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McLane's Dominican trip sits well with Alou

by Jim Carley


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Jeff Bagwell has visited his good friend Moises Alou in the Dominican
each of the past two offseasons. When he did it last month, he
brought along a friend -- owner Drayton McLane.

McLane went along primarily to let Alou know the Astros are serious
about keeping him around next year. Alou will be in the last year of
a contract that will pay him $5.75 million and says he would like to
sign an extension with the Astros.

Since signing Bagwell to that five-year, $85 million extension
recently, McLane let Alou know that he can "only do so much at one
time," but he assured Alou that the club will take care of him at
"the appropriate time," presumably after next season.

Left unsaid is that the club would like to see Alou play an
injury-free season before committing on another long-term contract.
But the important factors to Alou reportedly were that McLane cared
enough to make the trip to the Dominican and that the club no longer
wants to trade him.

The Astros would love to see 32-year-old Kent Bottenfield return to
his 1999 form when he won 18 games and was an All-Star. But they
figure they have a good deal even if he doesn't hit that career peak
again.

Bottenfield agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal with the Astros,
who were hurting for starting pitching. Houston earlier traded Chris
Holt and just three weeks ago, No. 2 starter Shane Reynolds had to
have knee surgery after a jogging accident.

Bottenfield will almost certainly be the No. 4 or 5 starter if he
only reaches the form he had last season when he was a combined 8-10
with a 5.40 ERA in 29 starts for Anaheim and Philadelphia.
Bottenfield, who chose St. Louis over the Astros two years ago before
going 18-7 with a 3.97 ERA in 1999, has a career record of 44-44 with
a 4.43 ERA in 107 starts.

When Reynolds returns (probably in May), Bottenfield could be nudged
out of the rotation by Octavio Dotel. But the Astros like the fact
Bottenfield has pitched in relief 172 times in his eight-year career.
He probably would stick around in long relief.

Charlie Hayes, who signed a minor-league contract last week, is some
insurance that the Astros needed. Some team officials are still a
little leery of turning the third-base job over to young Chris Truby.

Truby was exceptional at times last year, but also could hit slumps
during which he looked particularly horrible. The only backup the
Astros had was Bill Spiers, a superb utility man whose chronic back
problems keep him from being a full-time starter should Truby falter.
With Hayes, who can play third, first or in the outfield, the Astros
feel good about committing to Truby early.

POSITIONAL ANALYSIS

Middle relievers: The Astros bullpen was awful last year and GM Gerry
Hunsicker concentrated on improving it this offseason. If new
acquisitions Mike Jackson (shoulder) and Doug Brocail (elbow) and
holdover Jay Powell (shoulder) all return to top form from surgeries,
that part of the bullpen could be tough.

Brocail has had a 97-mph fastball, which he mixes with a
knuckle-curve. If he gets his velocity back, he'll be a stellar
set-up man.

Jackson missed last year trying to recover from his surgery. He's a
former closer who's looking to return to an 89-91 mph fastball that
sets up a wicked slider.

Powell was on the DL most of last season before getting his shoulder
scoped after the season.

The rest of the bullpen is suspect at best. Nelson Cruz, Jose
Cabrera, Scott Linebrink and lefty Wayne Franklin are the strongest
of them. The Astros like Cabrera's control and believe Linebrink is
due for a break-out year. Cruz is still young but team officials feel
he could be a big help.

HOT STOVE UPDATE

The Astros say they are set and don't anticipate any more player
moves or acquisitions. Next on the agenda is to sign Richard Hidalgo,
who is arbitration eligible, to either a one- or three-year deal. The
club favors the former.


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