Brad Lidge's up-and-down relationship with the Astros is officially over.

The 2007 season for the Houston Astros had its ups and downs, but it was mostly down. In a season that was highlighted by Craig Biggio getting his 3,000th hit, the Astros went 73-89 and finished 12 games back of the up and coming Chicago Cubs. Roy Oswalt was his usual self and Brad Lidge was not. The emergence of Hunter Pence, along with sluggers Carlos Lee and Lance Berkman, gives the Astros glimpse of hope in the future.

Players Added

The Astros have had the busiest of off-season of any team in baseball. As soon as the dust settled from the World Series, the Astros started making calls to improve their club that ranked 24th in the hitting department with a team batting average of just .260 and a pitching squad that posted a 4.68 ERA. which was good for 21st.

In November, the Astros sent closer Brad Lidge to the Phillies for Geoff Geary, Michael Bourn, and Mike Costanzo. Michael Bourn is speedy youngster that will become the new centerfielder for the Astros and their new leadoff hitter. Last season for the Phillies Bourn hit .277 with one home run and six RBI, but he did manage to steal 18 bases. Bourn managed to get into 105 games but he only started 15 of them. Bourns arrival in Houston may cause Hunter Pence to move over to right field. Watch for Bourn to excel in his new role and hit .285 with 15 home runs and 40 RBI. The big fantasy watch will be his base-stealing, look for him to swipe 30 or bags in 2008.

Right-handed reliever Geoff Geary will add some much needed depth to the bullpen. Geary last season had record of 3-2 with a 4.41 ERA. Geary will be one of the go-to guys in the bullpen as either a middle reliever or as a set up man. Watch for him appear in 70 games and win 5 for the Astros.

Miguel Tejada made his way out west when the Astros traded five players to the Orioles for him. Last season Tejada continued to see his skills diminish even more as he hit .296 with 18 home runs and 81 RBI. Also in 2007, Tejada watched his consecutive games streak end also when he broke a small bone in his wrist end the streak at 1,152. With a new venue and new fans Tejada may resurrect his career by reaching the .300 mark and smashing 25 home runs with 100 RBI.

One of the best moves the Astros made this year was trading for Jose Valverde. Valverde last season Valverde had 1-4 record with a 2.66 ERA and 47 saves. The 1-4 record is an inaccurate stat when talking about a closer because when a closer blows a save, he is likely to take the loss in that game. Along with his league-leading 47 saves, Valverde a 1.12 WHIP. Currently Valverde and the Astros are awaiting the decision of an arbitrator on a contract but keep an eye on Valverde, as he will save another 40 games and continue dominate the ninth inning.

The Astros also acquired relievers Chad Paronto, Doug Brocail, and Oscar Villarreal to add depth and experience to their bullpen.

The Astros brought Brocail in for his experience and leadership abilities to help a pitching staff that is still relatively young. Brocail last season was 5-1 with a 3.05 ERA and WHIP of just 1.17 in 67 appearances for the Padres. Brocail wont have the same kind of pressure that he has had in years past from being the go to guy in the bullpen, but watch for him to have a huge impact on this team. Brocail will appear in 50 games and earn a few wins.

Paronto last season was 3-1 with a 3.57 ERA with the Atlanta Braves. Expect Paronto to appear in more games take on solid load of innings. His heavy sinker will make him the man when men are on base. Look for him to appear in a career high 70 games.

Lastly, Villarreal came over from the Braves as well with a 2-2 record and 4.24 ERA. Villarreal has had some elbow problems but will appear in 40 to 50 games. If he can stay healthy watch for him to have another year like 2006.

For the first time in 19 years the Astros had to search for a new second basemen to replace the legendary Craig Biggio. The Astros signed Kazuo Matsui and Geoff Blum to challenge Mark Loretta for the vacant spot in the line up.

Matsui is coming of a year in which he helped his former team reach the World Series; Matsui hit .288 and had four home runs. It is expected that Matsui will start at second base next year but watch for both Loretta and Blum to give him a fight for the spot in the starting line up. Matsui will hit second in line up and hit .290 with five home runs and 40 RBI.

Blum last year hit .252 with five home runs and 33 RBI. Blum will likely come in off the bench and appear in 50 games, but when he is in there his play in the field will be solid.

Players Lost

The Astros have lost some good players this off-season, but none of them were as good as Craig Biggio has been for them over the years. In 19 seasons Biggio hit .281 with 291 home runs and 1,175 RBI. Biggio’s biggest stat has to be his 3,060 hits. Over the last couple seasons Biggio’s numbers have slipped but the loss of this future Hall of Fame player will not be completely replaced for years.

Brad Lidge spent a good amount of 2007 searching for that thing called his career. No other player in sports history has let one play bother him to point of almost quitting, except for the infamous Bill Buckner. When Albert Pujols hit that home run in the 2005 playoffs, it took the confidence and that invincible feeling that closers need to have, and smashed it out of the park with the ball. This past season Lidge made strides towards improvement, but kept getting interrupted by stints on the disabled list. Lidge finished the season with a 5-3, 3.36 ERA, and 19 saves in 27 chances. Last season Lidge only struck out 88 batters, which was a career low and had eight blown saves. Watch for Lidge to find his confidence in Philadelphia as he goes on to save 40 games and help his team to the NL East title again.

After Brad Lidge was dealt to the Phillies, Chad Qualls was supposed to be the teams new closer. The Astros thought otherwise, and went on to deal Qualls to Arizona in the trade for Valverde. Qualls last season was 6-5 with a 3.05 ERA in 79 appearances and ate up 82 innings for the Astros. Qualls will likely end up in the same role that he had in Houston, but if Tony Pena gets hurt watch for him to pick up some saves in the closer role. Qualls will appear in another 75 games with 15 saves.

The loss of Adam Everett should not hurt the Astros due to his inability to get out his own way in the batters box and the addition of Tejada makes it easier. Everett is going to fit well with twins who focus more on good defensive infielders rather than good hitting. Last season Everett only appeared in 66 games due to a broken leg. Everett is not worth a draft pick in a fantasy league, but look for him to hit .240 with five home runs and 50 RBI.

Moves Still to Come

The Astros need the same thing as almost every other team in the league, starting pitching. There is a limited supply of starting pitching on the market and they are limited on cash until the arbitration hearing results for Jose Valverde is announced. Some of the cash left over after the arbitration could be spent on veteran pitcher Bartolo Colon. Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes reported that the Astros have scouts in the Dominican Republic watching Colon pitch, but there have been no talks of a contract at this point.

The Astros are also looking at Kris Benson, but the Phillies are the leader in the Benson sweepstakes. Bensons injury problem is well documented and this could be a risky move for any team, especially the Astros who have no starting pitching depth as it now. Benson did not pitch all of last year due to a torn Labrum.

What to Watch for in Spring Training

There are not going to be many spots available in spring training this year but the second base and catcher spots will be open. Brad Ausmus is getting old and the Astros have a young catcher in J.R. Towles who appears to be ready to take over the spot. Look for Towles to win the spot from the veteran. The Astros have invited 15 players to spring training to compete for a spot.

Non-Roster Invitees

Pitchers

• Mike DeJean


• Runelvys Hernandez


• Carlos Hines


• Brian Moehler


• Josh Muecke


• Stephen Randolph

Catchers

• J.R. House

Infielders

• Kevin Hooper


• Tommy Manzella


• Lance Niekro


• Tomas Perez

Outfielders

• Jose Cruz


• Victor Diaz


• Nick Gorneault


• David Newhan