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Astros Sign Chris Gittens To Minor League Deal

By Nick Deeds | January 4, 2024 at 4:07pm CDT

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.

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Houston Astros Transactions Chris Gittens

White Sox Outright Carlos Perez
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Pirates Sign Michael Plassmeyer To Minor League Deal
View Comments (28)
Post a Comment

28 Comments

  1. User 1939973770

    2 years ago

    I like this signing.

    Reply
    • آلي مكبيل_.._.بيتزا بيبيروني آشتون كوتشر

      2 years ago

      I like Kittens

      1
      Reply
      • mrmackey

        2 years ago

        In the winter I like Mittens.

        Reply
    • Shadow_Banned

      2 years ago

      This is Gitten outta hand.

      Reply
  2. TrumboRedux

    2 years ago

    AAAA Personified.

    Reply
    • Rsox

      2 years ago

      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

      Reply
      • ellisburks

        2 years ago

        He hit the snot out of the ball in Japan, he just couldn’t stay healthy.

        1
        Reply
  3. Astros_fan_in_Aus

    2 years ago

    We really are dredging the bottom of the pond now.

    2
    Reply
    • eichejt0570

      2 years ago

      Dredging the pond got us Yordan Alvarez, correct?

      1
      Reply
      • Rocker49

        2 years ago

        not really lol, if you watched him hit and had a brain you knew. Los Karens lost that one big time.

        2
        Reply
      • AirY0rdan

        2 years ago

        True stuff

        Reply
  4. boblowlaw2

    2 years ago

    Hard Hitten Chris Gettens!

    2
    Reply
    • Rsox

      2 years ago

      The Astros may be better off with Mark Whiten, at his current age…

      2
      Reply
      • Mercenary.Freddie.Freeman

        2 years ago

        Ahh the legend Mark Whiten. Always will be remembered for his 4 home run 12 rbi game.

        1
        Reply
  5. Dotnet22

    2 years ago

    He’s Gittens him a job.

    Reply
  6. WSnotAstros2017

    2 years ago

    Another garbage can smashing signing.

    Reply
  7. hoof hearted

    2 years ago

    Astros making moves.
    Seattle-0

    Reply
    • AirY0rdan

      2 years ago

      I dont think you can say the Astros are making “moves”

      1
      Reply
  8. DarkSide830

    2 years ago

    Those NBP numbers aren’t impressive. Most of the good games Gittens had were in the NPB Minors.

    2
    Reply
    • ShieldF123

      2 years ago

      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

      Reply
  9. Birdieman2

    2 years ago

    Never heard of him

    1
    Reply
  10. shnoop6

    2 years ago

    Hard hittin Gittens

    Reply
  11. Yanks2

    2 years ago

    How much does he get paid

    Reply
  12. Costanza1321

    2 years ago

    Wish the Jays would have signed him

    1
    Reply
  13. itsgonnahappen

    2 years ago

    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???

    1
    Reply
    • astros_fan_84

      2 years ago

      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.

      Reply
  14. benhen77

    2 years ago

    Got in while the Gittens good

    Reply
  15. IDR

    2 years ago

    Why are the Astros so smitten with Gittens?

    Reply

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