The Astros have signed left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith to a one-year contract worth $725K plus incentives, according to a team press release. Rowland-Smith will join Nelson Figueroa and others in a competition for the team's fifth starter job. The Astros will have the opportunity to control Rowland-Smith through 2013 as an arbitration eligible player.
Rowland-Smith, 28 in January, posted a 6.75 ERA, 4.0 K/9, 3.6 BB/9, 2.1 HR/9, and 37.1% groundball rate in 109 1/3 innings this year before being non-tendered by the Mariners. The Australia native spent time on the DL with a lower back strain this year after battling a triceps injury in '09.
News of the agreement was first reported by Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle.
