Astros place Jon Singleton on outright waivers

The long, slow decline of Jon Singleton continues. The Houston Astros have placed the former top-prospect on outright waivers on Friday — as reported by the Houston Chronicle’s Jake Kaplan.

The 29 other major league teams will have a chance to claim Singleton until Tuesday, if unclaimed he will be out-righted to the Triple-A Fresno roster. The move doesn’t come as a surprise as the Astros didn’t call up Singleton in September, following a poor Triple-A season — he batted .202 (83x410) with 62 runs scored, 20 home runs, 66 RBIs, 83 walks, 124 strikeouts, .390 SLG, and a .728 OPS in 2016.

It will also come as no surprise if no team claims Singleton has two years, $4 million remaining on his 5 year, $10 million contract he signed in 2014.

Singleton downfall started with his lack of production in the major leagues over two seasons (2014-15). He batted .171 (61x357) with 14 home runs 50 RBIs, 151 strikeouts, 50 walks, and .621 OPS in 114 games (95 in 2014).

On top of that, the Astros had two clear candidates overtake Singleton on the roster depth chart, Tyler White and A.J. Reed. Neither nailed down the job and the Astros still didn't call up Singleton, instead, the team went with non-first basemen Marwin Gonzalez and Yulieski Gourriel as stopgaps.

The move gives the Astros more flexibility during the winter meetings, and in the end, Singleton could earn his way back onto the 40-man roster with a strong spring. Or at least a job else where.