Astros ink Miller, invite three to camp Reliever to give club another lefty option out of bullpen By Alyson Footer / MLB.com HOUSTON -- In the year and two months they've been working together, manager Phil Garner has been begging general manager Tim Purpura to give him two left-handed options in the bullpen. On Monday, Purpura delivered with veteran southpaw Trever Miller, who signed a one-year deal worth $1.3 million. The contract also includes a vesting option worth another $1.3 million for 2007, which will go into effect if Miller makes 50 appearances this year. Miller will join left-hander Mike Gallo, who was the relief corps' lone lefty specialist during the Astros' Wild Card finish in 2005. "We've been looking for a lefty reliever to come in and stabilize our bullpen," Purpura said. "This gives Phil a lot of versatility. I talked to Phil last night and he's really pleased to have another lefty on board. It'll give him the ability to maybe use one lefty a little early in the game, another lefty later in the game." This will be Miller's second tour with the Astros. He played for Houston in 1998 and '99 as part of a seven-year big-league career. He has also played for Detroit, Philadelphia, Los Angeles (Dodgers) and Tampa Bay. Miller's recent history is impressive. In 2005, he was 2-2 with a 4.06 ERA over 61 appearances for the Devil Rays. The 61 appearances marked the second-highest total of his career, and he did not allow a run in his last eight outings of the season. Left-handers hit .267 against him last season; right-handers, .289. "Hopefully, [I'll bring] flexibility in the bullpen, a little bit of leadership in the clubhouse," the 32-year-old Miller said. "I'm not going to rock the boat. I'll work hard, be a leader and get some lefties out. I take a lot of pride in that, but that's not all I can do. I take pride in everything I do, including getting right-handed hitters out." The club has changed dramatically since the last time Miller wore an Astros uniform, but the reputation is the same. The Astros had a good pitching staff back in the late 90s, and while the cast of characters is different, Miller noted the pitching is still highly respected. "Ask the hitters around the league -- they don't like facing the Astros pitching staff," Miller said. "Roger [Clemens] was a big part of that, and who knows, he may be again this year. But even without him, you've got some serious arms here. Even watching from a distance, being in the American League and watching on television, you see the stuff these guys are throwing at the plate, and you know why they have success." The club also announced that it has signed left-handed pitcher Carlos Hernandez and catcher Alan Zinter to Minor League contracts with invitations to Major League Spring Training. In addition, the Astros have invited Minor League right-handed pitcher Jared Gothreaux to Major League Spring Training. Hernandez, who was taken off the 40-man roster in October, will continue his pursuit of a comeback, something he has yet to achieve since his 2002 shoulder surgery. The left-hander, who turns 26 in April, was 5-8 with a 5.56 ERA over 21 starts for Triple-A Round Rock in 2005, including 66 strikeouts and 54 walks. He's currently pitching in the Venezuelan League under the watchful eye of Magallanes manager Al Pedrique, who serves as a special assistant to Purpura. So far, the reports have been favorable. "It would be nice to have that lefty starter to go with Andy [Pettitte] in the rotation," Purpura said. "He'll get a chance to win a job in Spring Training. Hopefully, he has some of his velocity that he lost." Hernandez's fastball is hitting the high 80s, and the club is encouraged by the progression of his curveball. "It's kind of a roll of the dice, but it's worth it," Purpura said. "We know what he was when he was healthy. We've worked with him for over two years to try to get him back. It's low risk for us and low risk for him. He's in an organization where he's comfortable." In other news, Jeff Bagwell's trip to Birmingham later this week may be postponed. Dr. James Andrews suffered a heart attack over the weekend, and while he is reportedly doing well, it's likely Andrews' appointments have been put on hold until further notice. Bagwell had planned to visit the noted orthopedic surgeon in order to have his shoulder examined and find out if Dr. Andrews had any new ideas pertaining to Bagwell's ongoing rehab. http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASAp...t_id=1292874&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou
Hope he does something with his sorry mechanics. Would love to see him pitch five or six years straight without 1-2 months/year on the DL.
Its amazing how we heard from none of the "Astros made a mistake not resigning Wade Miller" crowd in 2005.
I've been an Astros fan my entire life (practically grew up in the Astrodome). I am still a season ticket holder, but it seems the Stros are screwing things up this offseason as much as possible. So far this offseason the Astros have: 1) Let the best pitcher in baseball go, with the (unlikely) hope that he will choose to come back and give them a discount to pitch a partial season next year, all because they did not want to have to pay fair market value if forced to go to arbitration. Clemens may or may not have chosen to play this season, but putting an early deadline on the man to make his decision was absolutely a horrible way to handle it. Why not make the offer of arbitration? Then he decides whether or not he wants to come back. If he chooses to retire, the Astros have lost nothing. If he does choose to return, they can either agree on a contract prior to the arbitration hearing (just like last year) or proceed with the arbitration. It's this last possibility that caused the Astros to botch this situation and run off the greatest pitcher in the game. They didn't want to risk paying Clemens what he is worth. 2) Signed an oft-injured outfielder with decent potential to a very cheap contract. (Not a bad move, but alot of the Poopura supporters are saying it couldn't have been done had we resigned Clemens, that's BS.) Wilson signed for 4 million. 3) Canned Alan Ashby (an improving broadcaster and fan favorite), all because he lobbied too much to get the main play-by-play job once Milo retires. (WTF? Since when is ambition and initiative a bad thing? This makes no sense. Ashby was an good broadcaster that alot of fans connected with due to his history in Houston.) 4) Completely botched the Bagwell situation. Bagwell has earned the right to try to make his comeback. The indignity of the Astros trying to pressure him into retirement is classless, and really reflects poorly on the organization. All so that they can get off the hook for 15 million of his salary this year. Money that if saved will go to their bottom line and not to improve the ballclub. This team is going downhill big time. If you are a true Astros fan and their actions this offseason don't make you upset, you really have got to take your blinders off and stop being naive.
Don't worry... a lot of "true Astros fans" thought last off-season was even worse. They're actually the closest thing this city has to resembling a competitive sports team... even if they finish in 3rd place.
Are you talking about me? At the time I thought it was a mistake not resigning Miller and said so last year at this time. Make no mistake though even with his injury riddled season, Wade Miller would have made the Astros a better team. Even with his arm in the shape its in he is still a better pitcher than Wandy will ever be. 2005 era+ Wade Miller 89 Wandy Rodriguez 75 Ezequiel Astacio 73
Actually, Purpura had a great offseason. He and his wife just had a baby. Seriously though, I think I will defer judgement until after Spring Training. Being an Astros fan as long as you have, you should know better than to count this team out before they even go to Kissimmee.
That doesn't stop the vast majority of them of giving up on the team in January. Hell, it's an Astros' fan tradition!
I feel pretty good about the Astros this year. When you consider how low and high they have been over the last several years you have to believe there is more in store for us. It wouldn't be fun if it was easy!
Aces -- you'll feel a ton better when Roger signs with the 'stros. honestly, i feel better about the 'stros chances this season than i did last season. we saw young guys perform last season, and i think those young guys will improve. i think our competition in the Central has taken a step backwards. i have no idea how the bagwell thing is ACTUALLY playing out. i know what Richard Justice said happened...but as with all Justice articles, I doubt it happened that way...particularly when Bagwell's agent came out a few days later and said it wasn't happening that way. as for Ashby...i'd have to open up a can of care. because i don't.
Nah. They always find something else to whine about. Absolutely. The entire NL, outside of the Mets, took a step back. If we get Clemens back-and I think we will-then we'll be in good shape. Forget what the Astros, players, or agents have to say. Let's take the word of a hack who does nothing but talk out of both sides of his mouth. If there was ever a bigger outcry about an absolute non-story this past year, I don't remember it. My God, some people sounded like they were on the verge of tears. I mean, I liked the guy and all, but I'm just not going to get upset about something like that.
Forget Justice ... would you ever, I mean EVER, trust the public proclamation of anyone's, I mean ANYONE's, agent?
as RM95 said...what would his angle be on that? the ONLY source saying this is a problem is richard justice. he burned trust a long time ago.
I'll take Justice you guys take the agent, any agent. Or I'll take none and you guys still take the agent, any agent.
