Latest On Orioles’ Free Agent Pursuits
2014/02/orioles-still-interested-in-ervin-santana.html17 overall pick to sign Jimenez, and they traded their Competitive Balance pick to the Astros in last summer's Bud Norris trade.
Orioles Close To Deal With Nelson Cruz
2014/02/orioles-close-to-deal-with-nelson-cruz.htmlAt the trade deadline last year, the Orioles dealt their Competitive Balance Lottery Round A pick to the Astros in the Bud Norris deal, currently #33 overall.
Minor Moves: Whelan, Richmond
2014/02/minor-moves-whelan-richmond.htmlTorrence is a former NFL cornerback who also once played in the Astros organization.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Orioles, Rays, Holmberg
2014/02/baseball-blogs-weigh-in-2.htmlClimbing Tal's Hill spoke with the wife of Astros GM Jeff Luhnow.
Quick Hits: Rangers, Pirates, Rockies, Bonds
2014/02/quick-hits-1.htmlColorado told Gonzalez he'd move to center after they traded their former center fielder, Dexter Fowler, to the Astros in November.
AL Notes: Rangers, Bailey, Carp, Jays, Smoak, Castro
2014/02/al-notes-rangers-bailey-carp.htmlAstros GM Jeff Luhnow acknowledged internal discussions about a contract extension for catcher Jason Castro have taken place, reports the Houston Chronicle's Evan Drellich.
Yankees Monitoring Market For Infielders
2014/02/yankees-monitoring-market-for-infielders.htmlKing writes that the White Sox, Giants, Tigers, Astros and Twins all had scouts in attendance to watch Cervelli, Murphy and Sanchez in yesterday's exhibition game against Florida State.
White Sox Claim Maikel Cleto, Designate Jake Elmore
2014/02/white-sox-claim-maikel-cleto-designate-jake-elmore.htmlThe 26-year-old Elmore got 136 plate appearances with the Astros last year, putting up a .242/.313/.325 line.
Quick Hits: D’Backs, Red Sox, Extensions, Rincon
2014/02/quick-hits-dbacks-extensions-rincon-blue-jays.htmlThe Astros (+18 WAR) and Red Sox (-16 WAR) project as the most- and least-improved teams in 2014, according to…
Athletics Acquire Jake Elmore
2014/02/athletics-acquire-jake-elmore.htmlElmore batted .242/.313/.325 in 136 plate appearances for the Astros in 2013.
How Clubs Determine Pre-Arbitration Salaries
2014/02/how-clubs-determine-pre-arbitration-salaries.htmlMLBTR's own Steve Adams learned that as recently as 2013, the Astros used the same basic formula as Colorado - players with 0-1 years experience would get the minimum salary ($490K at the time) with a $1K bump for each year.
AL Notes: Sano, Castro, Tigers
2014/03/al-notes-sano-castro-tigers.htmlThe Astros do not sound likely to trade catcher Jason Castro anytime soon, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Astros Notes: Feldman, Qualifying Offers
2014/03/astros-notes-feldman-qualifying-offers.htmlWe're trying to win.'" Feldman is now the Astros' higest-paid player, and they're counting on him to provide an example for younger players like Jarred Cosart.
Poll: Should The Qualifying Offer Be Scrapped?
2014/03/poll-qualifying-offers.htmlAstros GM Jeff Luhnow argued in a recent interview with MLB Daily Dish's Chris Cotillo that turning down this offseason's $14.1MM qualifying offer, which links players with draft pick compensation, is rejecting "what a lot of people would consider pretty generous, life-changing money." The current system is, in any case, "an improvement over what was there before," Luhnow said.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Colletti, Izturis, Parra
2014/03/baseball-blogs-weigh-in.htmlOutside Pitch sizes up the Astros' closer options.
Offseason In Review: Chicago Cubs
2014/03/offseason-in-review-chicago-cubs.htmlVeras, 33, was signed in December 2012 to be the Astros' closer and was quite good at the job in 43 innings.
AL West Notes: Kinsler, Montero/Pineda, Dominguez
2014/03/al-west-notes-kinsler-monteropineda-dominguez.htmlThe 24-year-old slashed .241/.286/.403 with 21 homers for the Astros last season.
Minor Moves: Cooper, Flores, Perez
2014/03/minor-moves-sergio-perez.htmlThe Astros selected Perez in the second round of the 2006 draft, and he's climbed as high as Triple-A in the minor leagues, posting a career 4.74 ERA with 6.1 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9.
Rick Ankiel To Retire
2014/03/rick-ankiel-to-retire.htmlHe played for two seasons with the Nationals before finishing his career in 2013 with the Astros and Mets.
2013-14 Article XX(B) Free Agents
2014/03/2013-14-article-xxb-free-agents.html(Several other players likely to land minor league deals could also qualify -- including names like Kevin Gregg and Juan…
Quick Hits: Castellanos, Davis, Armstrong
2014/03/quick-hits-castellanos-davis-armstrong.html2011 Astros third-round draft pick Jack Armstrong Jr.
Quick Hits: Astros, Beltran, Orioles
2014/03/quick-hits.htmlThe Astros' "Ground Control" database is essential for the club's day-to-day operations, Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Orioles, Barnes, D’Backs
2014/03/baseball-blogs-weigh-in-1-14.htmlClimbing Tal's Hill says the Astros will lose at least 100 games this year.
AL Notes: Santana, O’s, Porcello, Masterson, Rangers
2014/03/quick-hits-porcello-masterson-santana-rangers.htmlDavid Ross says that, before the 2009 season, he signed to be a backup with the Braves rather than a starter with the Astros because the Braves offered a two-year deal.
Offseason In Review: New York Yankees
2014/03/offseason-in-review-new-york-yankees.htmlThen, the Yankees had to outbid the Cubs, Diamondbacks, White Sox, Dodgers and Astros in order to land the 25-year-old…