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Shortly after the news that the Astros and Luis Valbuena settled on $6.125 million to avoid an arbitration hearing. There are reports from the Houston Chronicle's Evan Drellich that the Astros have reached agreements with relief pitcher Josh Fields and utility player Marwin Gonzalez.
Source: Astros and reliever Josh Fields settle at $900K. Two down, four to go. https://t.co/OHP5SEKiHX
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) January 15, 2016
Things move quickly. Source: Astros and Marwin Gonzalez agree at $2 million.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) January 15, 2016
Both figures are above MLB Trade Rumors.com's projections of $800 thousand for Fields and $1.9 million for Gonzalez.
Josh Fields, before the addition Ken Giles, was the only regular member of the Astros bullpen with an electric fastball. Fields has battled injuries and command issues since being selected by the Astros with the first pick in the 2012 Rule 5 Draft from the Red Sox.
Fields posted 4-1 record with a 3.55 ERA, 11.9 strikeouts per nine, .308 BABIP, 2.19 FIP, 3.33 xFIP and 1.3 fWAR. The right-hander made the Astros playoff roster, Fields struck out four, walked two, allowed one hit, two earned runs in 1 2/3 playoff innings.
Marwin Gonzalez is one of the few remaining Astros that wore the black and brick uniforms. Gonzalez has lingered on the bench for much of his time in Houston, but he proved he was a major league utility player in 2015. He appeared all over the diamond and even stepped in a first when needed.
Gonzalez batted .279 (96x344) with 44 runs scored, 18 doubles, 12 home runs, 34 RBIs, and four stolen bases in 120 games for the Astros.
Dallas Keuchel, Evan Gattis, and Jason Castro remain as the only players that haven't reached an agreement before arbitration.