Pedro Feliz signs with Houston Astros

Former Phillies third baseman Pedro Feliz agreed yesterday to a $4.5 million, one-year contract with the Houston Astros on the final day of baseball's winter meetings.

Pudge Signs with Astros

Ivan Rodriguez signed a one year, $1.5 million guaranteed contract, with another $1.5 million in incentives. I'm pretty sure the Astros didn't think they would get Pudge so cheap, so they barely even mentioned it as a possibility. Nice signing, considering the fact the Astros catchers were offensively offensive in Spring Training.

Astros May Need a SS Soon

Miguel Tejada, who had testified to Congress that he did not know about any performance enhancing drugs in baseball clubhouses, is expected to plead guilty to lying to Congress as part of the Congressional investigation into steroids in baseball. Tejada has reportedly reached a plea bargain with prosecutors. The crime carries with it a maximum one year jail sentence, but federal sentencing guidelines make probation up to six months in prison more likely.

It is hard to look at the Astros' roster and see another everyday shortstop, but one wonders if Drayton McLane and the Astros use this plea bargain to terminate his contract as a cost saving move. The Astros had made little secret about their attempts to move Tejada's contract elsewhere, and one wonders if this is all the evidence McLane will need to do additional cost saving moves (or improve the ballclub with the cost savings while picking up a defensive shortstop).

Tejada is smart to plea while the A-Roid scandal continues to make headlines and talk show fodder.

Ty Wiggington Signs With Baltimore Orioles

Ty Wiggington, the Houston Astros' former third baseman that carried the team in the last third of the season, signed with the Baltimore Orioles with a two year, $6 million deal. Prior to the economic collapse it would have not been a surprise to see the Astros pay Wiggington $6 million for one year to avoid arbitration.

As an Astros fan, it is hard for me to understand why the Astros didn't do this deal with Wiggington themselves, but I suppose the Astros needed to use the 3B position for cost savings. I think the Orioles got a steal.

Astros Sign Geoff Geary and Wandy Rodriguez

On Monday the Astros inked their final two arbitration-eligible players to one-year deals, signing right-hander Geoff Geary for $1.7 million plus incentives and left-hander Wandy Rodriguez for $2.6 million plus incentives.

Astros Agree to Minor League Deal with Russ Ortiz

Russ Ortiz, who has struggled with injuries over the past couple of years, agreed to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training to compete for a roster spot with th Houston Astros. Ortiz, 34, missed all of 2008 with Tommy John surgery, but was last with the San Francisco Giants.

Astros Avoid Arbitration with Jose Valverde

The Houston Astros avoided arbitration with closer Jose Valverde by inking him to a one year, $8 million contract. The hard throwing right handed Valverde had a very slow start to the 2008 season, but really settled down to return to his premiere closing position by the end of the season. Valverde, who lost his arbitration claim prior to the 2008 season, was also probably happy to avoid the arbitration process and chose one year certainty over a repeat of 2008. Valverde made $4.7 million in 2008, so the $8 million is quite a raise for the organization. The Astros now are able to move toward signing their other arbitration eligble players knowing what their most expensive player in that process is going to make.

Randy Johnson Signs with San Francisco Giants

The Big Unit signed a one year, $8 million contract with the San Francisco Giants. Although as an Astros fan I know what a healthy Randy Johnson can do for a team, this contract seems like a desperate reach. He has been injured and not nearly that effective for the last few years, and with an offer of $8 million, I can see why the D-Backs let him go. He's a decent pitcher, with an 11-10 record last year, but his injury history makes him a stretch for that kind of money. However, given that he is 5 wins away from 300, he'll likely be a gate draw at least for that one game...

Astros Sign RHP Clay Hensley to Minor League Deal

In clearly the Houston Astros' management's response to the Mark Teixeira signing by the New York Yankees, the Astros went out and signed former Lamar University and Beaumont native Clay Hensley, RHP, to a one year, $550,000 deal to compete for a rotation spot or a place in the bullpen. The Astros had apparently inquired about the pitcher a few years ago at the trading deadline, but signed him directly this year after getting the thumbs up from Hensley's former bullpen mate Doug Brocail.

Astros sign 3B Aaron Boone

Astros, in need of 3B help after non-tendering Ty Wiggington as a cost cutting move, signed Aaron Boone, formerly of the Nationals, to a one year deal worth reportedly $750,000.

Astros sign OF Jason Michaels to One Year Deal

The Astros signed Jason Michaels to a one-year contract worth $750,000. He can play all three outfield positions, and can, if needed, play on a regular basis. Michaels, 32, didn't exactly light it up last year when he hit .224 with eight home runs and 53 RBIs in 123 games with the Indians and Pirates in 2008. In 50 pinch-hit appearances last season, Michaels hit .200 and recorded 13 RBIs, ranking third in the Majors in RBIs as a pinch-hitter. Michaels started his major league career and played with the Phillies when Ed Wade was the GM, so presumably Wade knows his makeup.

Ty Wiggington, Reggie Abercrombie non-tendered by Houston Astros

In a move only done because of the economy, the Houston Astros non-tendered 3B Ty Wiggington. The Astros appear to be offering the job to Geoff Blum or prospect Chris Johnson, but neither will probably excite the Astros' faithful. Brandon Backe was tendered, as was Jose Valverde and all the other Astros eligible players except for OF Reggie Abercrombie.

Decisions, Decisions for the Astros re: Ty Wiggington and Brandon Backe

Tonight is the deadline for teams to tender contract offers to arbitration eligible players, and the Houston Astros have not hidden the fact that dumping a lot of payroll is on their horizon. The Grocer Drayton McLane has made it priority one for the Astros, which brings us to Brandon Backe and Ty Wiggington.

The Houston Astros had hoped during the Winter Meetings to move Ty Wiggington and his arbitration eligible self. This was not a decision based on baseball alone, as Wiggington showed himself to be a pretty decent 3B toward the end of the 2008 season, and also showed the power that the Astros thought they had gotten when they traded with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for him in exchange for setup man Dave Wheeler. Although it was criticized at the time due to Wiggington's questionable glove, he showed himself at least able to field the position during the year. Now it looks like that good play will make him likely win an arbitration award of about $7 million a year at a time where the Grocer is looking to put everything in Aisle Three on sale, not that the Astros have a major league caliber certainty at the hot corner waiting in the wings. This is simply The Grocer looking at the payroll and the advanced ticket/luxury box sales, not a decision anyone in the organization wants.

Brandon Backe is the enigma, but the numbers game may keep him on the roster. He, too, is arbitration eligible, but he really has not returned to his pre-injury form and has been a spotty right handed starter, at best. He's a great athlete, and you figure he might be able to do more with a little more distance from the injury, but you just never know. Either way, he's under contract, has some years of service, and may be non-tendered just because what he gives you you could probably get cheaper elsewhere. I project Backe, even if signed, may end up as a middle reliever. Which is saying alot, given how little the Astros have as starting pitching even assuming Mike Hampton lives up to his contract value and incentives.

But tonight is the night. We'll see where it goes...should be interesting.

Oswalt to offer pay cut?

Sounds to me like Astros RHP Roy Oswalt is going public to try to get the Astros to bring Jake Peavy on, offering to restructure his contract for "another arm". I'm sure the MLBPA would love that. Article on his statements and the club non-reaction here.

Are They Putting the Band Back Together?

An article (located here) says that the Angels, Cubs and Astros are all showing some interest in the Big Unit. Randy Johnson was an Astro for a phenomenal two months in 1998 (with Mike Hampton, who recently signed with the Astros for a one year deal). The Diamondbacks and Johnson's agent are apparently pretty far apart, so this may be Winter Meeting press releasing, we'll see.

Astros not likely to move Valverde but Tejada and Wigginton drawing interest

According to Alyson Footer of MLB.com, Ty Wigginton, Jose Valverde and Miguel Tejada are the three Astros' names generating the most activity on the rumor mill at the Winter Meetings, but in all likelihood it's Wigginton and Tejada who will stay on the front burner, while Valverde has the best chance to still be wearing a Houston uniform in 2009. Tejada is scheduled to make $13 million next year, so it's likely the team would have to absorb some of his salary if they move him.

Astros sign Royals' Reliever Jeff Fulchino

The Astros added a bullpen candidate to the mix on Monday when they claimed right-hander Jeff Fulchino off waivers from the Royals. The 29-year-old Fulchino posted an 0-1 record and a 9.00 ERA over 12 relief outings last season. He also made 25 appearances for Triple-A Omaha, where he was 3-4 with a 4.84 ERA. He also made two appearances at the Double-A level. Fulchino is a big man, at 6-foot-5, 250-pounds and was previously in the Marlins' organization. He has a Minor League record of 45-49 with a 4.45 ERA and six saves over 182 games, including 154 starts.

Former Astro Mark Loretta signs with Dodgers

Former Astro Mark Loretta, 37, signed a free agent deal with what is appearing to be a freewheeling Hot Stove League Dodger team. Loretta hit .280 in 261 at-bats last season but batted .330 against left-handers. He played 46 games at second base, 17 at third base, five at shortstop and two at first base. He presumably would take the place of Nomar Garciaparra, who appeared at three infield positions this season but is apparently considering retirement because of health issues. Loretta is a 13-year veteran and two-time All-Star that earned $2.75 million last year and will receive around $1.4 million in 2009.

Loretta is one of those great utility players and has some of the best patience at the plate I've ever seen from a reserve player. He doesn't have the pop in the bat to be a likely every day player, but he is great off the bench and a decent fielder. The Astros were only not interested due to salary concerns.

Brocail Re-Signs with Astros

According to the AP, as reported in the USA Today, Doug Brocail re-signed with the Astros, and gets a $2.5 million salary next year and Houston has a $2.85 million option for 2010, with a $250,000 buyout. The deal also includes performance bonuses. Brocail, 41, was a decent setup right handed reliever who was denied arbitration by the Astros yesterday. This eliminates the need for any discussions of Russ Springer in an Astros uniform.

Astros decline all arbitration eligible players

According the the Houston Chronicle, the Astros declined arbitration to catcher Brad Ausmus, Doug Brocail (leaving yet another middle reliever in free agency), SP Randy Wolf and utility infielder Mark Loretta. Loretta and Ausmus were expected, Brocail and Wolf were obviously based on negotiations and payroll figures. The Mike Hampton signing probably made Wolf expendable (the Astros do not need three left handed starters), and the market for Wolf was proabably more than the Astros could bear, particularly if they lost arbitration.