Astros take a risk

The Houston Astros are making up for lost time. At least in the "Hey, look at us category."

There was the Brad Lidge trade in November. Then the trade for Miguel Tejada.

Now, the Astros are heading to arbitration with two players -- Mark Loretta and Jose Valverde, who was acquired in a trade with Arizona.

This is a big risk for the Astros, especially given Valverde's brilliant 2007 in which a majority of his NL-leading saves total would classify as "tough saves."

If they lose these two cases, Astros fans can get ready to open up their checkbooks a little wider for tickets at Minute Maid Park.