Myers to close in 2012

[love_that_reefer]

Astros manager Brad Mills announced Tuesday that Brett Myers will be the team's closer in 2012.
Brandon Lyon has been demoted to a setup role. It's an odd decision given that Myers was one of Houston's most durable and reliable starters in 2011, but the Astros are an organization that needs to get younger all around and this should clear a rotation spot for an arm with upside (like 21-year-old Jordan Lyles). Myers, 31, had a 4.46 ERA and 160/57 K/BB ratio in 216 innings last year. The Astros have reworked his $10 million vesting option for 2012 to accommodate the position change.

Astros must know something we don't because this is a strange decision and could hurt any trade value he had. Myers closed in 2007 saving 21 games so he has done this before but he wasn't getting paid $11 million to do so.

[love_that_reefer]

Myers is 10-11 in save opportunities and has a 1.93 ERA and 0.86 WHIP. He's been excelling but the Astros are going to have to eat a lot of money if they trade him.

[zodious]

But at least they''ve added value to him...

[Kingdom]

Maybe they can sucker in someone like they did the Red Sox on Melancon....

[realmofotalk]

Aren't the Red Sox still looking for a closer?