Astros fans will be shocked by the team that almost stole Craig Biggio in free agency

Houston Astros fans are probably aware of Craig Biggio’s induction into the team’s Hall of Fame, though he usually keeps a low profile when promoting the team. In 20 seasons from 1988 to 2007, Biggio racked up 3,060 hits, 668 doubles, 291 home runs and 414 stolen bases, while making seven All-Star teams. Of all the great players to ever wear an Astros uniform, he is considered one of the best.

However, his time with the Astros was nearly cut short by contentious contract negotiations. According to Biggio in an interview with Jon Morosi, discussions during his free agency status after the 1994 season nearly resulted in him signing with the Rockies.

In the interview, Biggio noted that then-Astros owner Drayton McLane Jr. took a hard line in contract negotiations with him despite his on-field performance and importance to the team. Biggio really wanted to come back, but he also didn’t want to be taken advantage of. So his agent got to work and they practically had an offer from Colorado in hand. While today’s Rockies are a bit of a joke, they were a force to be reckoned with at the time, with Larry Walker, Andres Galarraga, Dante Bichette and Vinny Castilla leading a legitimately scary offense.

Fortunately, this story had a happy ending. Houston management clearly underestimated Biggio’s willingness to leave, and when faced with the prospect of losing him, the team finally caved and offered Biggio a four-year deal of their own accord. The rest is history, and the Blake Street Bombers lost the one piece that could have given them the upper hand.

While it’s hard to imagine the Astros’ history without Biggio, the relationship between Biggio and McLane has remained strained. Biggio’s request for a contract extension in 2003 required a late-night meeting between the two sides and a last-minute deal to keep him. Today’s Astros are fortunate that signing Jose Altuve last offseason didn’t involve as much drama.

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