2011 MLB Trade Rumors: Astros “Shopping” Wandy Rodriguez, Brett Myers and Carlos Lee

Just because a team doesn’t have a general manager doesn’t mean it can’t get caught up in the trade winds the Hot Stove produces.  The Houston Astros are preparing to enter the Winter Meetings sans GM, but Jon Heyman of SI.com is reporting that the club is actively “shopping” starting pitchers Wandy Rodriguez and Brett Myers as well as veteran outfielder Carlos Lee.

Houston’s makeover is in progress, as the club recently welcomed a new owner into the fold.  Along with Jim Crane’s purchase of the club, the Astros also discovered that they will officially be joining the American League West division in 2013.

As his first order of business, Crane cleaned house, relieving general manager Ed Wade and long-time Astro Tal Smith of their duties.  Now the Astros are poised to hit Dallas next week without a front office leader.

For this reason any deals involving Rodriguez, Myers or Lee are likely to be put on hold until Houston’s general manager’s seat is filled.  But that doesn’t mean we can’t talk about possible trades involving said veterans.

Rodriguez has had his name come up in seemingly infinite trade rumors over the years.  This offseason has been no different, as the Red Sox, Rockies, Yankees, Marlins and Nationals are said to have expressed some level of interest in the left-hander.

Last weekend, Nick Carfado of the Boston Globe reported that the Red Sox were just one of several teams that have recently called the Astros regarding Rodriguez.  Because of the lack of quality starting pitching currently available on the free agent market, Carfado hears the Astros are receiving “more and more inquiries” on Rodriguez.

Myers and Lee figure to be lesser coveted players due to the fact that their contracts do not represent their current levels of production (Myers is set to earn $11 million in 2012 while Lee will cost $18.5 million).

For more on the Astros, be sure to check out Climbing Tal’s Hill.