McTaggart: Catching up with Wade and McLane

I had the opportunity to visit for a little while with Astros general manager Ed Wade and owner Drayton McLane the day after Christmas, and our conversations ran the gamut from the economy and baseball to how the 2009 Astros are shaping up.

Both are extremely optimistic the Astros will have a competitive club next year, despite losing their third-best hitter in Ty Wigginton and second-best starting pitcher in Randy Wolf. They have plugged the holes with Mike Hampton, Jason Michaels and Aaron Boone, but won’t be offering up any contracts to big-time free agents any time soon.

I asked Wade if McLane had put Ben Sheets under his tree and he chuckled. It’s clear the Astros don’t plan on making any major moves before spring training begins Feb. 14.

“I’m very optimistic about our team,” McLane said. “I think we made some good additions and good adjustments.”

Cavintation alert! Spinal adjustment needed!