In a move that's been expected since last week, the Astros have signed MLB.com #20/Baseball America #25 international prospect Ronny Rafael to a $1.5 million contract. Rafael, 16, is a righty-hitting OF from the Dominican Republic, and the $1.5 million bonus is, I believe, the second biggest international deal in Astros franchise history (behind only Ariel Ovando's $2.6 million in 2010). You can read Rafael's MLB.com prospect profile over here.
Evan Drellich reports that Houston has also signed OF Angel DeLeon, OF Hector Martinez, and RHP Cristofer Melendez.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
