Astros Insights: Former MVP Ivan Rodriguez expected to sign; Boone out.

In good news compared to the Astros' dismal showing this Spring Training, general manager Ed Wade announce that the team has re-engaged in negotiations with Ivan Rodriguez's agent Scott Boras (and I thought Drayton McClane had vowed not to deal with Boras again after the Carlos Beltran's fiasco a few years back) and the parameters seems to be set for the free agent catcher to join the Astros pending a mandatory physical. It looks like it's going to be be a one-year contract for $1.5 million dollars. With all of the catchers in camp at this moment hitting a combine .100 this spring the Astros had to make a move. Ivan Rodriguez fills that void. He is certainly past his prime but he brings credentials that none of the other candidates have: an MVP award, 14-time All-Star, 13-time Gold Glove winner, 7-time Silver Slugger Award to go along a .301 career average with 2605 hits and 295 home runs. He has also played in two World Series, winning one with the Florida Marlins in 2003 and losing with the Detroit Tigers in 2006. He is an upgrade, both defensively and offensively for this club, not to mention the leadership abilities he'll bring as well. Kudos to Wade.

Now it's a matter of finding a third basemen after Aaron Boone announced that he is having open heart surgery, effectively ending his season with the Astros and perhaps his career. Boone describes his condition as "non-emergency". The grandson of former Major League infielder Ray Boone, son of former catcher Bob Boone and brother of former infielder Bret Boone, Aaron has played in 1,142 career games, batting .264 with 126 home runs and 555 RBIs (a friend of mine joked that next season will be the first ever that a Boone was not in any team!). With his spot on the club now open, maybe it's time to consider some of the rookies that had made an impression so far this Spring, namely Chris Johnson. Manager Cecil Cooper will definitely take a long look at him at third with two weeks still left to play in Spring Training games.

And last, the Astros fell again today to the N.Y. Yankees 4-1, running their record to 1-15-3. I have never seen an Astros team do so poorly in Spring training games. The only team that comes close to the Astros in futility this Spring are the San Diego Padres who are 4-11-3.