The Astros have dealt 30-year old righty reliever Matt Lindstrom to the Rockies for 24-year old righty starter/reliever Jonnathan Aristil and 23-year old lefty starting pitcher Wes Musick. Lindstrom pitched in 58 games (0 starts) for the Astros last season and he was 2-5 with 23 saves, a 4.39 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP. This deal will make Brandon Lyon the closer for the Astros in 2011. Jonnathan Aristil pitched in 33 games (4 starts) in A+AA+AAA-ball last season and he was 2-5 with a 5.90 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP. He has now pitched in 113 games (53 starts) in his first five years in the minors and he was 13-23 with a 4.47 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. Wes Musick pitched in 23 games (all starts) in A-ball last season and he was 8-7 with a 4.05 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Musick has now pitched in 30 games (28 starts) in his first two years in the minors and he is 11-7 with a 3.78 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. This was essentially a salary dump move by the Astros as neither Aristil or Musick are considered top prospects. But, down the road Musick could make this deal a winner for the Astros as decent lefty pitchers are hard to find.

The Astros have re-signed 30-year old lefty reliever Gustavo Chacin to a minor league deal. Chacin pitched in 44 games (0 starts) for the Astros last season and he was 2-2 with 1 save, a 4.70 ERA and a 1.85 WHIP. Chacin has now pitched in 102 games (58 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 27-17 with 1 save, a 4.23 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. This was a good move the Astros as they will give Chacin a shot to win a job in the pen next spring.

The Houston Astros have signed 30-year old righty swinging IF/OF Bill Hall to a 1-year deal worth around $3 million bucks with a mutual option for 2012. Hall played in 119 games for the Red Sox last season and he was 85 of 344 (.247 avg, .772 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 18 homers, 46 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Hall has now played in 984 games in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 786 of 3,140 (.250 avg, .753 OPS) with 424 runs scored, 122 homers, 425 RBIs and 59 stolen bases. Hall will be the Astros’ starting 2B which will give the Astros a powerful double play combo as they also added Clint Barmes earlier this off-season to play shortstop in 2011.

The Astros have signed 26-year old righty swinging 1B Brian Dopirak to a minor league deal. Dopirak played in 86 games in AAA-ball for the Blue Jays last season and he was 93 of 339 (.274 avg, .763 OPS) with 43 runs scored, 11 homers and 53 RBIs. Dopirak has now played in 881 games in his first 9 years in the minors and he is 948 of 3,382 (.280 avg, .819 OPS) with 459 runs scored, 156 homers, 596 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. The Astros are going to give Dopirak a legit shot to make the team next spring.

The Astros have re-signed 25-year old righty reliever Samuel Gervacio to a minor league deal. Gervacio pitched in 6 games (0 starts) for the Astros last season and he was 0-1 with a 12.27 ERA and a 2.46 WHIP. He has now pitched in 35 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Astros and he is 1-2 with a 3.65 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. Gervacio has 28 whiffs in 24 2/3 innings in his two years wtih the Astros showing that he has pretty good stuff. He will get a chance to win a job in the Astros’ pen next spring.

The Houston Astros have signed 27-year old starter/reliever Ryan Rowland-Smith to a 1-year deal. Rowland-Smith pitched in 27 games (20 starts) for the Mariners last season and he was 1-10 with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. He has now pitched in 115 games (47 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 12-17 with 2 saves, a 4.57 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. The Astros will give Rowland-Smith a shot at winning a job in the starting rotation next spring. He was a good pitcher until last season so maybe he just had a bad year.

The Astros have selected 27-year old righty starting pitcher Lance Pendleton away from the New York Yankees in the Rule 5 Draft. Pendleton pitched in 29 games (27 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last season and he was 12-5 with a 3.61 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. He has now pitched in 102 games (88 starts) in his five years in the minors and he is 32-22 with a 3.39 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. The Astros will give Pendleton a shot to make the pitching staff next spring.

UPDATE: (3/28/2011) - The Astros have returned Lance Pendleton to the Yankees.

The Astros have selected 22-year old righty starting pitcher Aneury Rodriguez away from the Tampa Bay Rays in the Rule 5 Draft. He was the Rays’ #27 prospect heading into last season according to Baseball America. Rodriguez pitched in 29 games (19 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last season and he was 7-5 with a 3.71 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. He has now pitched in 141 games (131 starts) in his six years in the minors and he is 41-43 with a 4.56 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Rodriguez will get a shot to win a job on the Astros’ pitching staff next spring and he has a nice upside.