Astros minor leaguer Jon Singleton clears waivers

Former top Astros prospect Jon Singleton is now Grizzlies first baseman Jon Singleton. Singleton cleared waivers earlier this week and was out-righted to Triple-A Fresno.

Singleton, 25, was acquired by the Astros with Jarred Cosart, Josh Zeid and Domingo Santana from the Philadelphia Phillies in 2011. Singleton was given plenty of chances to win the first base job during the 2014 and 2015 season. He was one of the three first basemen, with A.J. Reed and Tyler White, in a wide open competition in Spring Training before the 2016 season.

But the team went with Tyler White and Marwin Gonzalez, and Singleton didn’t make an appearance in the major leagues in 2016 — a wRC+ of 96.

Singleton at this point was a deep, deep insurance policy for the Astros. With no team claiming him on waivers, no team is willing to take on his contract. Singleton will be paid $2 million each of the next two season and require a $500,000 buy out the follow year.