2017-2018 Astros Offseason Transactions

Keeping up with all the Astros offseason transactions ...

As of 4/1, the Astros 40-man roster is still at 38.

And here are your Astros MiLB full season opening day rosters (subject to change).

According to the twitterverse, the Astros signed 1B Luis Encarnación on 3/27 after his release by the Phillies.

Two additional releases on Tuesday, 3/28:

C/IF Ray Henderson - Drafted in the 22nd round in 2016 out of Grayson County College (TX)
1B/OF Jose Benjamin - Signed out of the Dominican Republic in June 2014

The following minor league releases were announced on Sunday, 3/25:

• IF Rodrigo Ayarza - Signed as a MiLB free agent by the Astros in May 2014; originally signed by the Rangers out of Panama in June 2012
• LHP Matt Bower - Drafted in the 23rd round in 2015 out of Washington State University
• IF Wander Franco - Signed by the Astros out of the Dominican Republic in July 2013
• C Anthony Hermelyn - Drafted in the 4th round in 2015 out of the University of Oklahoma
• 1B Dexture McCall - Drafted in the 31st round in 2014 out of Hillsborough Community College (FL)
• LHP Salvador Montaño - Signed by the Astros out of the Dominican Republic in November 2013
• LHP Nathan Thompson - Drafted in the 27th round in 2016 out of Oklahoma Baptist University
• 3B Brody Westmoreland - Drafted in the 30th round in 2016 out of the College of Southern Nevada

3/5/18: According to Jake Kaplan, LHP Anthony Gose has been placed on outright waivers; he was subsequently sent back to the Rangers
2/28/18: RHP Jherson Pereira signed out of Venezuela; he was 21 in January

In addition, I somehow missed a few international signings from the end of last season. It's a mixed bag as far as the information I could find, but here you go!

9/22/17: LHP Julio Robaina, originally from Cuba, signed for $220,000; he will be 17 later this month and is reported to throw in the low 90's with a developing curve
8/30/17: SS Hector Leon signed out of Venezuela; he turned 17 in February
8/24/17: RHP Franny Cobos, a converted pitcher out of Cuba, signed for $125,000; he turned 17 in February
8/23/17: RHP Jeremy Molero signed out of Venezuela; he was 18 in November
8/21/17: IF Rolando Espinosa, originally from Cuba, signed for $175,000; he turned 17 in January
8/18/17: LHP Daniel Bello signed out of the Dominican Republic; he was 21 in January
8/14/17: C Jonarkys Lopez signed out of Venezuela; he will be 17 on 8/13
8/9/17: SS Jose Mendoza signed out of Venezuela; he will be 17 on June 19th (click on link for a short, artsy video of Mendoza)
7/20/17: SS Sebastian Grullon signed out of the Dominican Republic for $150,000; he will not be 17 until July 19th

For those of you keeping track, that now makes 14 Cuban players in the Astros system. They are becoming a bigger and bigger part of the Astros future.

2-26: C Lorenzo Quintana assigned to Buies Creek
2-21: RHP Forrest Whitley (Corpus) suspended 50 games for a violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program
1-31: 3B Richard Slenker (GCL) released
1-23: 1B Jon Singleton suspended 100 games for a third positive test for a drug of abuse
1-23: RHP Dean Deetz suspended 80 games for a positive test for a performance-enhancing drug
1-22: LHP Buddy Boshers claimed off waivers from Minnesota
1-13: RHP Gerrit Cole acquired from Pittsburgh for RHP Joe Musgrove, RHP Michael Feliz, 3B Colin Moran and OF Jason Martin
Info on some of the player releases
12-29: OF Renaigel Martis (DSL Orange) released
12-29: RHP Renny Ugarte (DSL Blue) released
12-29: OF Luis Coronel (DSL Blue) released
12-27: C Trent Woodward (Corpus) announced his retirement
12-22: C Freddy Chirino (DSL Blue) released
12-22: RHP Jonger Ochoa (DSL Blue) released
12-22: 2B Samir Caraballo (DSL Blue/Orange) released
12-22: 1B Michael Garcia (DSL Orange)  released
12-22: RHP Jesus Bernaez (DSL Orange) released
12-21: RHP Devin Raftery (Buies Creek/GCL) released
12-20: LHP Carlos Perdomo (DSL Orange) released
12-20: OF Euclides Chavez (DSL Orange) released
12-20: RHP Nathanael Ventura (DSL Blue) released
12-20: OF Fildex Perfecto (DSL Orange) released
12-20: 1B Anthony Rodriguez (DSL Blue) released
12-20: RHP Kilvio Peralta (DSL Blue) released
12-20: RHP Jean Reyes (DSL Blue) released
12-20: RHP Christopher Javier (DSL Blue) released
12-20: RHP Angel Matos (DSL Blue) released
12-20: RHP Mauricio Santana (DSL Orange) released
12-20: RHP Yulian Frontado (DSL Orange) released
12-20: RHP Miguel Matos (DSL Orange) released
12-20: RHP Gustavo Almonte (DSL Orange) released
12-20: RHP Diosward Gonzalez (GCL) released
12-20: RHP Carlos Pimentel (GCL) released; Pimentel was placed on the restricted list 11-17
12-20: RHP Saul Martinez (GCL) released
12-20: OF Vicente Sanchez (GCL) released
12-20: LHP Austin Kerns (GCL) released
12-20: C Ihan Bernal (GCL) released
12-20: RHP Johsson Arias (Greeneville) released
12-20: OF Frankeny Fernandez (Greeneville) released
12-20: SS Joan Mauricio (Greeneville) released
12-20: RHP Jheyson Caraballo (Greeneville) released
12-20: OF/DH Reid Russell (Greeneville) released
12-20: LHP Yhoan Acosta (Greeneville) released
12-20: RHP Reggie Johnson (Quad Cities/Tri-City) released
12-20: LHP Ben Smith (Tri-City) released
12-20: C Bernardo Heras (Tri-City/GCL) released
12-20: LHP Luis Ramirez (Tri-City) released
12-20: RHP Diogenes Almengo (Tri-City) released
12-20: RHP Ricardo Castro (Tri-City) released
12-20: LHP Devon Carr (Buies Creek/Quad Cities) released
12-20: RHP Enrique Chavez (DNP in 2017) released
12-20: RHP Lucas Williams (Quad Cities) released
12-20: OF Preston Tucker traded to Braves for player to be named later or cash considerations; Tucker was designated for assignment 12-15 as the corresponding move following Hector Rondon's signing.
12-18: RHP Ryan Deemes (Buies Creek/DL) released
12-15: RHP Hector Rondon signed by the Astros
12-15: OF Preston Tucker designated for assignment TRADED TO BRAVES 12-20
12-14: LHP Chris Nunn drafted by the Astros from the Cubs in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft
12-14: RHP Elieser Hernandez selected from the Astros by the Marlins in the Rule 5 draft
12-14: LHP Anthony Gose selected by the Astros in the Rule 5 draft
12-13: RHP Joe Smith to be signed to a two-year contract and added to the 40-man roster.
12-11: C Tim Federowicz signed by the Astros and assigned to Fresno
12-11: RHP Matt Ramsey signed by the Astros and assigned to Fresno
12-1: RHP Mike Fiers non-tendered; signed with the Tigers
11-27: C Juan Centeno (Houston) claimed off waivers by Rangers; Centeno was placed on waivers 11-22
11-20: LHP Cionel Perez (Corpus) added to the 40-man roster in advance of the Rule 5 Draft
11-20: RHP Dean Deetz (Fresno) added to the 40-man roster in advance of the Rule 5 Draft
11-20: OF Ramon Laureano (Corpus) traded to the A's for RHP Brandon Bailey
11-17: RHP Carlos Pimentel (GCL) placed on restricted list
*Pimentel, an undrafted free agent out of the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, was suspended 56 games due to a positive test for Stanozolol. RELEASED 12/20
11-6: C Lorenzo Quintana signed by the Astros (28-year old Cuban)
11-6: 2B Colin Walsh (Fresno) elected free agency - signed with the Angels
11-6: C Eduardo de Oleo (Fresno) elected free agency - re-signed with the Astros 11/17
11-6: RHP Kevin Comer (Fresno) elected free agency - signed with the Tigers
11-6: SS Reid Brignac (Fresno) elected free agency - signed with the Nationals
11-6: OF Rico Noel (Fresno) elected free agency
11-6: RHP David Martinez (Fresno) elected free agency
11-6: RHP Jumbo Diaz (Fresno) elected free agency - signed with the Marlins
11-6: RHP Jandel Gustave (Houston) activated from the 60-day DL
11-6: RHP Brady Rodgers (Houston) activated from the 60-day DL
11-6: RHP David Paulino (Houston) activated from the 60-day DL
11-2: RHP Tyler Clippard (Houston) elected free agency - signed with the Blue Jays
11-2: LHP Francisco Liriano (Houston) elected free agency - signed with the Tigers
11-2: DH Carlos Beltran (Houston) elected free agency - retired
11-2: RHP Luke Gregerson (Houston) elected free agency - signed with the Cards
11-2: OF Cameron Maybin (Houston) elected free agency - signed with the Marlins

At the end of the minor league season, the players who ended the season on the DL are activated (most of the moves were posted retroactively). A few of these players were on the 60-day DL and have been rehabbing for quite some time.

• 10-11: OF Jonathan Lacroix activated from the 60-day DL; Lacroix was drafted in the 12th round in 2017 and has not played in his first professional game yet
• 9-27: 2B/3B Nick Tanielu activated from the 60-day DL; Tanielu ended the season with two rehab assignment games with the GCL and is now playing in the Arizona Fall League after missing most of the 2017 season following ACL surgery last fall
• 9-27: RHP Angel Heredia activated from the 60-day DL; Heredia made seven rehab appearances toward the end of the 2017 season and is now on the Dominican Winter League's Toros del Este roster
• 9-27: RHP Ryan Deemes activated from the 7-day DL; Deemes last pitched for Buies Creek on 5/7
• 9-27: RHP Jose Hernandez activated from the 60-day DL; Hernandez missed the entire 2017 season and ended the 2016 season playing in High-A Lancaster
• 9-27: IF/OF Marcos Almonte activated from the 7-day DL; Almonte missed the final six Quad Cities postseason games on the DL
• 9-27: IF Osvaldo Duarte activated from the 7-day DL; Duarte last played for Quad Cities on 8/10
• 9-27: RHP Gabriel Valdez activated from the 7-day DL; Valdez spent large chunks of July and August on the DL and last pitched for Quad Cities on 8/14
• 9-27: RHP Edgardo Sandoval activated from the 7-day DL; Sandoval last appeared for Quad Cities on 5-3
• 9-27: RHP Enrique Chavez activated from the 7-day DL; Chavez missed the entire 2017 season and last appeared for Quad Cities in September 2016 RELEASED 12-20
• 9-27: RHP Enoli Paredes activated from the 7-day DL; Paredes last pitched for Quad Cities 5/31
• 9-27: RHP Jose Bravo activated from the 7-day DL; Bravo missed the entire 2017 season and ended his 2016 season in the DSL
• 9-10: LHP Yeremi Ceballos activated from the 7-day DL; Ceballos last pitched for the DSL team on 6/19

In addition, it was reported that OF Juan Ramirez would be the PTBNL in the Justin Verlander trade. Ramirez was 18 on 4/9 and spent his second pro season with the GCL, compiling a .301/.385/.362 batting line in 46 games. He walked 20 times to only 14 strikeouts and stole 11 bases. Ramirez signed with the Tigers in 2015 for a $185,000 bonus.