Roster Moves

The huge infusion of talent that the Astros have added to the farm system via recent trades means that some of the current rosters are getting strained to the breaking point. There are only so many prolonged DL stints and temporary inactive designations before players will have to be released. We've already seen a couple of these at Lancaster with the recent releases of Brian Streilein and Kirk Clark. I will do my best to keep on top of these moves and let you know when I have confirmed information. With that said, here are your latest moves.

Oklahoma City
LHP Rudy Owens will be has been assigned to Oklahoma City.
According to Sports Reporter (and Jake Buchanan girlfriend) Chelsa Messinger, RHP Jake Buchanan will be has been assigned from Corpus Christi to Oklahoma City.
ADDED: LHP Xavier Cedeno is being called up to Houston.
ADDED: RHP Jose Cisnero is being assigned from Corpus Christi to Oklahoma City.
ADDED: RHP Jarred Cosart is being assigned from Corpus Christi to Oklahoma City.
ADDED: RHP Jonnathan Aristil was released.

Corpus Christi
CF Robbie Grossman was assigned to Corpus Christi.
ADDED: IF Jordan Kreke was assigned from Oklahoma City to Corpus Christi.
ADDED: RHP Paul Clemens is being assigned from Oklahoma City to Corpus Christi.
ADDED: OF Austin Wates was placed on the 7-day DL.
ADDED: RHP Adalberto Flores was assigned from Oklahoma City to Corpus Christi.

Lancaster
RHP Chia-Jen Lo was assigned to Lancaster.
LHP Colton Cain was assigned to Lancaster.
LHP Brad Dydalewicz was placed on the 7-day DL.
DH Rafy Valenzuela was placed on the TI list.
LHP Blair Walters was activated.

Tri-City
RHP Steven Dennison was assigned from the GCL to Tri-City.

Greeneville
C Cristian Moronta was assigned from the GCL to Greeneville.
RHP Michael Feliz was assigned from the GCL to Greeneville.

GCL
RHP Raul Rivera was assigned from Tri-City to the GCL.
C Jon Carnahan was assigned to the GCL.

Roster Moves - 4/24

LANCASTER
RHP David Martinez has been placed on the 7-day disabled list.  According to Franklin Leon (one of the Jethawks regulars), Martinez has a blister on his hand so we can hope that the DL stay will be short.
LHP Brad Dydalewicz has been assigned to Lancaster from extended spring training (we already knew this based on a tweet from Brad, but it is now official)

LEXINGTON
LHP Scott Zuloaga has been placed on the temporary inactive list.
2B John Hinson has been assigned to Lexington from extended spring training.
OF Chris Epps has been assigned to Lexington from extended spring training.

Happy Birthday - 3/24

RHP Josh Zeid (25)
Drafted by the Phillies in the 10th round in 2009 from Tulane, Zeid came to Houston as part of the Hunter Pence trade in July 2011.  Zeid was bumped from Low A in 2010 to AA in 2011 by the Phillies and the result was a little rocky as his strikeout rate dipped and his walk rate climbed.  Following the trade, Zeid pitched in 14 games for the Hooks and, although he managed to improve his strikeout and walk rates somewhat, his home run rate (and subsequently his ERA) took a hit.  In the Arizona Fall League, Zeid seemed to find his groove with a 5.00 ERA (3.65 over his final 10 appearances) and 10.5 SO/9 (although his walk rate was still a bit high).  Going into the 2012 season, Jonathan Mayo of MLB has pegged Zeid at #19 in the Astros system, citing a plus fastball and a good slider that will serve him well if he can harness his command.

LHP Brad Dydalewicz (22)
Drafted out of Lake Travis HS in the 8th round in 2008, Dydalewicz spent most of the 2011 season on the DL or rehabbing at the GCL.  After completing his rehab, he made 3 appearances at Lexington at the end of the season, posting a 6.75 ERA and a 1.500 WHIP over 2.2 innings pitched.

Former Astros with birthdays today ~

OF Jesus Alou (70)
Alou originally came to Houston as a part of the Rusty Staub trade with the Expos in January of 1969 and spent 1969 through part of the 1973 season with Houston and returned to the team for the 1978 and 1979 seasons as well.  In 553 games for Houston, he hit .282/.313/.366.  He spent all or parts of 15 seasons in the major leagues playing for four different teams, including the 1973 and 1974 World Series champion Oakland teams.  He is the brother of Felipe and Matty Alou and uncle to Moises Alou.

RHP Jose Cabrera (40)
Acquired in a trade with Cleveland in May of 1997, Cabrera pitched in 93 games over four seasons for Houston with a 4.32 ERA and a 1.302 WHIP before being claimed off waivers by Atlanta in April of 2001.  He had his most successful season in the majors for Atlanta that year, going 7-4 in 55 games with a 2.88 ERA and a 1.298 WHIP. After one final season in the majors with Milwaukee in 2002, he kept playing in the minors, in independent ball and in Mexico.  In 2011, at age 39, he pitched in 43 games for Monclova in the Mexican League, going 9-5 with 13 saves, a 2.76 ERA and a 1.286 WHIP.

RHP Jose "Papa Grande" Valverde (34)
Acquired in a trade with Arizona for Chris Burke, Juan Gutierrez and Chad Qualls in December 2007, Valverde pitched for Houston for two seasons, going 10-5 with 69 saves, a 2.93 ERA and a 1.159 WHIP.  A three-time All-Star for Arizona and Detroit, he has been the league leader in saves three times as well.  In 2011, he converted 100% of his 49 save opportunities for Detroit during the regular season.

Tweet of the Day

@BradDyd11 Brad Dydalewicz
just woke up from a much needed 7 and a half hour nap

And the Brandt Walker Tweet of the Day:

@BrandtWalker Brandt Walker
I look at some athletes' twitters and they seriously make me want to vomit (and not the good kind of vomit).

Another Roster Move Soon ...

LHP Brad Dydalewicz tweeted that he is headed back to Lexington from Kissimmee and should be activated from the DL soon.