Wandy feels right at home with his former franchise
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Wandy Rodriguez is a long shot to make the Astros even with the final two spots in the rotation less than firm.
The lefty, who made his major league debut 11 years ago on an Astros team that went to the World Series, has a lot of righthanders to push past. Doug Fister and Scott Feldman, if healthy and effective, could well be in the rotation, as could Mike Fiers, who was a better pitcher for the Astros down the stretch last year than Scott Kazmir was.
Dan Straily is out of options, adding to the mix.
Even if Rodriguez ends up leaving the Astros for a better opportunity — he has an opt-out clause toward the end of March, he said — the next few weeks are no less a homecoming.
“I love my team, man. I love the Astros,” Rodriguez said Friday, the day pitchers and catchers worked out officially for the first time. “(I’m) very happy in my home. This is my home over here.”
Rodriguez, 37, a Pearland resident, is in his 18th professional season after spending his first 14 in the Astros’ organization. The club signed him Jan. 12, 1999, when he was just a 19-year-old from the Dominican Republic.
It’s a different scene at the Astros’ complex than his first time.
“We have a lot of young guys over here, good players too,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez was with the Rangers and Royals during the regular season in 2015, making 17 appearances, 15 starts in the big leagues — all for the Rangers. He had a 4.90 ERA.
“I have a lot of respect for guys like Wandy that have bounced around a little bit, and certainly it’s a nice story line to come back and compete to make our team,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “We had to face him last year both in the spring and during the season. So he’s pitched a long time; he’s got a lot of savviness.
“I’m sure he’s different stylistically than he was when he first broke in. Got to love the game to be in your mid- to upper 30s, and you start bouncing around team to team. I’m sure there’s a lot of passion. I look forward to getting to know him.”
Rodriguez is the oldest player in the spring clubhouse, with 61 players slated to be in camp at the outset. Hinch, who turns 42 in May, has fewer than five years on Rodriguez.
On the lookout for lefty relief
The Astros aren’t poised to make an addition, but they are monitoring the market.
One area where they don’t have many options is lefthanded relief, and the team has talked to specialist Randy Choate, baseball sources said.
Choate, 40, a free agent from San Antonio, had a 3.95 ERA in 271⁄ innings
3 last year.
Tony Sipp gives the Astros one excellent lefty, and Kevin Chapman is also on the 40-man roster.
Last spring, the Astros had veteran Joe Thatcher as a non-roster invitee but don’t have a similar southpaw this year. The bullpen is crowded with the addition of Ken Giles, and some of the righthanders are capable against lefthanded hitters as well, potentially reducing the need to carry a second lefty.
Gomez healthy, ready to begin
The last time we saw Carlos Gomez, he was hitting home runs despite great pain in his left side, where an oblique injury forced him out of some late-season games so he could save up strength for the playoffs.
And he came through when needed.
Gomez ripped a homer at Yankee Stadium in the Astros’ win over the Yankees in the wild-card game, and hit another out in Game 4 of the Division Series against the Royals — the game that nearly advanced the Astros to the next round.
At camp Friday and well ahead of the position players’ mandatory report date, Gomez said his side has felt better for a while as he enters his first full season with the Astros.
“I’m going to start the season with the team and start from the first day and it’s exciting,” Gomez said. “I feel really good. And seeing the group together … I can’t explain how excited I am.”
Gomez, 30, was a tradedeadline pickup from the Brewers in 2015 and is a free agent after this year. He spent the offseason at home in the Dominican Republic.
With Colby Rasmus in left and George Springer in right, Gomez is in the middle of potentially one of the best outfields in baseball.
“We have really good talent, experience,” Gomez said. “(We need to perform) every day and you know, come ready every day to play and to win games.”
Closer chatter doesn’t miff Hinch
Astros manager A.J. Hinch tempered his closer situation Friday, a day after incumbent Luke Gregerson said he didn’t think he should lose his job because of the arrival of flamethrower Ken Giles.
“It’s a great way to kick off this spring,” Hinch said tongue-in-cheek Friday morning, before turning serious. “(I’m) proud of Luke for this competitiveness and what he wants. It’s not a secret to me. He and I had conversations. I know where his desires lie, and I also know that it all fits into the most important thing: getting our team ready to be a championship-caliber team.
“I don’t begrudge him for voicing his opinion. I know he’s a good teammate, I know he’s on board with whatever we do and he’s coming off of a successful season. So … I shrug it off to the sense that it’s sort of the only news going right now. But we’re going to have a good bullpen, he’s going to be a big part of it whether he’s closing or pitching in another role.”