The Astros have signed outfielder/1B Darin Erstad to a 1-year, $1 million dollar contract. The 33-year old lefty swinger played in 87 games last season with the White Sox and he was 77 for 310 (.248 avg, .645 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 4 homers, 32 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Erstad has now played in 1,407 games in his major league career and he is 1,582 for 5,568 (.284 avg, .750 OPS) with 851 runs scored, 118 homers, 657 RBIs and 177 stolen bases. This was a nice signing by the Astros as Erstad will give them insurance in case Michael Bourn is not the real deal in center field.

The Houston Astros have signed Jack Cassel and Chad Paronto to 1 year contracts. Cassel will likely have a shot to win the #5 job in the starting rotation for the Astros in Spring Training. He pitched in 6 games last season for the Padres and he was 1-1 with a 3.97 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. Paronto worked in 41 games out of the bullpen for the Braves last season and he was 3-1 with 1 save, a 3.57 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. Paronto has now pitched in 165 games in his major league career and he is 6-11 with 1 save, a 4.00 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. These were two low risk/decent reward signings for the Astros who are trying to build pitching depth.

The Astros have acquired stopper Jose Valverde from the D-Backs for Chris Burke, Chad Qualls and Juan Gutierrez. This trade is further proof that the Astros will be trying to win it all right now and not be worrying about the future. Valverde led the majors in saves last season and he’s only 28 years old so the Astros hope to hold onto him for a while. He pitched in 65 games last season for the D-Backs and he was 1-4 with 47 saves, a 2.66 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. He now has pitched in 253 games in his major league career and he is 9-14 with 98 saves, a 3.29 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. This could wind up being an outstanding move for the Astros.

The handwriting was on the wall for Everett after the Astros traded for Miguel Tejada. With that in mind the Astros non-tendered Everett who is an outstanding defensive shortstop. Everett only played in 66 games last season because he broke his leg. In those games, Everett was 51 for 220 (.232 avg, .599 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 2 homers, 15 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He has now played in 649 games in his major league career and he is 531 for 2,145 (.248 avg, .656 OPS) with 257 runs scored, 35 homers, 214 RBIs and 59 stolen bases. The Minnesota Twins swooped in quickly and signed Everett for 2008.

The Astros have acquired shortstop Miguel Tejada from the Orioles for Troy Patton, Matt Albers, Dennis Sarfate, Luke Scott and Mike Costanzo. Astros fans should be happy as the team made a big move for right now as they think the Central Division is well within reach. Miguel Tejada will play shortstop for the Astros and he will give them a big bat and a solid defender. Tejada played in 133 games last year for the Orioles and he was 152 for 514 (.296 avg, .799 OPS) with 72 runs scored, 18 homers and 81 RBIs. He has now played in 1,555 games in his major league career and he is 1,736 for 6,053 (.287 avg, .824 OPS) with 941 runs scored, 258 homers, 1,033 RBIs and 66 stolen bases. Adding Tejada to a lineup with Carlos Lee and Lance Berkman should make the Astros offense lethal.

Reserve infielder Mark Loretta has accepted the Astros offer of salary arbitration. Loretta played in 133 games last season for the Astros and he was 132 for 460 (.287 avg, .724 OPS) with 52 runs scored, 5 homers and 41 RBIs. Loretta has been a good hitter his whole career and the Astros will certainly find enough playing time for him to swing the bat. Loretta has now played in 1,518 games in his major league career and he is 1,598 of 5,370 (.298 avg, .761 OPS) with 722 runs scored, 72 homers and 566 RBIs.

The Astros have signed 2B Kazuo Matsui to a 3-year, $15 million dollar contract. The 32-year old Matsui had a solid season for the Rockies last year and he was great in the post season. Matsui played in 104 games last year for the Rockies and he was 118 for 410 (.288 avg, .747 OPS) with 84 runs scored, 4 homers, 37 RBIs and 32 stolen bases. He has now played in 375 games in his major league career and he is 376 for 1,380 (.272 avg, .712 OPS) with 212 runs scored, 17 homers, 131 RBIs and 62 stolen bases. Only time will tell if this was a good move or not by the Astros.