When Brad Lidge was good, he could be scary good. That season he had back in 2004 was nothing short of awesome the only problem is, that was three years ago. Since then, Lidge has been good but inconsistent. He really stunk it up in 2006 but he bounced back this past season to put up some solid numbers. Anytime you have a reliever striking out 100 guys year in and year out, you have a potential keeper but with Brad Lidge getting ready to test the market, the Astros must have felt it was better to cut bait on him then to have him cut bait on us.
The Astros also Eric Bruntlett to the Phillies although this looked to be more of a throw in of sorts. I like how the utility infielder is willing to take a walk but he was hardly a vital cog to the Astros getting back to their World Series status.
Michael Bourn is a slick fielding, base stealing centerfielder that will give the Astros some options to go along with Hunter Pence. Bourn put together some solid numbers last year as a fourth outfielder and probably just as important, he’s a Houston native so the kid will be coming home. Geoff Geary is a decent middle reliever who struggled after a nice season in 2006 and Mike Costanzo is a former top Phillies prospect and the third baseman belted 27 homers last year at the Double A level.
I have mixed feelings about the trade. On the one hand, the Astros got a couple of nice, young potential starters but you always hate to see a special player like Lidge go. Still if you go with the idea that Lidge is gone after 2008, then the trade makes sense considering Lidge’s struggles in the past. Still, I would have thought a trade deadline deal might have gotten them more although that could backfire if Lidge regresses back to his 2006 self.
