The Astros have released corner infielder and former top prospect Brett Wallace, according to Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
To call Wallace a well-traveled first-round draft pick would be an understatement. Originally selected 13th overall by the Cardinals in the 2008 draft, he was traded to the A's for a half season of Matt Holliday a year later in 2009. Oakland held onto Wallace for just five months, however, as he was flipped to the Blue Jays in exchange for then-top-prospect Michael Taylor. Seven months later, Toronto turned around and traded him to the Astros in a one-for-one swap that sent Anthony Gose to the Blue Jays.
Now looking for his fifth organization since being selected 13th overall less than six years ago, Wallace is coming off a season in which he batted just .221/.284/.431 with 13 homers in 285 plate apperances for the Astros. Wallace has never hit much in 1077 PAs at the big league level, but he's crushed Triple-A pitching to the tune of a .308/.375/.500 triple-slash in more than 1600 PAs.
Would probably be a nice fit for the Rakuten Golden Eagles
He could fill the void left by Casey McGehee.
Absolutely is the kind of guy who benefits from going to the NPB to figure things out.
May be a good fit. His bat has been slow, but he would face more junk over there…and he’d walk into some solid power numbers
Ah, I remember when Cards fans were apoplectic about trading him for Matt Holliday. I think it worked out okay.
Thats when 3b was viewed as a huge hole and Holliday a rental. No one talks how the A’s did very poorly with the Holliday trade both ways. Gave up Cargo for Holliday and didnt get much when they traded Holliday just a few months later. One of Billy Beans few miss steps
People definitely talk about from time to time how bad both Holiday deals were. The only reason why more people don’t talk about them is because Beane has been able to overcome what could have been a couple of crippling moves for an organization moving forward with more young talent filling the voids and being competitive again. Though had a GM like Amaro done these deals and see where they are now, I think he would be more criticized by fans today. That and because Oakland flies more under the radar, even with their winning ways coming back again.
I’ll admit – I was one of those Cardinal fans who was apoplectic when they traded him for a rental of Matt Holliday, and of course I was completely wrong. It’s why we should leave personnel decisions to professionals.
104 K’s (36.5%) vs 18 BB’s (6.3%) in 285 PA’s last season…….yikes
Sounds like just the type of player the White Sox prefer
I could see KC grabbing him for depth at AAA
Maybe Seattle. How much depth do they have at 3B?
NYY could use some 3B depth most certainly and it never hurts to have depth at another position in this case 1B too.
I wonder if the Pirates don’t take a look. His 2013 splits vs RHP aren’t horrible, though I wonder if he would offer any improvement over Lambo.
The more options, the better at this point. Lambo isn’t inspiring a whole lot of confidence with his struggles in winter ball and so far this spring. Would be nice to have a guy like Wallace at AAA just in case Lambo continues to struggle.
I feel the same. Not a bat that has shown much in the big leagues but maybe the bucs take him and he have the success like burnett and liriano.
A minor league contract and he’ll probably be on the team by June. The Yankees might be another option.
Wouldn’t surprise me if the Brewers inked him.
They’re playing first basemen in the OF at AAA. What would they sign him to do?
3B
They put some 1B prospects there too. I could see a lot of other teams, maybe the Pirates, using him as filler at AAA.
The Pirates already have Andrew Lambo, Travis Ishikawa, and Chris Mcguiness. If one of them gets released or claimed off waivers, then maybe Wallace would be a fit.
Remember when this guy was supposed to be the “first basemen of the future” for the Blue Jays?
Hah. How the mighty have fallen.
Or the future 3B for the Cardinals or future 3B/1B for the A’s or future 1B for the Astros?
I could see the yanks taking a flyer on him. They don’t have anyone backing up Teixeira.
Was thinking the same thing. Reports said Girardi was saying Soriano could be it though. Kelly Johnson too possibly.
Soriano at first? Who’s going to play 2nd after Roberts is done for the year then? Heck, why not have Sorry play SS too :p
Just use two first baseman.
Texiera, Johnson, Soriano, Canzler, McCann, Roller,Joseph Sizemore….. As of now this would be their depth chart for 1B. …… and Johnson, Nunez, Sizemore Ryan, Canzler, Anna,Wheeler, Mustelier. at 3rd. As you can see, they surely could use Wallace as some corner IF depth. At 1B Wallace would probably slot between Johnson and Soriano. And at 3B between Sizemore and Ryan
I’m thinking brewers.
Dude, the brewers have plenty of player for that position. So, probably it’s taken by another team.
BUT BUT HE WAS A TOP PROSPECT!
I DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS CAN BE!
Milwaukee has nothing to lose by signing him… Except possibly Mark Reynolds and Lyle Overbay.
A roster spot?
There’s not a team in the league that’s going to sign that guy to a major league deal. If there was, somebody would have claimed him on waivers.
No one wants him. The Astros probably tried every single option for trades. I’m willing to bet they even offered him for literally peanuts and no one took. He’s a career AAAA player- and that doesn’t exist.
There’s always Japan.
For him, I’m thinking Korea.
I’m going with Australia.
Slow bat. I always thought he looked like he might hold down a platoon on a second division team.
That whole trade string with him doesn’t seem to have gone very well for any of the teams involved except the Cards.
Can see him being a nice fit for the Angels on a minor league deal. They don’t have much depth at 1B. Cron should be back in AA. Pujols is an injury waiting to happen. He can play 1B/DH/and a semi-passable 3B. He’ll absolutely demolish pitching in Salt Lake as well. Could be nice depth move.