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Wandy Rodriguez

Astros Avoid Arbitration With Rodriguez, Geary

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Troy Renck of the Denver Post has learned that Houston Astros left-handed pitcher Wandy Rodriguez and the franchise have reached a one-year, $2.6MM deal.

Rodriguez, 30, went 9-7 with a 3.54 ERA in 2008. He can make an additional $50,000 for 180 innings pitched.

The Astros also avoided arbitration with right-handed pitcher Geoff Geary. Geary will earn $1.7MM plus incentives.

Geary, 32, went 2-3 with a 2.53 ERA in 55 appearances in 2008, his first season with the Astros.

Astros’ Rotation Spots Open; Mets Sign Trio

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A few notes popping up:

  • The Houston Astros will have tryouts for the starting rotation at Spring Training. Felipe Paulino and Fernando Nieve are both young arms that will be considered, Alyson Footer of MLB.com reports. The Astros are tentatively counting on Roy Oswalt, Mike Hampton, Brandon Backe, Wandy Rodriguez and Brian Moehler to fill out their rotation.
  • The New York Mets have finalized deals with utilityman Rob Mackowiak, right-handed pitcher Kyle Snyder and left-hander Jon Switzer to minor-league deals. The three will be competing for 25-man roster spots at Spring Training, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Astros Work To Avoid Arb With Geary, Rodriguez

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According to MLB.com’s Alyson Footer, Astros GM Ed Wade said the team has "ongoing dialogue" with both Wandy Rodriguez and Geoff Geary. They are the only arbitration-eligible Astros who have not yet settled.

Rodriguez asked for $3MM and was offered $2.25MM. Geary asked for $2.1MM and was offered $1.425MM. If negotiations go well, Wade said there could be deals by "early next week."

Astros Avoid Arb With Backe, Byrdak

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4:10pm: MLB.com’s Alyson Footer says the Astros signed Byrdak for $1MM.

12:03pm: According to the Houston Chronicle’s Brian McTaggart:

Astros general manager Ed Wade said today the club signed righthander Brandon Backe to a one-year, $1.55 million contract worth more than $1 million more in incentives.

The Astros filed figures for Tim Byrdak, Geoff Geary, and Wandy Rodriguez, but will continue negotiating in advance of the scheduled February hearings.

Mariners Watching Starters

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UPDATE: Hickey writes that the Mariners have also scouted Kyle Lohse, Matt Morris, Jason Johnson (thought he went to Japan), and Octavio Dotel.  However, a deal seems unlikely because none of those players are worth top Mariner prospects.

According to Jim Hickey of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the Mariners have been scouting all kinds of available and not-so-available starters lately.

  • The Mariners have been scouting the White Sox "religiously" lately.  If they saw Javier Vazquez beat the Tigers on Tuesday, they came away impressed.  (However, Vazquez can and probably would veto a trade to the AL or NL West).  They were on hand to watch Jose Contreras tonight; the Tigers had batting practice with him and his ERA is up to 6.22.  Did you hear that?  That was the sound of Contreras’ remaining ounce of trade value evaporating.
  • As you know, the Ms watched Dontrelle Willis on Monday.  Compared to Contreras, Willis pitched well – four earned runs, nearly seven innings. 
  • The Ms also had a scout on hand to see Livan Hernandez twirl a gem over the Marlins on Tuesday.  Hey, at least he takes the ball every fifth day.  That has to be worth something.
  • Hickey says Seattle has also been monitoring the Astros, perhaps in hope of acquiring Dan Wheeler or Chad Qualls.  He speculates that Wandy Rodriguez would be a coup for the Mariners.  Wand-Rod has thrown up stinkers in his last two outings but tossed a complete game shutout over the Mets in the game prior.  He’s inconsistent like that.  The Astros’ #2 starter for 2008 wouldn’t come cheap.

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