Astros Minor League Roster Moves/Transactions

Word came out this morning of a couple more Astros minor league player releases:

RHP Erick Gonzalez, drafted in the 15th round in 2012 out of GateWay Community College in Arizona, was 3-5 with a 4.00 ERA and a 1.556 WHIP in 20 bullpen appearances with the Gulf Coast League Astros in 2013.

RHP Alan Abreu, was a non-drafted free agent out of Lander University in Greenwood, South Carolina, and the story of his signing was an interesting one. He only pitched in one game for the Greeneville Astros in 2013.

In addition, it was announced that Jack Armstrong, Jr., the Astros third round pick in 2011 is retiring. He recently attempted to make the switch from the mound to first base after multiple injuries derailed his pitching career.

Also, I reached out to the Astros front office to enquire about 1B/DH Chase Davidson. Although he is still showing as active on MiLB.com, he did retire over the off-season. Davidson was first drafted by the Astros in the third round in 2008, but did not sign. He was re-drafted in the 41st round in 2011. Davidson had played in only a handful of games over the last two seasons, presumably due to injuries.

Finally, in case you missed it from yesterday, Peter Moylan and the Astros have parted company. Moylan tweeted this out yesterday evening ~

The @astros and I are consciously uncoupling. It was a fun spring. All the best to the team this year.
— Peter Moylan (@PeterMoylan) March 26, 2014

I have updated my ongoing off-season transaction list with these moves.

UPDATED with a couple of major league roster moves:

OF Alex Presley was claimed off waivers from the Twins and added to the Astros 40-man roster. In order to make room for him, LHP Raul Valdes was designated for assignment.

2014 Grapefruit League Recap, Game 10

Houston Astros 4, Toronto Blue Jays 3

2014 Grapefruit League record: 4-6

W- Raúl Valdés (1-0)
L- Jeremy Jeffress (0-1)
S- Peter Moylan (1)

Astros home runs: Jason Castro (1, 2-run HR in 6th)

It took a while for both teams' offenses to get into gear, as this game was scoreless for 5 innings. Both teams put up a pair in the 6th, and after a lull in the 7th, the Blue Jays went ahead with 1 in the top of the 8th. The Astros responded with another pair in the bottom of the 8th to take the lead, and Peter Moylan shut the door for an Astros victory, which snapped a 5-game losing streak.

Starting Pitcher: Rudy Owens

Owens was shelled against the Mets in his first spring start, but this start was a complete 180 from that rough first outing. He did labor a little through the 1st with a 23-pitch inning, but settled down after that and finished with 3 strong, scoreless frames.

Final line: 3 IP, H, BB, 2 K

Bullpen

Matt Albers gave up 2 hits and struck out 1 in a scoreless 4th.

Kevin Chapman allowed a single to Kevin Pillar in the 5th, but nothing came of it. He struck out Ryan Goins for the first out of the inning.

The Blue Jays broke the scoreless tie on Anthony Bass in the 6th with an RBI double from Moises Sierra and an RBI single by Erik Kratz. Bass struck out 2 in the inning.

Jorge De Leon allowed a hit in a scoreless 7th.

Kratz hit an RBI double off Raúl Valdés in the 8th, which was upheld after a challenge from Bo Porter. Carlos Perez appeared to have tagged Steve Tolleson at the plate, but Tolleson's foot made it to home plate before Perez made contact with him.


After the Astros took the lead, Peter Moylan threw a 1-2-3 9th, getting 3 flyballs to end it.

Offense

Jason Castro immediately restored the tie with a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 6th. He and Chris Carter had 2 hits apiece.



Adron Chambers got on board with a 2-out single in the 8th and came all the way around to score off Marwin Gonzalez's double to tie the game at 3.


Marwin would score the eventual winning run on a single from Carlos Perez.

Three Stars

3.

Peter Moylan, RHP

Save (1), IP

2.

Carlos Perez, C
1-1, GW RBI single in 8th

1.

Jason Castro, C
2-3, 2-R HR (1) in 6th

Next Up

Up next for the Astros is a home-and-away with the Nationals. The away portion is up first, as they'll travel to Viera. Lucas Harrell will make his 3rd start of the spring, and he'll be taking on Gio Gonzalez. First pitch for this game will be at 6:05 Eastern.

Tweet of the Day

“@MLBFanCave: Gotta love team photo day. #SpringTraining pic.twitter.com/fApUDufsiq” 2nd favorite day behind fitness test.
— Peter Moylan (@PeterMoylan) February 21, 2014

Tweet of the Day

Racked up another spring no hitter today.
— Peter Moylan (@PeterMoylan) February 18, 2014

Tweet of the Day

Report day!!
— Peter Moylan (@PeterMoylan) February 14, 2014

Tweets of the Day

Wow
— Brett Phillips (@Brett_Phillips8) January 7, 2014

Wow
— Peter Moylan (@PeterMoylan) January 7, 2014

I love college football
— Jiovanni Mier (@JioMier) January 7, 2014

Wowwwwwwwwwww
— Tyler White (@twhite409) January 7, 2014

Wow!! What a crazy game!
— J.D. Martinez (@JDMartinez14) January 7, 2014

This game is amazing. Everything you could hope for in a Nat'l championship Game
— Josh Zeid (@Josh_Zeid14) January 7, 2014

this is unbelievable and I don't even care who wins
— Brett Phillips (@Brett_Phillips8) January 7, 2014

Wow
— Tyler White (@twhite409) January 7, 2014

What the heck is going on in this game!!!!!
— J.D. Martinez (@JDMartinez14) January 7, 2014

Yikes this is intense
— Albert Minnis (@minnis33) January 7, 2014

Wow best championship game ive seen
— Jarred Cosart (@JarredCosart) January 7, 2014

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow
— Tyler White (@twhite409) January 7, 2014

Only got one word for that game
— Tyler White (@twhite409) January 7, 2014

Wooooooooow
— Tyler White (@twhite409) January 7, 2014

Jameis Winston... My god... What did u just say?
— Matt Duffy (@meduffy13) January 7, 2014

Roster Moves/Transactions

The Chronicle is reporting that the Astros have signed Free Agent RHP Scott Feldman to a three-year, $30 million deal. Feldman split his 2013 season between the Cubs and Orioles, compiling a 12-12 record with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.183 WHIP in 30 starts (181+ innings pitched). Feldman will be 31 in February.

Baseball America today confirmed the Peter Moylan signing, but there has been no confirmation yet on the reported Adron Chambers signing. Currently, the Astros have not officially announced either although they have been widely reported by other sources.

UPDATE: According to this article, OF Eric Thames has signed with a South Korean team, in which case the 40-man roster is back down to 36. (h/t to @KevinBassStache)

Roster Moves/Transactions

I'm a little late to the party on this one, but apparently the Astros signed free agent right-handed reliever Peter Moylan to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training. The 34-year old (35 in December) Australian was originally signed by the Twins as an amateur free agent in 1996. Moylan made his major league debut 10 years later for the Braves. In 295 appearances for the Braves between 2006 and 2012, he had a 2.59 ERA and a 1.285 WHIP. In 2013, he signed with the Dodgers and appeared in a handful of games in June and September, putting up a 6.46 ERA and a 1.957 WHIP. Moylan spent the rest of his season with the AAA Albuquerque team, managing a more respectable 2.74 ERA and a 1.261 WHIP in 38 appearances. Moylan's reaction?

I have a job next year!!!!!
— Peter Moylan (@PeterMoylan) November 22, 2013

 In addition, two minor league free agents have left the Astros nest. IF Brandon Laird signed with the Royals and IF Jose Martinez signed with the Athletics.