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OFFSEASON PLAYER MOVEMENT

Player signed	Player lost
C Brad Ausmus (mutual option)	INF Mark Loretta (free agent/Padres)
RHP Shane Reynolds (re-signed)	RHP Dave Mlicki (free agent/Brewers)
2B Jeff Kent (free agent)	LHP Pedro Borbon (free agent/Dodgers*)
LHP Jesus Sanchez (free agent*)	RHP Doug Brocail (free agent)
RHP Jared Fernandez (free agent*)	RHP Tom Gordon (free agent/White Sox)
RHP Brian Moehler (free agent)
RHP Scott Linebrink (free agent*)
RHP Anthony Telford (free agent*)
Acquired via trade	Players traded
OF Victor Hall (Rockies)	RHP Nelson Cruz
RHP Ruddy Lugo (Dodgers)	OF Daryle Ward
*Minor-league deal

Complete List | 2002 Free Agents

Hernandez out for season


	Hernandez went 8-5 with a 3.92 ERA in 26 games last season.

Pitcher Carlos Hernandez will miss the 2003 season following surgery on his left shoulder. Hernandez, a left-hander, had the operation to repair tear in his rotator cuff and labrum Feb. 4. Dr. James Andrews also tightened the capsule in Hernandez's shoulder during the operation, performed in Birmingham, Ala. Hernandez's recovery time is estimated to be nine to 11 months. "We are optimistic that Carlos will be able to return," said general manager Gerry Hunsicker.

Biggio's move pays off


	Biggio

Craig Biggio is getting $4 million more in guaranteed money as he prepares to move from second base to the outfield. The Gold Glove second baseman and the Astros agreed Jan. 31 to a one-year contract extension through 2004, a deal that contains a club option for 2005 and could be worth up to $9 million over two years. Biggio, a four-time Gold Glove winner at second, is being moved to the outfield to make room for former NL MVP Jeff Kent, who left San Francisco in December when the Astros gave him an $18.2 million, two-year deal. "This was a tough situation for everyone," general manager Gerry Hunsicker said. "The main factor for Craig was that he was being asked to move to a new position in the last year of his contract. We had empathy for that and we wanted to show what he has meant to the Astros over the years."

Ward dealt to Dodgers
The Astros traded outfielder Daryle Ward to the Dodgers for minor-league pitcher Ruddy Lugo. Ward, 27, stood to be pushed out of the lineup by Craig Biggio's move to the outfield after Biggio was shifted to make room for free-agent signee Jeff Kent at second base. "Daryle has made a solid contribution to our ballclub over the last few years, especially on two of our (NL Central) championship teams," general manager Gerry Hunsicker said. "He is still a young player with great talent, and I hope this opportunity will be positive for his career. We certainly wish him well." In Lugo, brother of Astros shortstop Julio Lugo, the Astros replenish some of the minor-league pitching depth they've lost in recent years through promotions of several young hurlers to the big leagues.

Hot Stove: Astros | Sickels: Minor-league report

GAMMONS: BANNER YEAR?

Few places have been harder hit by the economy than Houston, so don't look for GM Gerry Hunsicker to have much payroll flexibility. But in the spring he'll be watching Craig Biggio, Richard Hidalgo, Brad Lidge, Brian Moehler and Shane Reynolds and hoping that this will be the Astros team that finally wins a postseason series. Heaven knows they've been trying since George W. Bush was at Andover.

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AUDIO/VIDEO
Video Into Orbit
Jeff Kent is excited about getting thrown into the Astros lineup.
Standard | Cable Modem

FEATURES

Neyer: One able assistant
In the first of two interviews, Rob has a Q&A; session with Astros assistant GM Tim Purpura.

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ULTIMATE STANDINGS

See how the Astros fare among all 121 professional sports teams.

SportsNation's Ultimate Standings

Where do the Astros rank?

2002 NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL
TEAM	W	L	PCT	GB
St. Louis	97	65	.599	-
Houston	84	78	.519	13.0
Cincinnati	78	84	.481	19.0
Pittsburgh	72	89	.447	24.5
Chicago	67	95	.414	30.0
Milwaukee	56	106	.346	41.0
Complete Standings

Astros 59Fifty Authentic Fitted Game Cap Our Price: $24.99	Astros Replica Cooperstown Classic Jersey Our Price: $149.99
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NEWS AND NOTES

RHP Anthony Telford and the Astros agreed Feb. 7 to a minor-league contract. Telford, 36, pitched in 20 games for the Rangers last year, going 2-1 with a 6.46 ERA. He was 8-2 with a 3.40 ERA in 35 relief appearance for Triple-A Oklahoma.

The Astros signed LHP Jeriome Robertson and RHP Brad Lidge and five minor leaguers to one-year contracts on Feb. 5. Also signed were C John Buck, RHP Rodrigo Rosario, LHP Greg Miller, OF Henri Stanley and INF Tommy Whiteman.

A judge in Houston ordered former Astros INF Ken Caminiti into a six month drug treatment program on Feb. 4. The program takes place at a state jail facility. Caminiti, a convicted drug user, flunked a urine test in violation of probation last week after pleading guilty to cocaine possession last March.

RH reliever Scott Linebrink, who has spent parts of three seasons with the Astros, has agreed Feb. 3 to a minor-league contract and was to spring training as a non-roster player. Linebrink, 26, was sent outright from Houston to its New Orleans minor league team last August.

RHP Brian Moehler agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Astros on Jan. 17. "Brian gives us an experienced major league pitcher who will help solidify our rotation," said GM Gerry Hunsicker. "He also brings leadership and a great role model for our young pitchers."

3B Geoff Blum agreed to a one-year contract with the Astros on Jan. 17 and avoided salary arbitration.

Reliever Octavio Dotel avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year deal with the Astros on Jan. 16. Dotel will be paid $1.6 million next season and can earn an additional $50,000 in performance bonuses, $25,000 each for appearing in 60 and 70 games.

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ON THE FARM

Minor league affiliates:
New Orleans Zephyrs (AAA):
    Sched./Results | Stats | Official Site
Round Rock Express (AA):
    Sched./Results | Stats | Official Site
Salem Avalanche (A)
     Stats | Official Site
Lexington Legends (A):
     Stats | Official Site
Tri-City Valley Cats (A):
    Official Site
Martinsville Astros (R):
    Official Site


AVG	L. Berkman	.292
HR	L. Berkman	42
RBI	L. Berkman	128
RUN	L. Berkman	106
SB	C. Biggio	16
WIN	R. Oswalt	19
SV	B. Wagner	35
ERA	R. Oswalt	3.01
Complete Team Statistics: Batting \| Pitching


C	B. Ausmus	ROTATION
1B	J. Bagwell	R. Oswalt
2B	J. Kent	W. Miller
3B	G. Blum	K. Saarloos
SS	J. Lugo	S. Reynolds
LF		P. Munro
CF	C. Biggio	CLOSER
RF	L. Berkman	B. Wagner

FEATURES
Neyer: One able assistant In the first of two interviews, Rob has a Q&A; session with Astros assistant GM Tim Purpura.


Feb 8: Signed pitcher Anthony Telford to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Feb 6: Agreed to one-year contracts with catcher John Buck, pitchers Brad Lidge, Greg Miller, Jeriome Robertson and Rodrigo Rosario, outfielder Henri Stanley and infielder Tommy Whiteman.
Complete Team Transactions


No significant injuries.