<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Source confirms Matt Albers has a one-year deal with Astros, pending physical. Jose Veras indeed still a possibility.</p>— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/statuses/412693562925408256">December 16, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Sources: <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Astros&src=hash">#Astros</a> agree with free-agent RHP Matt Albers on one-year, $2.45M contract with club option, pending physical.</p>— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/statuses/412690311765565440">December 16, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I feel like I can definitely say right now that the weakest part of the Astros last season has been improved this offseason.
As most of you know, Albers is from Sugar Land. He went to Clements, was a 23rd-round pick of the Astros in 2001 out of San Jac, made his debut in 2006, and spent his first full season in the majors in Houston. <script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgets.sports-reference.com/wg.fcgi?css=1&site=br&url=%2Fplayers%2Fa%2Falberma01.shtml&div=div_pitching_standard"></script>
So Qualls, Albers, Lo, Chapman, Zeid, Fields, Cisnero and maybe Veras. Based on last years performances this could turn out to be decent pen, granted it couldn't possibly be worse. A competent bullpen alone could be a 10 win increase given how terrible is was.
I said during the season last year that a mediocre bullpen probably means 7-10 more wins for the Astros last season. They were that bad.
It's tough to find fault with any of the Astros moves so far. Each has made the team better, and they are all short term commitments that won't hamstring future moves.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Matt Albers’ 2013 GB rate: 63.8%, 3rd best in majors (qualified RP). Fourth, you’ll recall: Chad Qualls, 63.3%</p>— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/statuses/412700674892111872">December 16, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
What's Scott Elarton up to these days? Good signing. Albers has been pretty good out of the pen the last few years. I like the direction...
old joke. People already tried it in the Qualls thread--and it was dumb there too. Not sure why useless players are used to demean solid ones when all they have in common is a past team
holy crap, now I'm the moron in the thread. Wow, it's funny..I knew Albers was doing well and somehow didn't see Patton doing the same on the same team.
Well, in your defense, he probably was saying it as a joke. Mentioned this previously, but, in all seriousness, I wonder if they'd consider kicking the tires on Roy O?
Albers seems to really have up and down years for homer to fly ball ratio. Here's to fly balls to centerfield.
Said he wants to play this year...what's the harm in taking a look? He wasn't healthy the past 2 years, and he was, well...Roy O every year prior. We obviously don't exactly have any sure thing for our #5 spot. He could fill the Bedard role. I'm sure he will cost little to nothing. I'll always have a soft spot for Roy, and him leaving 1 win shy of Neikro will always bug me.
