Peacock call has rationale
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Look no further than the man who pitched against the Astros on Wednesday for a reason the team seems so intent on keeping Brad Peacock around despite the righthander’s underwhelming track record.
A year ago, righthander Dan Straily — who started for the Miami Marlins in Wednesday’s Grapefruit League finale — was out of minor league options, meaning if the Astros didn’t include him on their opening-day roster, he would be subject to waivers. Rather than lose him for nothing, the Astros traded him to the San Diego Padres for backup catcher Erik Kratz.
After the Padres placed him on waivers, Straily ended up on the rebuilding Reds, for whom he went on to record a 3.76 ERA in 1911⁄3 innings. The Astros, meanwhile, were depleted by starting pitching injuries to the point they rushed up prospect David Paulino to debut in the middle of a wild-card race. (The Reds then flipped Straily in January to the Marlins for three minor leaguers, including two pitching prospects.)
The out-of-options Peacock came into spring training this year facing the same situation as Straily last year. He will begin the season as the Astros’ long reliever.
“I suspect that that was the case,” general manager Jeff Luhnow said when asked if the Straily scenario was a cautionary tale for the team’s handling of Peacock. “Straily (had a) similar success profile. We knew Straily had a chance to be successful, but we also knew that him making our club would be at the expense of one of our short relievers, and so that’s why we made the trade last year.
“He had a great year. I’m happy for him. But certainly, when you give up excess inventory and they end up being successful, you wonder if there’s something you could’ve done to keep him.”
Enter the 29-year-old Peacock, whose chances to make the Astros’ openingday roster increased dramatically when it became evident starter Collin McHugh would begin the season on the 10-day disabled list.
Peacock had a 4.23 ERA in 117 Class AAA innings last season but a 3.69 ERA in 312⁄3 innings in the majors last August and September, and he has pitched well this spring since being moved to a relief role. His breaking ball seems to play up out of the bullpen. He also recently started throwing a two-seam fastball.
The Astros will still have a decision to make once McHugh is ready to return shortly into the regular season. But their front office’s affinity for Peacock makes it far from a foregone conclusion he’s the odd man out when McHugh is activated.
“There’s no question in my mind if we made him available, he would be snapped up by another club,” Luhnow said. “I think he’s an important piece of our inventory.”
Fisher’s homer gives Astros tie
Before heading to Palm Beach International Airport, the Astros (14-14-3) closed out their Grapefruit League schedule with a 5-5 tie against the Miami Marlins on Wednesday afternoon at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.
Outfield prospect Derek Fisher continued his impressive spring with a game-tying three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth. Fisher, who will accompany the Astros to Houston for their two exhibition games against the Chicago Cubs before beginning his season at Class AAA Fresno, batted .300 with a .420 on-base and .525 slugging percentages in 40 Grapefruit League at-bats.
Mike Fiers pitched 51⁄3 innings of two-run ball in his last start before the Astros’ April 7 series opener against the Kansas City Royals.
Odds and ends
Lefthanded pitching prospect Cionel Perez will remain in West Palm Beach when the minor league season begins next week so the Astros can continue to methodically ramp up his arm for competition. The 20-year- old Cuban defector who signed over the winter is readjusting to organized baseball after spending last year on the showcase circuit. He last pitched professionally in Cuba in 2014. Astros assistant general manager Mike Elias didn’t disclose a timeline as to when Perez will join one of the team’s affiliates but said it will be “hopefully on the sooner side.” …
Charlie Morton threw around 95 pitches over six innings in a minor league game, his final outing before he starts Wednesday against the Mariners. …
The Astros’ hope is that pitching prospect David Paulino (bone bruise in elbow) will be able to restart his throwing program “in the next day or two,” manager A.J. Hinch said Wednesday. Paulino will begin the regular season on the major league disabled list because he finished last season with the Astros. Upon his return to health, he is expected to return to Class AAA Fresno.