Pudge Rodriguez Rumors Surfacing Again in Houston

The Houston Astros addressed the Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez rumor earlier this spring by expressing their lack of interest in signing the 14-time All-Star and future Hall-of-Fame catcher.

Houston's 2008 first-round draft pick Jason Castro may eventually emerge as the team’s future catcher, but for now, the Astros organization wants to give Humberto Quintero and J.R. Towles an opportunity to win the job.

Since the beginning of Spring Training, the losses continue to pile, causing a tremendous amount of frustration and concern for manager Cecil Cooper and GM Ed Wade.

The lack of offense and the inability to have effective balance may influence the Astros organization to take a solid look at potential players remaining on the free-agent market.

Rodriguez, who is tearing it up for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, has demonstrated his desire to play this season. Pudge went 4-for-4 with two home runs, a double and four RBIs against Panama on March 8. Puerto Rico completed a three-game sweep in Round 1 and will face Team USA this Saturday.

After being traded to the New York Yankees this past July, Pudge’s offensive production declined, hitting just .219 with two home runs and three RBIs in 96 at-bats.

His diminishing skills and alleged link to previous steroid usage caused teams to overlook one of the game’s greatest catchers this offseason.

Right now, the Astros cannot distinguish their own identity. Wade built this team for future success and not exactly to win during the 2009 season. However, the Astros do play in a weak NL Central division. The Chicago Cubs will realistically dominate the division, but second place and a potential wild-card bid remains up in the air for clubs like the Astros, Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals.

The Brewers’ pitching staff took a major blow by losing CC Sabathiato the Yankees and right-hander Ben Sheets. St. Louis still has Albert Pujols, but an injury-prone pitching staff makes them vulnerable. Besides Roy Oswalt and Chicago’s Carlos Zambrano, the NL Central lacks dominate starting pitching.

If the Astros' pitching staff stays healthy over the course of the regular season, they can compete in the division as long as the team avoids the Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde hitting streaks.

Owner Drayton McLane, Cooper and Wade need to make a logical decision whether or not Rodriguez, the 1999 AL MVP, is the answer for the team this season.

He fits nicely into a lineup that already includes All-Stars Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee and Miguel Tejada. If the offense continue to plunder this spring and neither Quintero or Towles can establish themselves as legitimate starting catcher options, then look for the Astros to sign Pudge to a one-year contract.

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