(First of all, I love the guy's name. Aneury. It sounds like it's going to be terrible, but then it stops short. It's a fear-inducing name. Like Syphil. Or Gonorrh.)
Call to the Pen loves the pick:
He’s a big strike-thrower with low-to-mid-90’s heat and solid offspeed stuff–the sort of guy who should be somewhere between a third and fifth starter. With well over 100 Triple-A innings, he’s pretty much big-league ready, and the Astros could always use young talent–it’s a match made in heaven, no?
I have to say, I criticize the majority of Houston’s moves, but this one is extremely good. Rodriguez can be a back-of-the-rotation starter or solid middle reliever this season, so unlike most Rule 5 picks, he won’t be a strain on the roster. Furthermore, he has the potential to wind up being a rotation rock for the next half-decade. Well done indeed.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
