Loretta Likely to Stay with Astros, Adding Another Layer to the Matsui Fleece
There is a “99.9%” chance that Mark Loretta will accept arbitration and remain with the Houston Astros in 2008, according to the Houston Chronicle’s Jorge de Jesus Ortiz.
Loretta stands to make roughly $4M in arbitration, which is probably more than he’d make next year if he signed on the open market. The Astros believe that the right handed Loretta will backup recently acquired Kaz Matsui at second base. Matsui was recently signed to a horrendous three year deal worth about $16M.
I believe, however, that Loretta will claim the starting job by the end of May. Matsui had a career year last year but still hit just an anemic .249 away from Colorado last year. General Manager Ed Wade apparently refused to look at Matsui’s road splits and horrendous stay with the Mets before handing over millions of dollars to Kaz. Ugh, I just can’t believe that fleece.
The Astros lucked out with Loretta’s decision, though. Loretta is a career .298/.362/.372 hitter. Loretta’s decision will probably guarantee a Chris Burke trade as well. (Burke is yet another 2nd baseman on the Astros roster that is better than Matsui).
Filed under: Houston Astros
It almost gets me mad that a GM can be that stupid…$16 million to Kaz? Geez.
[…] a huge win for the Astros, who appeared to have been fleeced when Loretta accepted arbitration after the ‘Stros signed Kaz Matsui to a lucrative 4 year, $16 million deal. They could have […]
[…] fleeced himself immensely this offseason by first accepting arbitration from the Astros, then watching the ‘Stros get fleeced by Kaz Matsui, then losing his position to Matsui, and […]