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Currently, the Houston Astros 40-man roster is full, but general manager Jeff Luhnow hasn’t stopped adding more pieces to compete in Spring Training.
The Astros have signed infielder Reid Brignac to a minor league contract on Friday — reports Houston Chronicle beat writer Jake Kaplan. Brignac will have an invite to major league camp which starts in February.
Astros signed INF Reid Brignac to a minor league deal with an invitation to big league camp, per sources. Brignac spent 2016 with Atlanta.
— Jake Kaplan (@jakemkaplan) December 10, 2016
Brignac, 30, was drafted in the second round of the 2004 MLB draft out of St. Amant High School in Lousiana by the Tampa Bay Rays.
He reached the majors in 2008. Brignac has played 369 major league games over the past nine seasons, playing for the Rays, Rockies, Yankees, Phillies, Marlins and Braves. He batting .219 (194x886) with 12 home runs, 84 RBIs, and a .573 OPS over his career.
Brignac’s most recent stop was with the Braves, he batted .207 (6x290 with one RBI in 13 games. He batted. 264 (96x363) with eight home runs and 42 RBIs in 102 games at Triple-A Gwinnett.
Brignac is listed as a second baseman which makes a tiny sliver of sense as Houston no true second baseman on the 25-man roster at this point — Alex Bregman and Tony Kemp are clear options but both have focused on new positions.
Brignac is insurance, you hope to never use.