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Astros Sign Niko Goodrum

By Anthony Franco | March 12, 2022 at 6:56pm CDT

The Astros are signing Niko Goodrum to a one-year, $2.1MM deal, reports Jon Heyman of the MLB Network (Twitter link). The deal also contains possible incentives. Goodrum is a client of Roc Nation Sports.

Goodrum, who turned 30 last month, has spent the past four seasons with the Tigers. He actually debuted as a September call-up with the Twins in 2017, but he was quickly outrighted off Minnesota’s roster and elected minor league free agency. He hooked on with Detroit that offseason, and he almost immediately played his way into a regular role there.

The lefty-hitting utilityman bounced around the diamond in 2018, seeing a fair bit of action at both middle infield positions, third base and in the corner outfield. Goodrum earned a career-high 492 plate appearances that year with a league average .245/.315/.432 showing at the plate. He hit 16 home runs and stole 12 bags. The Georgia native mostly that backed that solid showing up the following year, hitting .248/.322/.421 in 472 trips to the dish.

Goodrum at least looked to be emerging as a high-end utility option for Detroit, and it seemed he might carve out a role as the long-term answer at shortstop. Even during his two best seasons, he had an alarming strikeout rate though, and swing-and-miss concerns have particularly mounted over the past couple years. Goodrum punched out in an untenable 38.5% of his trips to the plate during the shortened 2020 season, stumbling to a .184/.263/.335 line. His 2021 numbers were a bit better, but a .214/.292/.359 line with a 32.9% strikeout rate marked his second consecutive below-average campaign.

On the heels of the down seasons, the Tigers non-tendered Goodrum in November. He’d been projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz for a $2.9MM arbitration salary that Detroit felt a bit lofty. Goodrum’s deal with the Astros won’t guarantee him quite as much, but he’ll land a roster spot with an immediate contender. He might have a path to regular playing time at shortstop, at least early in the season.

The Astros have seen Carlos Correa hit free agency, leaving Aledmys Díaz as the top in-house option at shortstop. Díaz has a superior offensive track record to Goodrum, but he’s rated as a below-average defender at shortstop throughout his career. Top prospect Jeremy Peña figures to take the position over at some point soon, but he was limited to 133 Triple-A plate appearances by injury last season. Peña should immediately be a strong defensive option when he’s big league ready, but the presence of Díaz and Goodrum give the win-now Astros some cover in the event he doesn’t hit the ground running at the plate.

Goodrum has four-plus years of big league service time. The Astros could keep him around via arbitration in 2023 if he turns things around offensively and the club feels he warrants a raise via that process.

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Houston Astros Transactions Niko Goodrum

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View Comments (46)

Comments

  1. Dusty Baker's tooth pick.

    11 months ago

    Didn’t know he was non tendered.

    Reply
    • BKS1110

      11 months ago

      No. If Correa indeed leaves, then their replacement is likely Pena. Also, Jake Meyers is their young CF and he’s out until end of May at least. Goodrum can work both those positions and more. This is a solid depth move that helps multiple areas of need, but a true solution to neither.

      Reply
      • Dusty Baker's tooth pick.

        11 months ago

        I agree but I don’t know what that has to do with me thinking the tigers retained him

        Reply
  2. trueblue442

    11 months ago

    Correa’s replacement?

    Reply
    • mgomrjsurf

      11 months ago

      Yes maybe.

      Reply
    • DodgersWorldChamps2020+2022

      11 months ago

      Yes.

      Reply
    • Superstar Prospect Wander Javier

      11 months ago

      Unlikely. He is just a super utility switch hitter who can be a manager’s best friend. Astros love those guys.

      Reply
    • bravesfan

      11 months ago

      Huge downgrade if so. This is more of a bench piece before correas replacement

      Reply
    • Rhino

      11 months ago

      Depth move in case Jeremy Peña needs more seasoning at triple a.

      Reply
      • MoneyBallJustWorks

        11 months ago

        bingo

        Reply
    • Astros2017Champs

      11 months ago

      Jeremy Pena is Correa’s replacement. Hes one of our top prospects. Goodrum is insurance and depth should pena fail or need more aaa seasoning

      Reply
    • YourDreamGM

      11 months ago

      Part of a replacement for part of a season until service time isn’t an issue.

      Reply
    • Samuel

      11 months ago

      Boras is working to have Correa save face when he goes back to the Astros.

      Reply
  3. DodgersWorldChamps2020+2022

    11 months ago

    MLBTR is broken and this is only the beginning.

    Reply
    • Y2KAK

      11 months ago

      How?

      Reply
      • DodgersWorldChamps2020+2022

        11 months ago

        It’s been over an hour and they haven’t updated some of these posts. This isn’t a knock on the writers, it’s just a testament to how much is going on. And it’s not like any really big names have signed yet, which is why I said it’s only the beginning.

        Reply
        • Samuel

          11 months ago

          @ DodgersWorldChamps2020+2022;

          Please tell us what outlet in America is doing a better job regarding today’s MLB transactions than MLBTR.

        • Unclenolanrules

          11 months ago

          Rook.

  4. Strosfn79

    11 months ago

    Robel Garcia thinks this is a terrible signing.

    And they have a full 40 so who gets the shaft for Niko?

    Reply
    • Superstar Prospect Wander Javier

      11 months ago

      My guess is Forest Whitley

      Reply
      • Strosfn79

        11 months ago

        My guess is Seth Martinez

        I fully expected them to wait until they could move somebody to the IL

        Reply
        • Astros2333

          11 months ago

          My guess Meyers goes on the 60 day IL to recover from shoulder surgery.

      • jjd002

        11 months ago

        Wishful thinking?

        Reply
    • Rhino

      11 months ago

      Odorizzi, my guess is they attach a lower lever prospect to him for a mid level prospect return.

      Reply
    • Astros2017Champs

      11 months ago

      I think we are at 39

      Reply
  5. seamaholic 2

    11 months ago

    Strange. They have a full roster and many utility players.

    Reply
  6. FletcherFan69

    11 months ago

    Is this the Astros’ first big-league deal to a position player who hadn’t previously been in the org since the sign stealing scandal?

    Reply
  7. Hello, Newman

    11 months ago

    Niko is a great humanitarian. I truly hope the best for that man, no matter where he ends up.

    Reply
  8. TucsonRon

    11 months ago

    Utility guy with below average bat. Good luck with the Astros Niko…

    Reply
  9. Dtownwarrior78

    11 months ago

    As a Tigers fan I’ll say he is a great super utility defender, but there’s a 12 foot hole in his swing and he has had problems staying healthy. If he’s who you all signed to start at SS, I truly hope you have some depth at AAA.

    Reply
    • racosun

      11 months ago

      As a Tigers fan, I can say for sure there is nothing great or super about his defense. He’s a light-hitting utility man who can give you a game or two around the diamond when someone needs a day off. He’s a good guy and a hard worker though, so there’s that…

      Reply
      • TucsonRon

        11 months ago

        Another Tigers fan here, definitely “light” hitting utility guy can also play corner OF if pressed…

        Reply
    • itsgonnahappen

      11 months ago

      He’s a lesser Diaz. In a pinch I would rather play Bregman at SS, and Diaz at 3B with Goodrum backing up. If it’s a toss up between Diaz, Pena and Goodrum starting at SS, I’d roll the dice on Pena.

      I don’t like Diaz defensively, offensively it goes Diaz, Pena, Goodrum

      Reply
  10. angt222

    11 months ago

    Good bench piece.

    Reply
  11. ❤️ MuteButton

    11 months ago

    This is kind of a “whatever“ type of move. But it is an indicator that the Astros are preparing to move forward without Correa. It’s also an indicator they won’t be bidding for Trevor Story. This looks like insurance while they develop Pena

    Reply
    • Samuel

      11 months ago

      @ MuteButton;

      I believe this is a typical Astros move to see if their coaches can rework a guy that can play a role off the bench for them. If it works out that’s great; if not he’ll be gone during the season and the Astros will bring in someone to replace him from their farm system, via waivers, or in a minor trade.

      And this has nothing at all to do with Correa.

      Reply
  12. stymeedone

    11 months ago

    Good power, good speed, solid defensively anywhere. Just needs to put the bat on the ball.

    Reply
    • Greenberg

      11 months ago

      If that was the case, he wouldn’t have been non tendered. Constant mental errors negate his physical talent both offensively and defensively. He lacks concentration and smarts.

      Reply
  13. JimmyTheC

    11 months ago

    Not a big fan. They need to just let the kid play.

    Reply
  14. Swingandamiss

    11 months ago

    Houston, huh? Well I guess knowing what pitch is coming might help the ole’ whiff rate.

    Reply
    • Unclenolanrules

      11 months ago

      Kind of like knowing what old, stale, rotting joke is coming.

      You must be pure as the driven snow, and not at all some weirdo.

      Reply
  15. pwndroia

    11 months ago

    Always thought there was more to this guy but sadly he’s blatantly mediocre.

    Reply
  16. BobGibsonFan

    11 months ago

    Goodrum is a switch hitter. He reminds me of old astro, marwin gonzalez, the Swiss Army Knife a few years back. Not nearly as good, but similar. He might need some trash can training or one of those special shirts from Altuve. I expect him to miraculously improve.

    Reply
    • CamFrost

      11 months ago

      Stay mad.

      Reply
  17. sergefunction

    11 months ago

    Tiger fans in general will agree on this: the Astros just became that much weaker of a team.

    Niko’s was a popular non-tender in Detroit, He regressed across the board from his first two Tiger seasons.

    Reply
  18. Twinz 69

    11 months ago

    This is a weak move!! I have seen this dude strike out most of his at bats what happened with Trevor Story obviously correas not coming back

    Reply

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