Quintero: Back for a cool million
(c) Houston Astros
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Jason Castro has had surgery to remove a bone in a foot he injured in the Arizona Fall League championship game. He's expected to miss three months, or roughly half of spring training. In possibly related news, the Astros have agreed to re-sign Humberto Quintero to a one-year $1 million contract, avoiding arbitration.
The Astros have also offered arbitration to lefthander J.A. Happ, the only remaining arb-eligible player on the roster.
Barring other free agent signings, Happ will be the fifth-highest salary on the team, after Carlos Lee, Brett Myers, Wandy Rodriguez and Brandon Lyon. The first three are on the trade block and Lyon probably would be too except he has no value until he can prove again that he can pitch after surgery.
Quintero is currently the sixth-highest salary on the roster.
There's no news on the free agency front but it is said the Astros are looking at possibilities for shortstop, the outfield and the bullpen. Considering the payroll constraints, it would not surprise me to see them wait until late in the free agency period and try to find some cheap bargains.
- Bob Hulsey
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