The Crawfish Boxes - Astros sign Doug Fister to one-year dealAstros baseball: we've got uniforms and everything.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/11437/crawfishboxes-fv.gif2016-01-30T12:00:02-06:00http://www.crawfishboxes.com/rss/stream/106320672016-01-30T12:00:02-06:002016-01-30T12:00:02-06:00Doug Fister in an Astros uniform
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<p>Looking good, Doug, looking good. </p> <p>The news of the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Houston Astros</a> signing dropped at out of nowhere. The Astros and general manager Jeff Luhnow annouced the deal and held the press conference in just a matter of hours. Of course, the Astros had a jersey for Fister to wear over his suit and tie.</p>
<p>But, what would <span>Doug Fister</span> look like in his full Astros uniform, wonder no longer:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Welcome to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/dougfister58">@dougfister58</a> ⚾ <a href="https://t.co/0DWAaSyT5f">pic.twitter.com/0DWAaSyT5f</a></p>
— Ryan Dunsmore (@d_more55) <a href="https://twitter.com/d_more55/status/693173137555505152">January 29, 2016</a>
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<p>Fister is wearing No. 58 again as he did with the <a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Seattle Mariners</a>, <a href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Tigers</a>, and <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Nationals</a>. When the Nationals traded for <span>Jonathan Papelbon</span> during the 2015 season, Fister switched to 33.</p>
<p><span>Jake Buchanan</span> is the last player to wear the No. 58 in his brief stretches with the Astros in 2014 and 2015. Buchanan is still on the Astros' Triple A roster but was designated for assignment on Sept. 1, 2015 -- he was later outrighted to Triple A.</p>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2016/1/30/10872788/doug-fister-in-an-astros-uniformRyan Dunsmore2016-01-29T12:37:33-06:002016-01-29T12:37:33-06:00TCB Starting Nine: Astros sign Doug Fister
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<figcaption>Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>TCB Staff reacts to the Houston Astros signing of Doug Fister. </p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a> made a move to solidify their rotation, adding right-handed pitcher <span>Doug Fister</span>. What does the TCB staff think of that move?</p>
<h4>Jason Marbach</h4>
<p>I have been vocally opposed to it simply on the grounds of not seeing the potential benefit (a number 3 starter, *if* he rebounds) outweighing the likely burden of having two #5 starters fighting for one number 5 slot, with the other becoming an expensive mediocre reliever or a VERY expensive AAA starter. However, I've also said all along that I trust the Front Office. If they, with much more available data than I have, see worthy value there, then I'm on board. Also worth noting that there's a huge difference between the one year, $7 million contract he signed versus the two year, $22 million contract he was reportedly seeking when I made those assertions. At this price, we could (in a worst-case scenario) DFA either he or Feldman if it's not working out, and it'd probably be okay. The options improve from there. So I'm okay with it, provided that he doesn't have a huge leash as a starter. If he is consistently getting roughed up again, I do hope they make a change.</p>
<h4>CRPerry13</h4>
<p>First sentence: I don't love it. Second sentence: I readily acknowledge that the front office has way more information at their disposal than I do. Fister was throwing just over 86 mph last season, suffered an injury, lost his job to Tanner Roark--who ended with a 4.82 ERA as a starter and 5.29 FIP--and had an ERA of almost 7.00 during his starts after the All-Star Break. That's not exactly a glowing recent résumé. The Astros, like all major league teams, need a handful more than five starters to make it through a full season, and I do like Fister better than the immediate options lingering at Triple A. Howevs, I can't imagine that Fister would sign a one-year deal with the Astros unless reasonably assured of being in the starting rotation so that he can resurrect his value for the 2016/17 offseason. That means he's in the rotation for keepsies, unless he flops. It's a pretty big risk to hand the ball to a guy with such recent struggles and injuries considering the club is in contention for the playoffs. Early struggles could mean 1 or 2 games difference -- 1 or 2 games that matter a bunch during a playoff chase. Obviously, if he lives up to his perfromances prior to 2015, that's great for the Astros. But that's a pretty big IF in my opinion, and so I can't feel overwhelmed by this signing. I'm just whelmed.</p>
<p>On the stats front, Fister doesn't have particularly good batted ball velocity in any category, and he doesn't have great stuff. But he doesn't allow walks, which this front office obviously values, and he's typically quite good at limiting home runs. Over the past 3 seasons, he has trended from an extreme ground ball pitcher to more neutral, or even leaning towards the fly ball side.</p>
<p>I don't know what to make of Fister. His 2015 was a disaster compared to his previous performances, and there are warning signs that it might continue down the ugly path. But he's also the same guy who averaged an ERA well under 3.30 from 2011 to 2014.</p>
<p>I dunno. I'll be interested to see how it plays out, but I can't say I'm excited.</p>
<h4>Brian Stevenson</h4>
<p>Love it. Absolutely love it. I've been one of the pro-Fister staff members for a while now, and I don't see how anyone could not be at least okay with this signing. Fister had a long history of success prior to last season. Maybe he doesn't rebound. Maybe <span>Scott Feldman</span> ends up having a better year. But this is, at worst, experienced depth, and it came at an extremely reasonable price.</p>
<p>I can't tell you how the Feldman/Fister battle will shake out or what happens to the loser, but I can tell you I think the Astros are a better team than they were yesterday, and they got that improvement at a very reasonable cost for just one year, and that means if it's not working out with Fister they won't feel obligated to keep him around and block a prospect. There seems to be no real downside here.</p>
<h4>Nreck13</h4>
<p>Before the news broke on the Fister signing I was decidedly on the fence. Looking to the upcoming season I like the rotation that we have in place, but am not enthralled with the depth waiting in the wings. The guys that should provide support from the minors are more than a year away in my opinion and the depth options in the high minors are not the guys I want to be relying on in any capacity down the stretch.</p>
<p>With that said I still didn't want anything to do with a multi year contract for any starter over 30, especially one coming off of arguably the worst year of his career. But that is where this deal gets exciting for me. I mean where is the risk? He is only signing for one year and it isn't even like it is for that much. Odds are that this deal doesn't end up being a big deal in either direction, but the odds definitely seem to be more on the side of bringing added value to the Astros this year as opposed to blowing up in Luhnow's face.</p>
<h4>Dave Spradley</h4>
<p>As a guy who had Fister kill his fantasy team last year and waited and waited for him to rebound before dropping him, I'm actually okay with this signing. Fister's stats have been trending in the wrong direction lately, but he has a good track record and in Brent Strom he will have a coach who may be able to help him make some positive adjustments.</p>
<p>Fister could improve the rotation next year, if he doesn't the Astros still have depth in the minors and Scott Feldman to fill the void in the fifth rotation slot. Either way, a Fister signing is probably worth the price of admission. In baseball, there is no such thing as a bad one-year deal.</p>
<h4>Idrees Tily</h4>
<p>This is exactly the kind of investment that makes sense for a team like the Astros; a team in contention that would like to add incremental talent without the exorbitant dollars and years that is commonplace in the free agent market. This is a 1 year, $7M investment. In the worst case scenario, this is "just" a $7M sunk cost. Although the potential worst case scenario would not feel great in the front office, it wouldn't mean the end of the world either.</p>
<p>At its best, this signing will be another shrewd move to add talent to the overall roster. You add a starting pitcher that has had sustained success at the big league level. He is not perfect by any means, and him taking on a 1 year deal to reestablish his value is indicative of that. But he does provide above-average depth to what was projected to be an already-strong starting rotation. I think Fister's addition to the rotation allows Feldman to take his time in getting fully healthy before re-joining the team. And the best case scenario for me would be if both Fister and Feldman stay healthy, and pitch to their career averages. That would mean they are two pitchers that provide quality innings. And with Feldman getting only $8M in the final year of his front-loaded contract, and with Fister receiving $7M plus incentives, both are very much affordable, and one could always be traded at the trade deadline for a complimentary piece to the roster. Being realistic here, it wouldn't be a blockbuster return, but perhaps we could add another lottery ticket to the farm system, and scratch off another Francis Martes.</p>
<p>In any case, this low cost addition of Doug Fister provides additional talent, roster depth, and flexibility to our big league team. For those reasons, I'll gladly endorse this deal.</p>
<h4>soxandstros</h4>
<p>2014 Pitching lines:</p>
<p>Pitcher A: 2.25 ERA, .096 WHIP<br>Pitcher B: 2.66 ERA, 1.07 WHIP<br>Pitcher C: 2.41 ERA, 1.08 WHIP</p>
<p>All three had inconsistent results in 2015. Pitcher A (<span>Johnny Cueto</span>) and Pitcher B (<span>Jordan Zimmermann</span>) signed massive multi-year free agent contracts this offseason. Pitcher C (Doug Fister) had the worst 2015 by a lot, but the Astros just signed him for one year and 7 million with incentives. It's a pretty nice upside gamble in the hopes he gets back to those 2014 numbers. If he doesn't, it's a sunk cost that won't derail the team's chances in 2016. I like all the young depth options the Astros have at starting pitcher, but none of the Triple A guys have the sort of upside that Fister possesses if he can get healthy.</p>
<h4>Blake Mueller</h4>
<p>I like this signing so much more than a Gallardo signing. The thought of losing the draft pick and much less going to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> made me throw up in my mouth a bit.</p>
<p>I like the Fister signing, would have preferred Kazmir obviously but his price and contract are a bit silly.</p>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2016/1/29/10871354/tcb-starting-nine-astros-sign-doug-fisterRyan Dunsmore2016-01-28T19:05:32-06:002016-01-28T19:05:32-06:00Fister contract: $7 million, one-year with bonuses
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<figcaption>Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Houston Astros payroll will be around $100 million in 2016. </p> <p>As free agent after free agent was signed this offseason, there was a constant rumble of the amount of money the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a> spent. Thursday, the Astros announced the signing of free-agent pitcher <span>Doug Fister</span>. The details of said contract came out shortly after the Astros press conference, Fister signed a $7 million, one-year contract with the possibly of $5 million dollars worth of performance bonuses -- as reported by MLB.com's Brian McTaggart:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Can confirm Fister deal is $7 million, with $5 million more potentially in performance bonuses through 100-200 innings pitched.</p>
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/692812469182599169">January 28, 2016</a>
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<p>Adding $7 million to the current Astros payroll pushes the Astros salary to right around $100 million. Which still doesn't push Houston inside the top 10 of salaries by any means but it's a step in the right direction for a team that has a lot of young players they will need to pay down the road.</p>
<p>14 Astros players make up $80 millions on the payroll in 2016:</p>
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<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"Name"]'>Name</td>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"Avg. Salary"]' data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>Avg. Salary</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"Colby Rasmus"]'>Colby Rasmus</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,15800000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$15,800,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"Scott Feldman"]'>Scott Feldman</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,10000000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$10,000,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"Carlos Gomez"]'>Carlos Gomez</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,8000000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$8,000,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"Dallas Keuchel"]'>Dallas Keuchel</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,7250000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$7,250,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"Doug Fister"]'>Doug Fister</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,7000000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$7,000,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"Pat Neshek"]'>Pat Neshek</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,6250000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$6,250,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"Luke Gregerson"]'>Luke Gregerson</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,6166667]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$6,166,667</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"Luis Valbuena"]'>Luis Valbuena</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,6125000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$6,125,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"Tony Sipp"]'>Tony Sipp</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,6000000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$6,000,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"Jose Altuve"]'>Jose Altuve</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,3125000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$3,125,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"Jon Singleton"]'>Jon Singleton</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,2000000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$2,000,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"Marwin Gonzalez"]'>Marwin Gonzalez</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,2000000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$2,000,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"Josh Fields"]'>Josh Fields</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,900000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$900,000</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>That doesn't include pre-arbitration players: <span>Brad Peacock</span>, <span>Dan Straily</span>, <span>Collin McHugh</span>, <span>Will Harris</span>, <span>Carlos Correa</span>, <span>George Springer</span>, <span>Preston Tucker</span>, <span>Max Stassi</span>, <span>Asher Wojciechowski</span>, Ken Giles, <span>Michael Feliz</span>, and <span>Lance McCullers</span>.</p>
<p>It also doesn't include the pay increase for <span>Jason Castro</span> and <span>Evan Gattis</span> -- who be at the moment are destined to head to arbitration.</p>
<p>That is a $20 million dollar increase from 2015 payroll, $81,450,835. If the Astros eclipse the $100 million mark, it will be the first time since 2009 when the team has salary of $102,996,415.</p>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2016/1/28/10864084/astros-fister-contract-7-million-one-year-contract-with-5-million-in-bonusesRyan Dunsmore2016-01-28T18:50:33-06:002016-01-28T18:50:33-06:00A closer look at Doug Fister
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<p>He's okay, I guess. </p> <p>The <span>Doug Fister</span> deal is incredibly hard to hate. That said, it's also not easy to love. The one-year pact, worth $7 million, falls into the grey area of baseball contracts, lying somewhere in between <span>David Price</span> and <span>Ian Kennedy</span>; it's really just an average deal, at an average price, for an average player. The length of the deal, the money involved, and the player involved aren't overly exciting. But, they certainly shouldn't make you angry.</p>
<p>If Fister is truly awful in the year ahead (which he was last year, for the record), the deal won't <i>really </i>hurt. If Fister bounces back and has a good year, we get a nice piece at the back of the rotation. Rather than just constantly reminding you of the mediocrity of the deal, let's have a deeper look at Fister, and his place on the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Astros</a>.</p>
<p>Fister is on the heels of a pretty poor year; logging a mere 103 innings, while posting a FIP of 4.55, and an xFIP 4.46. He was worth a mere two runs above replacement level. But, he has been good in the not too distant past. The season before, as far as run prevention goes, he was great, posting an ERA of 2.41 (although, that was accompanied by a rather worrying FIP of 3.93, and an xFIP 3.85, screaming regression).</p>
<p>So, perhaps, in terms of accountable skill, Fister has been pretty bad for two years in a row. But, in Detroit, he was one of the better, if not <i>the </i>best, third starters in the game. In 2012 and 2013 he had an ERA of 3.45, and 3.65, a FIP of 3.42, and 3.26 and an xFIP of 3.39, and 3.42. He was worth seven and a half wins, or so, during those two seasons. If he bounces back big time, he could be one the best fifth starters in the game. But, that's a <i>big </i>if.</p>
<p>His strikeouts have been trending negatively for quite some time now, moving steadily from the 7.63 K/9 mark in 2012, to the 5.50 K/9 mark he posted last season. Not great. However, he has always been pretty stingy with walks, he has a career BB/9 of 1.77. He also has ground ball tendencies, something we all love. He hasn't been quite as good at keeping the ball on the ground in Washington, but he still has a career GB% of 48.8, and averaged around 52% in Detroit.</p>
<p>It's difficult to come to a meaningful inference when discussing what Fister is likely to bring to the table in Houston. He was great in Detroit, but poor in Washington. There are, however, some noticeable differences in how Fister attacked hitters when he moved. Despite losing around two miles per hour on his fastball, he was throwing it around ten percent <i>more </i>in Washington. In Detroit, he threw his curveball around twenty percent of the time, this halved when he arrived in Washington.</p>
<p>His change in pitching tendencies is hardly conducive to his poor performances in Washington, but it's certainly interesting. Anyway, Let's get back to the Astros. We know that pitching coach Brent Strom has an undeniable ability for refining a pitcher's stuff, his sequencing and his pitch tendencies. We know that the front office know a whole lot more than we do, which, in itself, makes me somewhat confident about almost <i>every</i> deal we make. Perhaps, a change in scenery, in sequencing, and in pitch usage could see his strikeouts, and his ground balls go up, while lowering the runs he allows.</p>
<p>If Fister (with the help of the Astros), can get it all together he will be, well, pretty good (yes, I'm slightly deviating from the averageness I prescribed to him earlier). If he can't, don't worry too much. The great thing about this deal, in a sense, is that there is no pressure whatsoever on Fister to perform. If doesn't cut it, we have <span>Scott Feldman</span>/Mike Fiers. Beyond that, we have <span>Dan Straily</span>, <span>Brad Peacock</span>, <span>Asher Wojciechowski</span>, and some younger options like Michael Feliz. The Astros have <i>lots </i>of depth, and Fister just adds onto this.</p>
<p>Having too many pitchers is a great problem to have. He doesn't have to be amazing, either. With Dallas Keuchel, Lance McCullers Jr., and <span>Collin McHugh</span>, the Astros already have a great rotation. What they need is solidarity at the back end of the rotation, and Fister is another decent option for this. For just one-year at $8 million, the Astros can't really lose. He can be seen as a reclamation project. If things don't come together, we won't worry too much on such a tiny deal. If it works out, great, he could be a nice piece at the back of the rotation.</p>
<p>Of course, as you could probably tell from the money, and years involved, this isn't a contract that is going to win a pennant. It won't blow anybody away. It won't have people overjoyed, nor livid. Doug Fister isn't David Price, or <span>Zack Greinke</span>, but count your lucky stars he isn't Ian Kennedy, or Mike Leake. We don't have to fall in love with the deal, and we certainly don't have to hate the deal. Just an average deal, at an average price, for an average player.</p>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2016/1/28/10864452/houston-astros-doug-fister-signingTimmy Kennedy2016-01-28T16:31:27-06:002016-01-28T16:31:27-06:00Doug fister signing about starting pitcher depth
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/knGtEGdrPGsR29d-uEvD9bp6pzw=/0x0:3675x2450/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48673011/usa-today-8749021.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Houston Astros used 13 starting pitchers last season, signing Doug Fister will help lower that number. </p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a> blindsided the baseball world announcing the signing of pitcher <span>Doug Fister</span>.</p>
<p>On the one hand the move isn't a surprise. The Astros see value in a pitcher that generates ground balls in the same vain as <span>Dallas Keuchel</span>. On the other, the move adds another right-handed pitcher to a rotation that already includes Colin McHugh, <span>Lance McCullers</span>, <span>Scott Feldman</span>, and <span>Mike Fiers</span>.</p>
<p>In a perfect world, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> wouldn't have been so bullish about <span>Scott Kazmir</span>'s chances to stay healthy for three more years. Kazmir would slot right back into the Astros rotation to further balance things with another left-handed arm.</p>
<p>The move to bring in Fister isn't about balancing the rotation, it's about adding another major league arm to further extended the Astros depth at the starting pitcher position.</p>
<p>As noted by manager A.J. Hinch today at the Astros press conference, the Astros used a plethora of pitchers in 2015:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hinch said they used 13 starting pitchers last year, so depth is key.</p>
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/692800557606531072">January 28, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
<p>Those 13 pitchers included Keuchel, McHugh, McCullers, Feldman, Fiers, Kazmir, <span>Roberto Hernandez</span>, <span>Brett Oberholtzer</span>, <span>Vincent Velasquez</span>, <span>Dan Straily</span>, <span>Asher Wojciechowski</span>, Sam Deduno, and <span>Brad Peacock</span>.</p>
<p>This move is to avoid starting the likes of journeyman starters <span>Roberto Hernandez</span>, Sam Deduno, and Brad Peacock. Avoiding starters that still have to again experience as major league starters like Asher Wojciechowski.</p>
<p>After two seasons where the Astros have relied on the services of Hernandez and <span>Erik Bedard</span> for a time, the rotation is now six men deep with major league ready, experienced, and above average starters. Houston will have a six-man rotation or five starter and an excellent option out of the bullpen.</p>
<p>No matter what happens with the Astros rotation, Fister will be slotted in the starting rotation come Opening Day. This level of depth will help make sure he's pitching when the playoff come knocking too.</p>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2016/1/28/10862822/houston-astros-doug-fister-signing-about-starting-pitcher-depthRyan Dunsmore2016-01-28T15:12:53-06:002016-01-28T15:12:53-06:00Astros introduce newest addition Doug Fister
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<figcaption>Christian Petersen/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Doug Fister puts on an Astros uniform for the first time. </p> <p>The <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Houston Astros</a> quietly dropped a bombshell Thursday morning as the team was first to announce that Houston had signed right-handed pitcher <span>Doug Fister</span>. Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow and Doug Fister didn't wait long to face the media holding a press conference at 2 p.m. local time.</p>
<p>Fister put on an Astros uniform for the first time:</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Confirmed: new <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> RHP <a href="https://twitter.com/dougfister58">@dougfister58</a> will wear number 58 with Houston. <a href="https://t.co/09Xyxvg9WQ">pic.twitter.com/09Xyxvg9WQ</a></p>
— Houston Astros (@astros) <a href="https://twitter.com/astros/status/692801171619082240">January 28, 2016</a>
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<p>Luhnow talked about the decision to bring Fister into the fold:</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Luhnow: "Doug's had an incredible history in MLB, he's one of top RHP in the game and we're excited to have him here."</p>
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/692799314913931264">January 28, 2016</a>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">"He fits our club in a lot of ways. We've got a chance to provide an environment that allows him to succeed..."--<a href="https://twitter.com/jluhnow">@jluhnow</a></p>
— Richard Justice (@richardjustice) <a href="https://twitter.com/richardjustice/status/692816262645182464">January 28, 2016</a>
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<p>Fister talked about why he came to Houston and what he wants to do this season:</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Fister: "The choice to come here was driven from top down, being able to have that will to win. We're trying to win a <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/world-series" class="sbn-auto-link">World Series</a> here."</p>
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/692799791982510080">January 28, 2016</a>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Fister, a ground ball pitcher, mentioned defense again as being a lure to Astros. He thrives on contact and needs defense to cover ground."</p>
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/692803284944355329">January 28, 2016</a>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">New <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> pitcher <a href="https://twitter.com/dougfister58">@dougfister58</a> on joining the team: "Our ceiling is as high as we want it to be."</p>
— Houston Astros (@astros) <a href="https://twitter.com/astros/status/692802363254439936">January 28, 2016</a>
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<p>Astros manager A.J. Hinch talked about the Fister acquisition:</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Hinch on Fister: "We certainly view him as a starter." <a href="https://t.co/SU6zKrR94w">pic.twitter.com/SU6zKrR94w</a></p>
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/692801586767142912">January 28, 2016</a>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> manager A.J. Hinch on where Fister fits: "The key is that he makes us better."</p>
— Houston Astros (@astros) <a href="https://twitter.com/astros/status/692801909288075264">January 28, 2016</a>
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https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2016/1/28/10862386/houston-astros-doug-fister-introductionRyan Dunsmore2016-01-28T11:26:19-06:002016-01-28T11:26:19-06:00Astros sign Doug Fister to one-year deal
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<figcaption>Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Astros add one more are to their rotation with right-handed pitcher Doug Fister. </p> <p>The Houston Astros and free agent right-handed pitcher Doug Fister have agreed on a one-year contract through the 2016 season, annouced general manager Jeff Luhnow Thursday.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> and free agent RHP Doug Fister have agreed to terms on a one-year contract through the 2016 season, GM Jeff Luhnow announced today.</p>
— Houston Astros (@astros) <a href="https://twitter.com/astros/status/692754178381365250">January 28, 2016</a>
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<p>Fister, 31, spent the last two season with the Washington Nationals. He was 5-7 with a 4.19 ERA in 25 appearances (15 starts) in last season. Fister finished eighth in National League Cy Young Award voting after going 16-6 with a 2.41 ERA in 2014.</p>
<p>Overall, Fister has a 65-63 record and a 3.42 ERA (413ER/1085.2IP). Over the last five seasons, the right-hander ranks 15th in the Majors in ERA (3.42) and has recorded an ERA below 3.70 in four of those five seasons. Fister’s career 1.77 walks per 9.0 innings ratio (213BB/1085.2IP) is the best mark among all active Major League pitchers with at least 1000 innings pitched.</p>
<p>The Astros rotation appeared to have a hole with the loss of Scott Kazmir, who signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason. The Houston rotation now has six solid options with 2015 American League Cy-Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel, 19-game winner in 2015 Collin Mchugh, Lance McCullers, Mike Fiers, Scott Feldman, and Fister.</p>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2016/1/28/10860610/astros-sign-doug-fister-to-one-year-dealRyan Dunsmore