Just saw that Houston outrighted LHP Gustavo Chacin, LHP Tim Byrdak, and RHP Matt Nevarez, removing them from the 40 man roster.

They also signed C Carlos Corporan to a minor league deal. 

Byrdak is a polarizing guy in these parts, but I liked him.  He was mostly effective.  I'm sure there is a strong possibility that he and Chacin both could be brought back on minor league deals, they just didn't want to offer them arbitration.  But it also could signal a trade or free agent signing in the near future.  It could also mean that HOuston likes Abad and Wright enough to make them the big league LOOGYs.

It's likely Nevarez will clear waivers, so I assume he will be back in the farm system again in 2011, most likely in AAA.  He did fair quite well in the AFL, so it wouldn't be a total shocker to see someone take a chance on him.