Astros.com Beat Writer Brian McTaggart is reporting that IF Bill Hall has gotten a few calls from Astros brass. The club seems to think that Hall can stick at second base, thereby improving their offensive production at the position relative to what they got last year.
Jeff Keppinger, the incumbent second baseman, has been rumored to have been shopped by the Astros. Keppinger rode a .288 batting average and a .351 on-base percentage to a 105 OPS+ season, and those numbers aren’t too far off his career norms. Hall, however, hit 18 homers last season and has demonstrated much more pop in the past, albeit with less plate discipline and contact.
Hall has spent most of his career at shortstop and third base. Both Keppinger and Hall are regarded as average-at-best in the field.
- The Houston Chronicle’s Zachary Levine reports that he expects the Astros to be active in the Rule 5 draft. Which isn’t a surprise given the four 40 man roster spots the Astros have available.
- Wandy Rodriguez changed agents. from Barry Praver to Adam Katz. Katz’s most famous clients are Sammy Sosa and Omar Vizquel.