Wednesday Morning Link Dump

Here's what happened over the last 24 hours in Luhnow Does San Diego...

*Jim Crane says that $20m is there to spend this off-season, but not just for the sake of spending it.
We're not going to spend it just to spend it. I think definitely the money's available if they need it, and we're looking to fill some voids and improve the team. That could include spending the money and making some trades...Definitely that money's available if they need it, and we could stretch a little if we need to and something came in our direction we felt was the right piece that improved the team.

The right piece needs to be willing to take the money first, though...

*Meanwhile, at some point in the last year, Jeff Luhnow got himself an extension. Though with the timeline given to Evan Drellich by Crane, this extension came before someone leaked Ground Control, or Brady Aiken and Jacob Nix and Mac Marshall went unsigned, or Bo Porter was fired.

*Two of Jon Heyman's sources "familair" (sic) with the Astros' thinking say Chase Headley isn't very high on Houston's priority list, and openly wonders if the NYDN's Bill Madden (who said the Astros offered 5yrs/$65m) didn't fall for a phantom report.

*Jerry Crasnick says that the Astros are one of three teams involved in serious talks with reliever Pat Neshek.

*The Astros have also talked to Sergio Romo and Luke Gregerson.

*L.J. Hoes is being dangled in potential trades involving, yes, relievers.

*The Astros talked to the Nationals about Tyler Clippard, but things "didn't get very far."

*The Astros offering Andrew Miller a potential 5yr/$50m contract - that Miller subsequently turned down - is seen as a positive within baseball, writes Evan Drellich.

*With the Rule 5 draft set for tomorrow (Thursday) morning, Luhnow is gambling that Delino DeShields Jr won't be taken by another team.

*Evan Drellich writes the article about the Astros Tax that we would have written, if we had things like "Access," and "Money/Time to Fly To San Diego."

*The Astros and Kissimmee are almost a lock to break up for Spring Training.

*Could be worse, Astros fans. Nobody from the Brewers has even met with an agent or a representative from another team yet.

Monday Morning Link Dump: December 8

Here's what you knead two no as the Winter Meetings kick off and your favorite beat writers talk about what a drag it is to go to San Diego in December. 

*Of course, the Astros are looking for bullpen help after the Goatpen of 2012-2014 blew eleventy billion leads.

*Perceived top target? Reliever David Robertson, who has thrown over 60IP in each of the last five seasons, with a sub-2.70 FIP in each of the last four, and recorded the 3rd 13.0+ K/9 in 2014. He's looking for a 4yr/$50m-ish deal for his next contract. Next problem: the Astros don't think Robertson wants to pitch in Houston.

*But the White Sox are going after David Robertson, too.

*And if they can't get Robertson (after all, they did offer more money to Andrew Miller, who just went to the Yankees, anyway)? The Astros are expected to go after former Giants closer Sergio Romo. Romo will be cheaper than Robertson, especially since he's coming off a "down year," in which he had his first season with an ERA+ under league average. That said, his WHIP was 0.95, and he posted a 4.92 K/BB ratio.

*Another bullpen possibility: Luke Gregerson, whom Evan Drellich describes as "the Astros' most logical remaining free-agent option."

*According to TSN, the Astros have inquired about 3B Chase Headley, but "it looks like it has come down to the Yankees or Giants."

*The Astros apparently have interest in free agent starter Brett Anderson, who recently ripped the Astros and Lucas Harrell:

*Phil Humber signed a $600,000 contract with the Kia Tigers in Korea.