The Astros announced today that right-hander Spencer Arrighetti has been reinstated from the 60-day injured list. Righty AJ Blubaugh has been optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land as the corresponding active roster move. To open a 40-man spot, infielder Isaac Paredes has been transferred to the 60-day IL.
Arrighetti had a decent debut with the Astros last year, tossing 145 innings with a 4.53 earned run average. His 10.3% walk rate was a bit high but he punched out 27.1% of batters faced. Ideally, he would have built on that foundation in 2025 but a freak injury got in the way. He was throwing on the field during pregame batting practice when an errant ball struck him and broke his thumb. He had made just two starts before landing on the IL and has been out of action until today.
That was one of many rotation injuries suffered by the Astros this year. Ronel Blanco and Hayden Wesneski required Tommy John surgery. Luis Garcia, Cristian Javier and J.P. France are still trying to get healthy after surgeries in previous years. Brandon Walter is on the IL due to elbow inflammation while Lance McCullers Jr. is sidelined by a blister.
Despite all that, the Astros are having a great year, currently atop the American League West. That’s thanks in large part to huge contributions from Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez. Arrighetti can now join those two in the rotation, alongside Colton Gordon and Jason Alexander. Each of Javier, Garcia and France have begun rehab assignments, so they could be factors in the coming weeks.
As for Paredes, he landed on the 10-day IL on July 20th due to a right hamstring strain. All the reporting out of Houston has indicated the strain is significant and could perhaps end his season. Per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, surgery was a possibility, though that would have come with a six-month recovery period. Paredes is instead trying the rest-and-rehab approach, which gives him a chance to return late in the season.
Though it’s possible Paredes could be back, the Astros aren’t relying on it. They acquired old friend Carlos Correa from the Twins ahead of the trade deadline to take over for Paredes at third base. Today’s transfer indicates they don’t expect Paredes to be back before the middle of September, as the 60-day count is retroactive to his initial IL placement. If he is able to come back, it’s unclear where he will play, but the club’s designated hitter spot is open for now with Yordan Alvarez also on the IL. Paredes could also perhaps slide over to second or first base, though it’s also possible future injuries will open playing time between now and the end of the season.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” general manager Dana Brown said, per McTaggart. “We have multiple infielders who can play multiple positions, and that’s very helpful. That would be a good decision to have to make.”
Photo courtesy of Jordan Johnson, Imagn Images
“Despite all that, the Astros are having a great year, currently atop the American League West. ” – A tale as old as time
Sugar Land – I laugh every time I read that.
The land of the Sugar Daddies!
I can’t help but wonder whether the Astros have ever done some sort of spaghetti-related promotion with Spencer Arrighetti.
The Corpus Christi Hooks (milb affiliate) had a spaghetti bobblehead night. Aside from that, actual spaghetti would probably be a bit too messy and.. unpopular.
I dunno’. mebbe fill up one of those ice cream helmets with spaghetti?
Works on a promo-level.
Good news all around here for Houstoooooooonnneeeee
Low key great addition for them. He got better as last year went on, but too late for much rookie buzz at that point.
Definitely will help the Astros cause to have this guy back. It looks like Christian Javier is also close. Jake Myers, Luis Garcia, JP France and Alvarez should also be back soon.
Is there any reliable news that Alvarez will be back soon? Hope you’re right but I’m resigned to accepting they won’t be back this year. But if they do return, they’ll have a formidable lineup.
@ Django. It was either yesterday or the day before I was watching the Astros game and they were talking to Dana Brown. Dana said Yordan has been swinging without pain. On the website injuries and transactions update says that he last took batting practice on the field in Florida August 5. I take that as he’s close. Is that two weeks or a month? Who knows?
Thanks, and now that you mention it, I saw that too, but I’ve been taking Dana’s claims with a grain of salt. In any case, would be great to have a healthy Yordan in the middle of this lineup!
Something something spaghetti
There’s a restaurant out here in the LA area called Spaghetti Eddies that always comes to mind when I read this guy’s name.
Today he’s GaveUp5RunsAnd11HitsIn3.2Innings-ighetti
That said, ‘ol blueballs tossed a couple excellent frames the other day and he should see some more action in the bigs as the season wraps. I just wish he could have dueled against Junk in that game.