The Astros have a new owner but he is likely to stick with the rebuilding plan, at least for now. That means that they won’t be shopping for big time names in free agency. With that in mind, this trio makes perfect sense:

1. Ivan Rodriguez - He is obviously hanging around to chase 3,000 hits. The Astros have had a Black Hole at catcher for years now, so why not give Pudge a chance in 2012.

2. Joel Zumaya - Righty fireballer Joel Zumaya has a huge upside if he can just stay healthy. This would be an outstanding low risk/high reward signing for the Astros.

3. Hideki Okajima - The Astros need a lefty reliever and Okajima might be good in the N.L. because hitters have not seen his unique delivery.

The Astros have signed 28-year old lefty swinging 2B/3B Scott Moore to a minor league contract. Moore played in 123 games in AAA-ball last year for the Cubs and he was 107 for 363 (.295 avg, .823 OPS) with 60 runs scored, 9 homers, 53 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He last played in the majors back in 2010 with the Orioles. Moore has played in 80 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 41 for 184 (.223 avg, .640 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 7 homers, 27 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Add Moore to the growing list of players trying to make the Houston Astros next spring on minor league deals.

The Houston Astros have signed 32-year old lefty swinging 2B Joe Thurston to a minor league deal. He played in 1 game for the Marlins last year and he was 1 for 4 (.250 avg, .500 OPS) with 1 stolen base. Thurston has now played in 184 games in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 76 for 337 (.226 avg, .629 OPS) with 34 runs scored, 1 homer, 27 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. He will compete for a bench job next spring.

UPDATE: (3/28/2012) - The Astros have released Joe Thurston.

The Houston Astros have signed 29-year old lefty swinging 1B/OF Brad Snyder to a minor league contract. Snyder played in 8 games for the Cubs last year and he was 1 for 9 (.111 avg, .222 OPS) with 1 run scored. He also played in 102 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 109 for 376 (.290 avg, .801 OPS) with 48 runs scored, 11 homers, 57 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Snyder has now played in 20 games in parts of two years in the majors and he is 6 for 36 (.167 avg, .384 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 0 homers and 5 RBIs. This was a good move for Snyder as he might be able to break into the majors for good with the Astros in 2012.

The Astros have signed 29-year old righty swinging outfielder Nick Stavinoha to a minor league deal. Stavinoha played in 133 games in AAA-ball for the St. Louis Cardinals last year and he was 144 of 533 (.270 avg, .817 OPS) with 84 runs scored, 28 homers, 109 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. He didn’t get to play in the majors last season. Stavinoha has played in 147 games in his first three years in the majors and he is 62 for 265 (.234 avg, .581 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 4 homers, 30 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Stavinoha has come to the right place to try to get his major league career back on the right track.

UPDATE: (12/15/2011) - The Astros have released Nick Stavinoha, so he could sign with the Hiroshima Carp of the Japanese League.

The Astros have signed 27-year old lefty swinging outfielder Travis Buck. Buck played in 50 games for the Indians last year and he was 34 for 149 (.228 avg, .617 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 2 homers, 18 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 220 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 181 for 736 (.246 avg, .727 OPS) with 92 runs scored, 20 homers, 89 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Buck came to the right place as he tries to get his career back on the right path. He will have a good shot to make the Astros out of spring training next season.

The Houston Astros have signed 29-year old SS/2B Brian Bixler off waivers from the Nationals. He played in 79 games for the Nationals last year and he was 17 for 83 (.205 avg, .532 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 0 homers, 2 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Bixler has now played in 147 games in his first three years in the majors and he is 44 for 235 (.187 avg, .495 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 0 homers, 7 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Bixler isn’t much of a hitter, but he’s very versatile in the field, so maybe he will be able to help them off the bench.

UPDATE: (12/14/2011) - The Astros have designated Brian Bixler for assignment.

UPDATE II: (12/15/2011) - Bixler has cleared waivers and has accepted an outright assignment to AAA.