Roster Moves - 3/27

In addition to the minor league roster cuts previously announced, the Astros also cut LHP Zach Duke and OF Jack Cust, bringing the players in big league camp down to 38.  The number of players on the 40-man roster will go down to 36 when Sergio Escalona is put on the 60-day DL as he undergoes Tommy John surgery.  There will be plenty of room to add Livan Hernandez and Brian Bixler (who I believe has to be in the mix as a right-handed bench player) to the 40-man roster if they make the team out of camp.  Zachary Levine has the story here.

UPDATED TO ADD:  Shows you what I know, Bixler was sent to minor league camp this morning, along with Angel Sanchez, Scott Moore, and Enerio del Rosario.  Joe Thurston was released.  That leaves 33 in big league camp.

Roster Moves - 1/27/12

The Astros signed LHP Zach Duke to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training.  Here is the story from Steve Campbell.  It is a low risk signing much like the Ryan Rowland-Smith signing last season.  We can only hope that this one proves to be more successful.  It also could signal that the Astros are looking for a lefty with major league experience in the event that Wandy Rodriguez is traded.  If Duke works out, this would give lefties Dallas Keuchel and Brett Oberholtzer more time in the minors without rushing them to the majors before they are ready.

OF Kellen Kiilsgaard announced via twitter that he is no longer with the Astros.  (The move still has not been posted on MiLB.com or on Baseball America.)  Kellen was a 30th round draft pick in 2010.  He has been going to school over the winter as he works on his degree from Stanford.  Something tells me that he will do just fine with a Stanford education and the terrific sense of humor he has shown on twitter.