Astros and Alex Presley agree to one-year, $1 million contract; avoid arbitration

One more piece of the Astros' 2015 roster puzzle is now in place. Houston and the outfielder Alex Presley have agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract. Presley was set to go into arbitration as a Super Two player before the completion of today's deal.

Presley was selected off waivers on March 27, 2014 from the Twins. He started 67 games and appeared in a total of 89 games last season, playing all three outfield position and designated hitter. Before he was sidelined with a right oblique strain, he was batting .315/.373/.413 in 103 at-bats while holding down the Astros' right field position. He would finish the year batting .244/.281/.346 with 13 extra-base hits, 19 RBIs, and 5 stolen bases.

Presley's deal comes before looming deadlines for 40-Man rosters with respect to the Rule-Five draft and non-tendering players. The focus turns to the Astros' remaining arbitration cases with Anthony Bass, Chris Carter, Jason Castro, Hank Conger, Carlos Corporan, Dexter Fowler, Marwin Gonzalez, and Tony Sipp. Also, what is Presley's role going forward? Is he more than a fourth outfielder? What does this deal say about Robbie Grossman, L.J. Hoes, Domingo Santana, or even Preston Tucker?