The Astros announced they’re activating reliever Pedro Báez from the 60-day injured list in advance of tonight’s game against the Rockies. Bullpen colleague Rafael Montero is landing on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder discomfort in a corresponding move. To open space for Báez on the 40-man roster, the club transferred righty Andre Scrubb from the 10-day to the 60-day injured list.
Báez, signed to a two-year deal over the winter, is finally in line to make his Astros debut. The 33-year-old missed a few weeks in Spring Training after testing positive for COVID-19, then felt soreness in his right shoulder during his attempt to ramp up a throwing program. The latter issue has kept him out of action for the past few months as the soreness has persisted. Fortunately, he’s now apparently healthy and able to contribute for the stretch run.
During his time with the Dodgers, Báez was quietly one of the league’s more consistent and productive relievers. He posted an ERA between 2.63 and 3.35 during each of his seven seasons in L.A. While Báez’s run prevention numbers never wavered, his peripherals have tailed off in recent seasons. The righty struck out a career-worst 18.6% of opponents last year with accompanying dips in swinging strike rate and velocity.
That came in a 17-inning sample during an anomalous year, though, and the Astros felt comfortable enough to add Báez on a $12.5MM guarantee. If he pitches at or near the level he showed throughout his Dodgers’ tenure, Báez would be a significant upgrade to a Houston relief unit that’s middle of the pack in terms of ERA (3.97) and strikeout/walk rate differential (15.2 percentage points).
Houston added Montero alongside Kendall Graveman from the Mariners at the trade deadline as part of an effort to shore up the bullpen. Montero had a nightmarish time in Seattle, but he’d begun his Astros tenure with six innings of one-run ball. He left Sunday’s game against the Twins with a shoulder issue, though, and his recovery timeline remains uncertain.
Scrubb is also down with a shoulder issue. The 26-year-old landed on the IL on July 19 with a strain. Today’s transfer rules him out for sixty days from that date, so he’s looking at a mid-September return in a best case scenario. There’s no word on whether or not the team expects he’ll be able to pitch again this season.
Manager Dusty Baker provided reporters (including Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle and Mark Berman of FOX 26) with updates on a pair of different injured players. Star third baseman Alex Bregman still isn’t ready to return, and his allotted twenty-day rehab window has passed. League rules stipulate that position players not prepared to return after the conclusion of their rehab period must remain inactive for at least five days before reembarking on a minor league assignment, so Bregman can’t return to game action until Friday.
Starter José Urquidy, meanwhile, is scheduled to begin his own rehab assignment tomorrow. Baker said the club is hopeful he’ll be back on a big league mound by September 1. Urquidy has been out since June 30 with right shoulder discomfort.
Astros in one of their funks at the moment
I had forgotten that Baez was an Astro. Talk about adding insult to injury(to Dodger fans). I’ve had dentist appointments and DMV visits that were more fun than watching him pitch.
Uhh I’m not quite sure what you mean… watching him pitch is like sitting on pins and needles because you never know if you’re going to get good Baez or bad Baez
I think it’s because he takes an epoch between each pitch. The game slows to almost a stop. We used to go on a beer run when he came in.
Actually, he pitched with a pretty quick pace last night. Didn’t notice any difference between he and any other pitcher.
You’re about 2-3 years late with your complaints about pace from Baez
Half the Astros games will now last 10 minutes longer than before.
He might be slower than Dolis
Get ready for the long ball
The added Rps at the deadline will help Baez as he pegs down the list
His sweet spot is in the 6th inn
Don’t throw too much pressure on him, you will like him as he quietly does he job
Once you start depending on him in Big spots, Watch Out!
Baez was a guy I really rooted for when he was a Dodger. Some of the crap from fans was out-and-out bullying.
My Baez story comes from my first-ever trip to Dodger Stadium in August 2018. The second night, I was at a game where the Dodgers beat the Brewers, 21-5. Roberts put Baez in at the start of the 8th inning. The first batter Baez faced was Ryan Braun, who doubled. At that moment, some beer-bellied loudmouth from the next section shouted, “Get him out of there, Roberts.”
To that, I yelled, “Pipe down. The score is 21-5. The lead is not in danger.”
Beerbelly responded with, “It’s Baez. He sucks.”
I shouted back, “Pedro Baez is 30 years old, At age 30, he’s already accomplished more than you will in your entire life.”
My wife winced and nudged me sharply with her arm, and I started to feel bad as I braced for the worst. But the guy didn’t say or do anything. He just cowered down and guzzled more beer while people in my section applauded me and gave me high fives. Baez? He pitched two scoreless innings and wound up being quite effective the rest of the season.
Btw, I don’t understand fans who feel the need to have a guy or two they don’t like on their favorite team. A.J. Pollock has recently been a target of a segment of Dodger fans. I am delighted with the season Pollock is having. He’s not only an outstanding ballplayer but a better person than any of his critics.
It’s not a need to not like a player. I was an anti Baez dodger fan for a while especially in the post season and currently actively hope Bellinger is sent to AAA for a bit but it’s not a need to dislike a guy.
Lets see what kind of magic Stromie does with him!
i know he’s had a bad year, but that WAR for Montero is…rough
He was out getting new cans with the right tune!
Glad to see him back – takes the Asterisks completely out of the post-season picture
Oh don’t you wish. Still on of the best, if not the best, in the league. Cry all you want!!
There might have been a modicum of truth to that being a slight possibility before the Astros added Graveman, Yimi Garcia, and Phil Maton to shore up their bullpen. Plus they will soon get Josh James back and once Jose Urquidy returns next month what was once a glaring weakness for them will soon become one of their many strengths.
Baez’s first outing as as Astro went well.
1 inning, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 BB, 1 SO
Yeah, but the first pitch he threw in the game missed being a home run by about 6 inches. He looked good after that though. A little concerned about his dip in velocity from last year but having missed some much time perhaps he gets that back eventually.