Welcome Back, Jose Veras

The Astros just signed Jose Veras to a Minor League contract.  He will, presumably, be stashed in Fresno after heading to Extended Spring Training, unless there is an injury, or one of the other relievers turns into a pumpkin.  The Astros 'pen has looked good, with only Deduno sometimes struggling, and perhaps Thatcher as well.

This is a solid signing, especially because they don't have to add Veras to any rosters immediately.  If the Astros are still in contention come mid-summer, then this signing means they shouldn't have to trade for an extra arm for the stretch run.  Plus, the bullpen options in Fresno haven't been great, so 'pen depth is a great thing to accumulate at this point of the season.

Of the 'pen options in Fresno, we should have a quick look to see how the various other options are progressing at the highest minor-league level.  Remember that the PCL is predominantly a hitter's league, so perhaps the peripheral stats mean more when evaluating these guys.

At the beginning of the season, James Hoyt was likely considered the next righty to be called up, and he currently has a 8.16 ERA and a WHIP of 2.09.  His strikeout rate of 10.7 K/9 looks impressive, but that is combined with a walk rate of 4.4 BB/9.

The best remaining relievers have been Jordon Jankowski (being used exclusively out of the 'pen this year, and who carries a 2.45 ERA, 1.64 WHIP with an 11.3 K/9 and an excretable 6.4 BB/9) and Richard Rodriguez (2.45 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 5.6 K/9, 2.1 BB/9, used in a number of multi-inning stints).  Neither of these guys should inspire much confidence at this stage of their careers, but they may put it all together and develop into solid arms in the future.  Tyson Perez is also having a solid season (2.77 ERA, 0.54 WHIP, 6.9 K/9, no walks in only 13 innings pitched).

So not many other options there, unless one was to consider Rodriguez for the long-man role.  Jankowski needs to show better control, and all four of the Fresno guys mentioned in this article (especially Perez) need more innings to evaluate them.  None of those guys will inspire much confidence come mid-summer, if a 'pen arm is needed.  This makes the Veras signing look wise.

Plus, Lance McCullers Jr isn't heading to Fresno to relieve, although that could be a role for him later in the year in the Houston 'pen.

This signing was probably helped by the warm relationship that Veras and the Astros have shared ever since the Astros handed him closing duties for half of 2013, then re-acquired him in 2014 after he was ineffective for the Cubs.  Which is pleasing to hear, especially given the amount of flak the Front Office has copped over the various PR disasters of the last few years.

Monday Evening Rumor Sheet

Nooz and Noats from the 1st Day of the Winter Meetings...

*Luhnow would like to get "one or two" deals done this week.

*The Astros' focus, according to Jeff Luhnow (via Jose Ortiz) is relief pitching, then lineup help, then starting pitching.

*RIP SauerKrauss, who was claimed off waivers by the Angels.

*The Astros are interested in bringing back former Astros legend Jed Lowrie. Evan Drellich writes that his infield versatility could play to the Astros needs not only at SS, but 3B, as well. MLBTR sees a 3yr/$30m contract for Lowrie.

*The Braves aren't necessarily willing to trade presumed Astros target Evan Gattis, but the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's David O'Brien says the Rangers may have the pieces to get a deal done.

*The Astros are "absolutely" open to bringing back Jose Veras. Veras, who signed with the Cubs last season, realizes mistakes were made:
I really made the mistake to sign with the Cubs instead of to sign with Houston early in winter time. But that's the way it is. You learn by mistakes...I'm available to do anything.

*The Astros were never apparently very interested in Jason Hammel, to whom the Astros were connected for some reason or another.

*I'm thinking about blogging about this at some point in the very near future, but Jerry Crasnick is tweeting that the Astros not only offered Andrew Miller more money than the Yankees ($40m to $36m), but they also offered him an option for a 5th year.

And a third bit of news...

The Astros have called up Ex-stro Jose Veras (who had a fine time with the Astros last year) in place of pr0FF3ss0r_F4rnsw0rth, who has been outrighted off the roster, presumably with intent to release him.

I am sad.  j0s3_v3r4Sss doesn't have the same ring to it.  In fact, it doesn't really work at all.  Probably to the relief of the readers.

Wednesday Morning Hot Links

While we try to figure out what to write next, Czech out these lynx:

*#AstrosCatfish.

*Bo Porter is still pissed about the 2012 NLDS, and sees similarities between that Nationals team and the 2014 Astros.

*Grantland, and SI, on George Springer

*Anthony Bass is close to going on a rehab assignment, Jose Veras threw a bullpen session in Kissimmee, and a cable provider is looking to drop CSN Houston.

*Here is a fantastic article on how Brent Strom overhauled Shane Reynolds...in Venezuela in 1991.

*There will soon be more security measures in place at Minute Maid Park.

*Here is a newspaper that thinks David Carpenter still pitches for the Astros.

*Former Astro Carlos Pena signed a minor-league deal with the Rangers.

*Rough week in baseball. Here is a touching tribute to Richard Durrett. Rest in Peace, and pray for his family and friends.

Veras says the Astros didn't have enough money to sign him

A week ago former Astros reliever Jose Veras said he wanted to return to Houston. Yesterday he signed with the Cubs on a one-year deal for $4m with an option for 2015. What's the problem? The Astros are looking for bullpen help. Veras is a reliever. Like, a live one. The reason Veras gave?

They said they didn't have enough money to get done the contract we asked for.

Let's ignore the dubious grammar employed in said reason and take a look at this...

The Astros will give Dexter Fowler $7m+, Scott Feldman will get $30m over the next three seasons, Jason Castro is going to get about $2m in arbitration, and Qualls/Albers will account for about another $5m. Count that the first year of Altuve's extension kicks in, and the Astros have spent/will spend an extra $25m - about double the payroll at the end of 2013 - in 2014.

Remember, there is still no resolution to the CSN Houston debacle, and the Astros haven't received their payments from CSN Houston since July. It's entirely possible that the team doesn't have enough money to sign Veras.

But the last clause of Veras' quote - the contract we asked for - is telling to me. The last link above says that the Astros are still looking for a pitcher and a hitter. We don't know that the Astros don't have enough money to sign Veras, because we don't know what Veras asked for. They did offer him a contract, he turned it down. We also don't know what the option for 2015 looks like. So it's misleading to say that the Astros didn't have enough money to sign Jose Veras, because we don't know (a) what Veras wanted and (b) what the total package for Veras will look like.

Look, we know the Astros have valuations for their free agents, and they're not going to spend more than they think a player is worth. I'm not broken up about Veras joining Wesley Wright in Chicago.

Astros claim Darin Downs

Here's something:

The #Astros have officially claimed LHP Darin Downs (@DDowns99) off waivers from Detroit. He made 29 apps. for the Tigers last season.
— Houston Astros (@astros) November 1, 2013

Downs, who will be 29 in December, is a 6'3" 210lb LHP and was the Cubs' 5th Round pick in 2003. Given that he made his major-league debut in July 2012, he's not arbitration-eligible until 2016, so he'll be making league minimum for the next two seasons.

In 29 appearances for the Tigers in 2013 (35.1IP), Downs allowed 36H/19ER, 37K:11BB, 4HR, for a 4.84 ERA/1.33 WHIP. Up until June 1, though, Downs' season was going pretty well: 22.1IP, 16H/7ER, 25K:6BB - a 2.52 ERA/0.99 WHIP on a .245 BABIP. Of course he pitched in two of the four May games at Minute Maid Park and allowed 3H/0ER, 5K:0BB in 2.2IP.

Then things got away from him in June, when he allowed earned runs in five of his six appearances for a 10.57 ERA/2.35 WHIP on a .600 BABIP (regressing to the mean is a bitch).

He mainly throws a fastball (89.7mph) and a slider (85.2mph), mixing in an 84mph changeup in there, as well. I can see Downs coming in as a lefty specialist - he held lefties to a .219/.265/.359 line in 2013 (compared to .306/.378/.514 line vs. RHBs). And, at 29, he can buy the rest of the team beer.

In other Tigers/Astros-related news, Detroit announced that they have declined the 2014 option on former Astro Jose Veras. 

Jose Veras traded to Detroit

The Astros have traded closer Jose Veras to Detroit, according to Brian McTaggart, for outfielder Danry Vasquez and a Player To Be Named Later.

Vasquez is a 6'3" 177lb 19-year old lefty-throwing/righty-hitting outfielder from Venezuela, and has been with Detroit his entire career.

In 251 career minor-league games, Vasquez is hitting .276/.317/.368. This season, he's hitting .281/.333/.390 in his second stint with the West Michigan Whitecaps of the Low-A Midwest League. In 420 plate appearances he has 26 extra-base hits, 56 strikeouts and 31 walks and a .313 BABIP. At home this season, Vasquez is hitting .344/.391/.425, compared to .222/.280/.376 on the road. And his numbers this season are depressed from an April where he tallied a .604 OPS. Since May 1, he's hitting .290/.344/.427 and, again, is 19 years old.

Vasquez was Tigers' blog Bless You Boys' 4th-ranked prospect at the beginning of the 2013 season, writing (and this is but a brief pull from a thorough scouting report):
Vasquez's ceiling is that of an impact, middle of the order bat that hits over .300 consistently with 20+ HR power and tons of doubles, while playing a solid-average LF. Overall, he has the potential to be a perennial all-star, but it takes some dreaming to see it. The projection is there, and his best tool is the one tool that you'd want to be a prospects' best: his bat. He'll play the entire 2013 season at 19, undoubtedly at Class A-West Michigan. Ideally, if all goes well, he will be ready to compete for the starting LF job by 2016.

He was also ranked #4 in the Tigers' system by Jonathan Mayo, who said:
Vasquez is still very raw, but has the chance to keep hitting .300 as he moves up the ladder. He may never have a huge power profile, but he could be the type of hitter who runs into 12-15 homers annually.

West Michigan's manager, Larry Parrish said of Vasquez:
With his swinging mechanics, he's got a chance to hit. His total game, though, has to keep getting better.

And "one AL scout" said Vasquez has "double power," and "could blossom into a top-of-the-lineup player in the majors, but will have to work on his instincts in the outfield...he makes strong contact in hitter's counts and has the ability to put the ball in play with two strikes."

Vasquez will slide over to Quad Cities.

Obviously, this weakens an already-weak bullpen, but...the Astros are adding another valuable piece, just at the Low-A level. Here's hoping the Astros slide Jose Cisnero into the 9th inning or, you know, sign Brian Wilson.

But let's put it this way: In 2010 the Tigers signed Vasquez as an international free agent to a $1.2m signing bonus. The Astros signed Veras to a $1.85m contract for 2013, of which they have paid him approximately $1.19m. So the Astros basically swapped a 32-year old reliever for one of the Tigers' top prospects. It may be 2016 before we see him, but this is exactly why you sign guys like Jose Veras.

Tigers split on Veras

Danny Knobler tweeted this morning that the Tigers are looking at Jose Veras to bulk up their bullpen.

Tigers people are said to be split on Veras, by the way. If I had to guess, they don't go for him. But some pushing for him.

Astros Stats

I am in a good mood, baseball wise. The Astros took a series against a decent Royals teams (seriously, it was the first series win against a team anywhere near .500. More on that later). Reid Ryan is the president. The snow cone guy got fired, relatively quickly. All around a good week.

Because of that, this week in Astros stats will definitely have a rose tinted view of things.

- The Astros are really really bad. Historically so, in fact. (that didn't last long). They, of course, are 14-33, on pace for only 48 wins. They have been outscored by 89 runs. If there is one reason for optimism, however, its in how they have played against bad to mediocre teams. They are an abysmal 5-27 against teams over .500 on the season. Against these good teams, they have simply been outclassed, being outscored by 102 runs. However, against their fellow dregs, they are 9-6, and have outscored those opponents by 13 runs. Unfortunately, the 32 games against teams greater than .500 are the second most in the league, behind only Toronto. Miami, in contrast, has built their league worst record with equally poor play against good and bad teams. They are 3-16 against teams at .500 or better and 10-18 against those below. Based on Baseball Reference's strength of schedule rankings, the Astros are tied for the 2nd toughest schedule in baseball, and Miami is tied for the second easiest. The schedule gets slightly easier from here, so hopefully they can continue their good play against the poor teams, and avoid ignominy.

- I don't know about you, but I still get a sense of dread when In Vino Veras comes in to close out a ballgame. But maybe I shouldn't. Since his implosion in Anaheim in his first save chance on April 13, he has appeared in 14 games, allowing runs in only one of them, for a stellar 1.26 ERA. Looking under the hood provides any more reason for optimism. He is currently sporting a 3.32 BB/9, which would be the lowest in his career by nearly a point. His first strike percentage is at 60.8%, which is far and away higher than its ever been, and is 8 percentage points higher than his career average. His overall rate of pitches in the zone is also at or near his all-time high. If he can maintain this improved command, he could actually be a very effective closer. Now, about that 8th inning....

- Robbie Grossman is having a very strange season. He was called up on April 24, and went 2-5 with two doubles (matching his extra base hit total at OK City for the season). He then went 0-17 with one walk over the next 4 games at Boston. Since that series, he has gotten on base at a .378 clip. But he has shown almost no power, tacking on only 3 more doubles, bringing his slugging over that time to a paltry .284. On the season his OBP/SLG is .327/.260.  If he maintains this pace all season, he would wind up with an on base percentage over .350 and a slugging percentage under .300, which would be only the 23rd such season in baseball history, and the 3rd since World War II. However, I think Grossman has much more power than that, and will start to show it soon. I don't think he will make that kind of history.

Bullpen Power Rankings

The bullpen is awful. Awful. Awful. 5.31 ERA/1.56 WHIP awful - and that includes Bedard's, Clemens', and Keuchel's solid multi-inning relief outings. in 50.2IP, they've collectively allowed 59H/31ER, 23K:20BB, 2 HBP, 6 HR. So let's break down the Bullpen Power Rankings, shall we?

1. Dallas Keuchel

If either Keuchel or Clemens, next on the list, were given opportunities to start, I'd be totally fine with it. But Keuchel leads us off, because in his three appearances in relief, he's thrown 3IP twice and 2IP once, maintaining a 1.13 ERA, and allowed eight baserunners total in his 8IP. Yes, he allowed one of Peacock's runners to score, but that's because it was a liner to right and Peacock is a ninnymuggins for that guy getting to third in the first place. 69 of his 104 pitches have been thrown for strikes, and he's generated two GIDPs.

2. Paul Clemens

If I factored likeability into the Power Rankings, Clemens would have jumped Keuchel (and I really like Keuchel). I'm willing to write off his 4IP, 6H/5ER, 0K:1BB, 3HR performance on April 9 (the 16-9 win over Seattle) because it was his Major-League debut. His performance two nights ago, in which he threw 5.1IP, 1H/0ER, 3K:2BB is enough for me, because Bedard nutted his start so badly and Clemens shut it down. The Astros only scored one run in those 5.1IP, but that's not what we're talking about right now. Basically, he's the last guy on this list in whom I'm actually okay with coming into the game. 

3. Wesley Wright

Wesley Wright, the elder statesman on the club, has been okay in his seven appearances - bookended by rough outings. On April 2 (the Yu Darvish game), he allowed a hit, a walk, and both ended up scoring. Then he put together five outings that were fair: 3.2IP, 2H/0ER, 1K:0BB. Problem is, those two hits came against Oakland in G5 when he inherited two runners that both scored, and put the Astros from a tie situation to a Down 2 situation. In G13, at Oakland, the Astros were down seven runs, but he still allowed three baserunners and threw 12 of his 23 pitches for strikes. Two of those runners scored.

4. Hector Ambriz

In his season opener, Ambriz came into the game with the Astros down one run to the Rangers in G3. By the time he left, the Astros were down four runs. In his next outing, nobody scored, but he gave up three hits. Then a clean outing, and another 3H/4R (1ER) performance. In his last three appearances, though (3IP), he's allowed 4H/0ER and 28 of his 39 pitches have been for strikes. 

5. Jose Veras

Veras, the $1.85m man, has appeared in five games and the Astros have been worse off when he left in three of them. Every other outing he gets tagged up - 2ER in G2, 3H/1ER in G6, and then he blew the save against the Angels on Saturday night that would have won the road series by allowing 2H/2ER, 1K:1BB. It was a high-leverage situation, but one more out and the Astros be 4-4 on the road trip, instead of 3-5. 

6. Rhiner Cruz

Ugh. Rhiner Cruz. Throws it hard, but has no idea where it's headed. In his last three outings, the Astros have been worse off when he left than when he came in. In fact, in his last three outings (2.2IP), he has allowed 5H/4ER, 1K:2BB and 29 of his 52 pitches have been for strikes. In those three games, his ERA has gone from 1.50 to 5.19. Whenever Cruz comes in the game, that's when I take the dog out for a walk.


7. Xavier Cedeno

Cedeno, easily the 3rd-best lefty in the bullpen (out of three) has a 17.18 ERA and has allowed 14 baserunners on the way to getting eleven outs (1K:5BB). And while his ERA is inflated, FanGraphs puts his FIP at 7.72 with a 9.23 xFIP. So it's not as though he's suffering from terrible defense. He did throw 2.2IP in G6 when the Astros were already down eight runs to the A's, and allowed 1H/0ER, 1K:1BB, but he has allowed earned runs in three of his four appearances.

Astros to sign Jose Veras

Via MLBTR (and many on Twitter), here is ESPN Deportes' Enrique Rojas' report that the Astros and reliever Jose Veras have agreed on a 1-year contract.

The details (according to Rojas):
2013: $1.85m guaranteed
2014: Team option for $3.25m with a $150,000 buyout.

Veras, 32, is arbitration-eligible in 2013 (well, not anymore), but will be a free agent in 2014. In 327 appearances in his seven-year career, Veras has a 4.01 career ERA, with a 1.36 WHIP. In his last three seasons,  he has thrown 186IP, allowing 147H/77ER, with 16 HR allowed. Notably, he struck out 212 batters in those 186IP, walking 103 batters - that's over 10.0 K/9 in each of the last three seasons.

Read this piece to find out Veras sucks and so do the Astros. 

This means that the Astros will have to make a roster move. Maybe Fernando Rodriguez? Maybe they double designate Mickey Storey for assignment?