy is, but I think that Dotel has become a better pitcher over the past two years as well. Hopefully he can step up and shut down the opposing batters...

[VPI97]

Originally posted by MizzouRah
Wagner is one heck of a closer, but I think he's wanted out of Houston - or at least wanted them to get another starter or two. Billy loved his time in Houston and would have liked to have played his whole career there, but at the same time, I know that he's happy to be coming back to the east coast. He didn't want to go any further west.