With word coming out a few days ago that Sutton was the Player To Be Named Later in the Jeff Keppinger deal, there was a reaction from a large portion of the fanbase that is typical; outrage. Many were fed up with the Astros trading away “another top prospect” for nothing more than a “utility” player. The Astros had a questionable bench to begin with and once Aaron Boone fell there was clearly a need for an addition to the bench, and through 15 at bats so far has hit safely in nearly half of them. We should be happy, right? No, instead we’re running after management with torches in our hands because of the loss of a soon to be 26 year old breaking reaching AAA for the first time in his career.

Here are the reasons why this trade makes complete sense:

1) Drew Sutton has been completely irrelevant up until his fantastic season last year in AA as a 25 year old. The guy had absolutely no value up until this spring. Ed Wade saw this as the perfect opportunity to sell high. At this point last year Drew Sutton wouldn’t have garnered anything short of a career minor leaguer, so while his value is up there for what could easily by a short period of time why not utilize his value while you can?

2) Roster space. The infield was clogged in Round Rock. You had your prospects in Maysonet, Manzella, and Sutton along with your much needed veterans in Gall, Kata, and Saccomanno. As Cooper stressed in Spring Training, you need the veterans going far into the season since injuries are inevitable. There was simply no room for all three of the prospects. Edwin Maysonet already proved to be more major league ready this spring after making it to one of the last days before being sent back. Tommy Manzella has been called the shortstop of the future with a glove compared to Adam Everett. Ultimately, that leaves Sutton as the odd man out; especially with Tejada likely gone after this year (leaving a shortstop spot open next season) while Matsui will be here for the next 2 years (no opening for Sutton.)

3) Sutton’s overall potential. The guy is soon to be 26 years old and has yet to do anything until last year where he pounded on a bunch of players who are either washed up career minor leaguers or 21 and 22 year old pitchers working their way up. It’s the equivalent of a 30 year old mashing in AAA, like a Mark Saccomano. Let’s say everything goes perfectly for Sutton. He’s simply a late bloomer and will find himself producing in AAA. Wha’ts next for him? He’s not going to be the next Craig Biggio, hell, he’s not even a guarantee to be the next Chris Burke. At the very best Sutton will simply become… a Jeff Keppinger! Which leaves me baffled as to why people are panicking over this trade. Why WOULDN’T the Astros move a guy who one day MIGHT be as good as Jeff Keppinger if right now we can have the guaranteed production? If in two years the Astros are missing Drew Sutton it will only prove the state of the team to be substantially worse than it already is.

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With the first game of the season in less than 48 hours, the Houston Astros made their final cuts and announced the 25-man roster that will be with Houston for opening day. Although the selections are hardly surprising now, there are a few names on the roster that were not under the radar when Spring Training commenced.

Jason Smith, a player who essentially has been a career minor leaguer, has won the backup short stop job. Entering camp prospects Tommy Manzella, Drew Sutton, and Edwin Maysonet were the main targets. For Manzella and Sutton, Cooper was impressed but felt they needed more time in the minor leagues before getting their chance with the major league club, which Cooper claimed could be this season. Maysonet was the final competition for the job for Smith, but Smith outhit Edwin and showed much more versatility; Maysonet is a lot less experienced at second base and third base than Smith is. Smith, who has been productive in most of his games this spring, admitted to being nervous today, going hitless in his three at-bats as well as making an uncharacteristic error. Nonetheless, he is relieved to have officially made the team.

Russ Ortiz was the other player to lock up a spot that he very much earned. Although unlikely to make it out of camp, the fall of Brandon Backe as well as his consistency in each of his outings locked up the final rotation spot for Russ. The former All-Star will look to keep that spot for the rest of the year. While Russ has done nothing but impress thus far he has to prove he can last a full season. Injuries have compromised him in the past, and between Brandon Backe and Chris Sampson trying to get back into the rotation as well as minor leaguers Bud Norris, Jose Capellan, and Clay Hensley trying to force their way back up Ortiz will not be warranted the leeway a Wandy Rodriguez will.

The final cuts today were Jose Capellan, Reggie Abercrombie, and Lou Santangelo. Capellan was the loser of the battle for the final rotation spot but claims he “feels good” about his situation and plans on playing his way back up to the major league club. Reggie Abercrombie’s move to AAA is not shocking either. The resigning of Darin Erstad as well as the acquisition of Jason Michaels left no room for Abercrombie, who hit well this spring. If and when an outfielder goes down Reggie will most likely be the one called up. The cut of Santangelo is not shocking, but the fact he even made it this far has been a pleasant surprise. Of all the names thrown out there for the catching battle, Santangelo’s was ignored for the most part. He was not viewed as a viable option by anyone entering camp, but he lasted until the final day. Santangelo admitted he was “dissapointed” but not shocked by any means. Santangelo has put himself right into the mix. It will be interesting to see if Santangelo has jumped over Towles and Palmisano as the team’s 3rd catcher.

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The Houston Astros have acquired utility infielder Jeff Keppinger from the Cincinnati Reds in return for what will either be cash considerations or a player to be named later.

In a previous post I named Keppinger as a potential Aaron Boone replacement, claiming that Keppinger would be a likely target if Jeff Baker (the most likely candidate) was too costly. According to multiple sources out of Colorado, was not inspiring offers from teams that Colorado wanted. It is likely that the Astros were one of those teams, and as a result indeed turned to Keppinger as their next target.

Jeff Keppinger is more or less similar to Mark Loretta. He is very versatile, with plenty of experience at shortstop, second base, and third base, and has the potential to hit .280+ over the course of the season. His downfall, like Loretta, is a clear lack of power. What Ed Wade liked most about Keppinger, aside from his versatility, was his lack of strike outs; Keppinger has walked more than he has struck out the past 2 seasons. Keppinger is going to primarily platoon at third base with Geoff Blum, but will also be used at second base and shortstop as well.

In other news, the Astros sent Rule 5 pick Gilbert De La Vara back to the Royals for $25,000 dollars. Because De La Vara did not make the major league squad the Astros were required to offer him back to the Royals before sending him to the minor leagues. De La Vara had a decent camp, but with Wesley Wright as a lock and a strong showing by Tim Byrdak to back up his surprisingly successful season in 2008 there was simply no room for a third lefty in the bullpen.

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Cecil Cooper wasn’t lying when he claimed that non-roster invitees would get a fair chance to win a roster spot. With 11 days until opening day it seems that non-roster invitee Russ Ortiz is going to win the fifth spot in the Astros’ rotation. This spring Ortiz leads all Astros pitchers in innings pitched and ERA, and with Brandon Backe being placed on the disabled list it seems inevitable that Ortiz will find himself on the Astros roster for opening day.

Russ Ortiz is a 34 year old righty who is attempting to enter the 11th MLB season of his career. Ortiz was never an elite pitcher but annually put up consistently solid numbers, most notably in 2003 where he earned a spot on the NL All-Star roster. However, after such a phenomenal year Ortiz signed in Arizona to a lucrative deal and fell apart. He dealt with rib fractures and calf injuries that persisted. He was cut by Arizona in 2006 after posting an atrocious 8.14 and posted similar numbers in Baltimore and San Francisco. After the 2007 he underwent Tommy John surgery and therefore missed all of 2008.

But now Ortiz is returning to form. He’s not going to compete for a Cy Young Award, as he did in 2003, but Ortiz claimed to be completely healthy and to have returned to form and his outings this Spring have certainly proven such. In his last start Ortiz managed to pitch 5 innings of 1 run ball (which was a result of a Jason Michaels error) despite battling a stomach virus. Cecil Cooper acknowledged that he was impressed with Ortiz, and specifically his ability to cope with his illness and pitch well regardless. It seems as of now that Jose Capellan, who has similarly had an impressive spring, is his only competition, but Ortiz has an out-clause, that is, he can opt for free agency if he does not make the Astros. Capellan, on the other hand, can be sent to Round Rock without any obstacles. Ortiz’ experience also should give him the upper hand. Barring a significant injury or an absolute disaster in his final start(s) Ortiz is likely going to win a rotation spot.

Less newsworthy, Danny Graves, after being removed from competition for a bullpen spot, requested and received his release from his minor league deal and is now a free agent. Graves has not been relevant in 5 years and was a longshot to make the Astros anyway.

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