The Astros have signed 28-year old righty reliever Fernando Nieve to a minor league deal. Nieve pitched in 40 games (1 start) for the Mets last year and he was 2-4 with a 6.00 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Nieve pitched two years for the Astros earlier in his career in which he pitched in 51 games (11 starts) in which he was 3-4 with a 4.63 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Nieve has now pitched in 99 games (19 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 8-11 with a 4.61 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. The Astros will give Nieve a chance to get his career back on the right track but he will have to start the year in the minors.