Well well. After getting manhandled by the Mariners in a weekend series sweep, the Astros have decided to shake up the roster by designating Ronny Cedeno and Carlos Pena for assignment. Jonathan Villar has been recalled from Oklahoma City and will be the starting shortstop.
Ronny Cedeno, he of the .558 OPS (54 OPS+), is reportedly shocked at the news. Carlos Pena was a little more pragmatic about it, saying that, "In my mind, I was an Astro until the end...I'm very sad." He went on to say that he totally bought into Bo Porter and Jeff Luhnow, but he understands why he was let go.
So the Jonathan Villar Era begins. Villar, who turned 22 in May and came to Houston from Philadelphia in the Roy Oswalt trade, was hitting .278/.342/.444 for Oklahoma City in 90 games, but .299/.372/.482 since June 1.
There likely won't need to be another corresponding move since the Astros had already planned to call Cosart back up on Tuesday.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
