Playing catch up this afternoon, and first up is word that the Astros have signed free agent pitcher Jose Valdez, and added him to the club's 40-man Roster.
Valdez comes from the Yankees organization, where he spent time in Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre. Stats, you ask?
Valdez will be 27 on April 1, 2010, and spent the last seven seasons within the Yankees' farm teams. From 2002-2004 he advanced from the NY-Penn League to the Florida State League, and then missed the 2005 season. Coming back in 2006, he advanced from Rookie ball to appearing in nine games with the Triple-A club. He came back after 2005 as a reliever.
Season line:
Trenton (Double-A): 34 games, 10 saves, 38.1IP, 32H/13ER, 3.05 ERA/1.44 WHIP. 42K:23BB. 9.9 K/9 rate, 1.83 K:BB ratio.
SWB (Triple-A): 9 games, 19.1IP, 23H/9ER, 4.19ERA/1.71 WHIP. 18K:10BB. 8.4 K/9 rate, 1.80 K:BB ratio.
We also learn within the linked article that the Astros have purchased the contracts of Evan Englebrook, Matt Nevarez, and Henry Villar, adding them to the 40-man roster, as well.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
