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You've got a longform piece already this afternoon to read on Jose Altuve, so I'll be brief with this one. Since we're halfway through the season and barrelling into the All-Star Break, I figured it's time to check in on what the Astros front office did this past offseason.
What worked? What didn't? What is still incomplete?
Signings
Carlos Pena
Hitting line: .213/.328/.361, 8 HR, 309 PA, 25 RBIs, -0.2 fWAR
Contract: 1 year, $2.9 million
Notes: Not a flashy signing and Pena is not a perfect offensive player, but has been okay at DH.
Grade: C+
Rick Ankiel
Hitting line: .194/.231/.484, 5 HR, 53.8% Ks, 65 PA, -0.2 fWAR
Contract: Minor league deal
Notes: All the strikeouts. All the home runs. All the popcorn.
Grade: D-
Jose Veras
Pitching line: 17 saves, 38 games, 38 1/3 IP, 3.29 ERA, 41 Ks, 14 BBs
Contract: 1 year, $2 million, club option for $3.25 million for 2014
Notes: Control is under control and Veras has turned into a nice late-inning option.
Grade: A
Erik Bedard
Hitting line: 3-5, 4.67 ERA in 86 2/3 IP, 73 Ks, 44 BBs
Contract: 1 year, $1.15 million
Notes: Ugly April has led to good results since returning to the rotation. Take away rough start and he's been as good as Scott Feldman.
Grade: B+
Waivers
Philip Humber
Pitching line: 0-8, 9.59 ERA in 35 2/3 IP, 20 Ks, 15 BBs
Contract: 1 year, $850,000
Notes: Yikes. The worst move by a long shot.
Grade: F
Rule 5 Draft
Nate Freiman
Hitting line: .277/.328/.402 in 122 PAs, 2 HR, -0.1 fWAR
Contract: League minimum
Notes: Too bad he's doign this all with Oakland. Basically been what Carlos Pena has been for HOU.
Grade: F (for letting him go)
Josh Fields
Pitching line: 0-1, 5.93 ERA in 13 2/3 IP, 10 Ks, 2 BBs
Contract: League minimum
Notes: Sort of incomplete, as Fields had dealt with injuries. Still has not been as good as advertised.
Grade: Incomplete
Trades
Jed Lowrie and Fernando Rodriguez send to Oakland for Chris Carter, Brad Peacock and Max Stassi
Chris Carter
Hitting line: .228/.321/463 in 324 PAs, 17 HR, 46 RBIs, -0.1 fWAR
Contract: $494,000
Notes: Most home runs, RBIs, runs scored and ISO on the team. Second-best wOBA, SLG. Tough to get that kind of power in a trade.
Grade: B
Brad Peacock
Pitching line: 1-3, 8.07 ERA in 29 IP, 23 Ks, 17 BBs in majors. 4-2, 2.89 ERA in 53 IP in minors.
Contract: League minimum
Notes: Still has prospect sheen and has turned things around in Triple-A, but he was really bad when he was in the rotation.
Grade: C-
Max Stassi
Hitting line: .243/.310/.428 in 170 PAs, 5 HR, 26 RBIs
Contract: Minor league
Notes: Producing about like he did for the A's last season at High A. Still young with great defense.
Grade: C
Rob Rasmussen traded to Dodgers for John Ely
John Ely
Pitching line: Incomplete
Contract: League minimum
Notes: Injury scuttled his season before he could do anything, but Rasmussen hasn't done much for Dodgers, so the trade is a bit of a wash at this point.
Grade: Incomplete
Wilton Lopez traded to Colorado for Alex White and Alex Gillingham
Alex White
Pitching line: Incomplete
Contract: League minimum
Notes: Latest pitching prospect to go under the knife. Needed Tommy John after competing for a rotation spot this spring. Astros couldn't have seen that coming.
Grade: Incomplete
Alex Gillingham
Pitching line: 1-1, 8 IP, 11.25 ERA for High A Lancaster
Contract: Minor league
Notes: Not an impressive showing this season. Was placed on the DL back in April.
Grade: Incomplete
Read more TCB:
- Lucas Harrell demoted to bullpen
- Mark Appel makes his debut
- In defense of wayward Astros fans
- No need to panic about the Astros IFA strategy
- Five trade destinations for Bud Norris
