Preston Wilson, OF, Houston Astros

January 9, 2006 @ 14:29:34

By David Wysocki
Edited by KFFL Staff

The Houston Astros could have used a shot in the arm last season. This season, they have learned from their 2005 mistakes.

The Astros, who batted .203 in the World Series last year, have added a bigger bat to possibly help push them to the next level when they signed OF Preston Wilson to a one-year, $4 million contract.

Wilson, 31, has played in the majors for seven years and has been a consistent power threat. His average per 162 games puts him at roughly 29 HR and 101 RBI. His best year was in 2003 while playing for the Colorado Rockies where he hit 36 HR and drove in 141. Last year he was traded mid-season to the Washington Nationals, but still finished with 25 HR and 90 RBI.

Wilson’s one-year deal is kind of odd as it includes a three-year, $24 million option, something you do not see very often.

The Astros believe Wilson will hit in the middle of the order with OF/1B Lance Berkman and 3B Morgan Ensberg. The problem created is trying to figure out where Wilson is going to play.

Wilson is a center fielder, but the Astros discovered a diamond in their farm system in 2005 with speedy leadoff man CF Willy Taveras. Slated in right field is Jason Lane who hit 26 HR last season and in left field is Berkman, who is possibly the face of the franchise. One of the four will have to be moved to the infield or benched. Most likely is the potential benching of the one of the original “killer B’s”, 1B Jeff Bagwell.

One thing which has also followed Wilson throughout his career are his astronomical strikeout totals. Wilson has averaged 162 Ks per 162 games lifetime. In 2000, with the Florida Marlins, he struck out 187 times. He also carries a very low .333 career OBP and has also always been a large health risk.

Despite those negatives, the Astros brought Wilson in to do one thing: drive in runs. He should not have any problems doing that, especially in Houston. While Minute Maid Park is no Coors Field, it is about as close as it comes.

Houston really should feel good about this pickup. Wilson comes to them at a very low cost and thus lowers the risk factor. He adds a big bat and will be a run producer for a team what was 24th in runs in 2005.

While it is uncertain whether SP Roger Clemens will come back or not, the team is relatively certain their offense has been shored up. The rotation is still strong, with or without Clemens, with SPs Roy Oswalt and Andy Pettitte still leading it.

Look for Wilson to put up similar numbers to last season, with 28 HR and around 90 RBI possible for 2006. He is a perennial late-round steal. However, if your fantasy league tracks strikeouts, you have been warned.

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David Wysocki

David has been a KFFL writer since 2005. He is a San Diego native and a History and Geography student at California State University-Chico. He has a writing background and has appeared in, and helped produce, various local newsletters and magazines on sports and music. He also pitched for the No. 2 nationally ranked Rancho Buena Vista Longhorns his senior year of high school in 2002.

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