The final season in Kissimmee. Pitchers and catchers report February 18, while everyone else will report on the 22nd. Here are the non-roster invitees: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> announce non-roster invitees to spring training <a href="https://t.co/Yx1OFA2sZV">pic.twitter.com/Yx1OFA2sZV</a></p>— Howard Chen (@TheHoChen) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheHoChen/status/682988306959843328">January 1, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
hitters who have a serious chance to show something in ST and earn a roster spot (either now or by mid-season): Reed, White, Moran, maybe Kemp Of course, further roster moves this offseason may change that possibility
Stats for Fernando Cabrera 20 innings 5 hits 7 walks 25 K's 16 saves 0.44 ERA He would be a nice addition for us at Triple A and IF there is any injuries in our bullpen, he COULD help. Many of us like what White did in Winter League, these numbers are impressive. Just to compare, Grossman played in the same league, with Santurce, and hit .118 and released.
Is this the same Fernando Cabrera that is 34 years old and hasn't pitched in the major leagues since 2010?
yes, nothing to lose, minor league contract, a triple a guy with some experience, dominating pitcher in Winter League, probably BEST reliever this year in Winter League. He could help us if we get injuries in the minors.
That is your opinion, i disagree. I've seen him pitch many times, and with all the talent Puerto Rico have in the World Classic, finished second last time played, the closer of the team is FERNANDO CABRERA. The guy has a moving fastball, 90-93 with a very good splitter. When he was coming up in the minors, he was a top 10 talent. The problem with him is walks, but EVERYWHERE he pitched, he allows LESS hits than innings pitch, and over 9 K per 9 innings. His problem is walks. Do you know he has a 9.9 K per 9 innings in the majors???? I don't think this way would be a waste if signed. Worse case scenario, he would be a very good triple a reliever for us, with closer experience in tough situations, and ready for the majors IF needed.
We talking about winter league? Check his big league numbers, he was a terrible MLB pitcher and that was 5 years ago.
So, a real question, with all of these qualifications and the shortage of quality relief pitchers in both leagues, why has he not pitched in the major leagues since 2010?
It can basically be presumed that he's going to be biased to any player from Puerto Rico, no? Getting some YOF or LOF-like flashbacks.
To be fair, he's only suggesting the guy be signed for AAA depth. Of course, you could say that about almost anyone and get the benefit of the doubt I guess..."would be fine as AAA depth and in emergency scenarios." Give me Fausto for that. Livan?
As of right now, it seems the only competitions are for the 1B job and maybe the LOOGY. They also have to make the choice whether they carry a 7th reliever or 5 bench players. They will probably add a 6th starter between now and then that could change the dynamic of the rotation and the pen. If we carry 4 bench players there could be a competition between Duffy and Tucker. If we carry 6 relievers there could be a competition between Fields and Harris. Guys like James Hoyt , Jordan Jankowski and Brendan McCurry could also fight their way in. I don't think any of the other position prospects have a realistic shot of making the opening day roster. Spoiler C Castro 1B Singleton/White/Reed 2B Altuve SS Correa 3B Valbuena LF Rasmus CF Gomez RF Springer DH Gattis C Stassi U Marwin OF Marisnick DH Tucker 1B/3B Duffy SP Keuchel SP McHugh SP McCullers SP Fiers SP Feldman RP Giles RP Gregorsen RP Sipp RP Neshek RP Harris RP Fields RP Loogy
Really excited to see AJ Reed against some better pitchers this spring. He obviously won't be called up before mid-year, but everything I hear is impressive. Then again so was everything that I heard about Singleton.
Problem with Fausto is that we gave him a contract, with Cabrera is only a minor league contract with ST invitee. I remember many years ago i saw a guy that struggled in the majors, came here to play winter league, made a great duo with Irabu, in another forum i said, Astros should sign this guy, many laughed, and laughed and laughed, well, it was not a crazy idea, he pitched many years in the majors, his name BRONSON ARROYO. Fernando Cabrera is a good pitcher, should he make the bullpen out of ST, i don't think so, we have a very good bullpen and guys with contract, but he is a good pitcher that is better than Jankowski and others we already have in our minors. For the record, Jankowski is also pitching Winter League and in only 6 innings has allowed same number of hits allowed by Cabrera in 20.