Kent An Astro

A TV station in Houston just announced that the Astros and Jeff Kent have inked a deal. Numbers were not disclosed but that the deal runs for two years with an option for a third was.

With Kent signing, the Astros have two fab second baseman, Kent and Win Share champ Craig Biggio. Either they move Kent to third or Biggio moves to the outfield. Frankly, given Biggio's offensive dropoff in two of the last three years, I wouldn't expect him to last long as an outfielder. For the record he's played 57 major-league games in the outfield (39 in center, 29 in left, and 2 in right). He would have to take a corner spot with star Lance Berkman in center. That would be bad news for struggling Richard Hidalgo and/or Darryle Ward (remember when the 'Stros had too many good outfielders?). Biggio played one game in left last year, that was his only game in the outfield since 1991. Kent on the other hand has not played third regularly since he left the Mets in the middle of 1996 (and his defensive numbers that year are appalling). His last game at third was in 1996 with Cleveland.