The Astros and first baseman Chris Gittens are in agreement on a minor league deal, as noted in the transactions log on his MLB.com profile page. It’s currently unclear whether or not the deal will include an invitation to big league Spring Training next month.
Gittens, 30 in February, was a 12th-round pick by the Yankees back in 2014. He spent several years slowly moving up the big league ladder until he eventually reached the majors during the 2021 season. His stint with the big league club ultimately lasted just 16 games, during which he struggled to a .111/.250/.194 slash line. Despite those brutal numbers in the majors, Gittens excelled at the Triple-A level in 2021 with a fantastic slash line of .301/.440/.644 in 184 trips to the plate.
That strong performance earned Gittens an opportunity overseas, and he signed on with the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball prior to the 2022 season. Across two years as a member of the Eagles, Gittens made it into just 50 games, but the slugger impressed in that limited playing time with a .299/.426/.493 slash line in 169 trips to the plate. That performance was evidently enough for the Astros to have interest in Gittens, who figures to carry little risk as a likely minor league signing.
Gittens has struggled to stay on the field in recent years, having stepped up to the plate in a professional game just 289 times since the end of the 2019 campaign. That being said, the slugger has hit well in every opportunity when healthy during that time, with the notable exception of his aforementioned 16-game cup of coffee in the majors back in 2021. Headed into the 2024 season, Gittens could be given the opportunity this spring to compete with fellow first baseman Jon Singleton as a bench bat who can back up veteran Jose Abreu at first.
I like this signing.
I like Kittens
In the winter I like Mittens.
This is Gitten outta hand.
AAAA Personified.
Couldn’t hit at all in Japan either which basically is AAAA. Not sure what Gittens is but its not in the “too good for the minors, not good enough for the majors” mold
He hit the snot out of the ball in Japan, he just couldn’t stay healthy.
We really are dredging the bottom of the pond now.
Dredging the pond got us Yordan Alvarez, correct?
not really lol, if you watched him hit and had a brain you knew. Los Karens lost that one big time.
True stuff
Hard Hitten Chris Gettens!
The Astros may be better off with Mark Whiten, at his current age…
Ahh the legend Mark Whiten. Always will be remembered for his 4 home run 12 rbi game.
He’s Gittens him a job.
Another garbage can smashing signing.
Astros making moves.
Seattle-0
I dont think you can say the Astros are making “moves”
Those NBP numbers aren’t impressive. Most of the good games Gittens had were in the NPB Minors.
Problem is most people don’t know the difference between the Japanese leagues. I don’t feel like the writers here do a decent job of highlighting it either. Like you pointed out his numbers are great in the Eastern league but no so hot in the pacific league
Never heard of him
Hard hittin Gittens
How much does he get paid
Wish the Jays would have signed him
Singleton accidentally ran into 2 home runs in the same game but was trash outside of that. I’ll take whatever upside piece they can find. Please bring back one of our 3 bullpen arms though???
Yeah. Singleton is a great story. I do appreciate his return and am his ability to get a walk, but he’s not that good.
Got in while the Gittens good
Why are the Astros so smitten with Gittens?