Astros tender six players ahead of deadline

Wednesday marked the deadline for Major League Baseball teams to tender players that are arbitration-eligible. Of the eight players that were eligible for Houston, the Astros tendered six: catcher Jason Castro, right-handed pitcher Josh Fields, designated hitter Evan Gattis, infielder Marwin Gonzalez, left-handed pitcher Dallas Keuchel and infielder Luis Valbuena.

The Astros did not tender first baseman Chris Carter and traded catcher Hank Conger to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Castro, drafted by the Astros in 1st round of 2008, batted .211 (71x337) with 11 home runs, 31 RBIs, and .648 OPS. The Astros starting catcher reach new levels of pitch framing and was solid behind the plate throwing out runners at 36.4 percent this season.

Gattis batted .246 AVG (139x566), 27 home runs, 88 RBI,and .748 OPS. The Astros traded RHP Mike Foltynewicz, 3B Rio Ruiz and RHP Andrew Thurman for Gattis and RHP James Hoyt this offseason. Gattis was the Astros everyday starter at designated hitter and appears to have a place on the roster with Carter sent packing.

Fields was 4-1, 3.55 ERA in 50.2 innings pitched for the Astros. Fields was the one pitcher in the Astros' bullpen with an electric fastball.

Gonzalez proved to be a major league level utility man, batting .279 (96x344) with 12 home runs, 34 RBIs, and .759 OPS.

Dallas Keuchel won the 2015 Cy Young award with a 20-8 record in 33 games with a 2.48 ERA.

Luis Valbuena, the Astros starting third baseman for much of the season batted .224 (97x434) with 25 home runs, and 56 RBIs.