Cishek seeks return to form while vying for spot in bullpen
To create more competition in the middle of their bullpen, the Astros signed veteran reliever Steve Cishek to a minor league deal that includes an invitation to major league spring training.
Cishek will receive $2.25 million if he makes the team out of spring training, a person with knowledge of the deal said. The club announced Cishek’s deal on Tuesday afternoon but did not include terms.
Cishek affords durability and experience to a bullpen that was searching for more. His chances to crack the opening day bullpen seem favorable, especially with his unorthodox sidearm delivery.
The Astros already have a veteran sidearmer in Joe Smith but adding another weapon against righthanded hitters is always ideal. Houston already has signed veteran relievers Pedro Báez and Ryne Stanek to major league deals, pairing them with Smith and Ryan Pressly as a returning core. Lefties Brooks Raley and Blake Taylor, along with hardthrowing leverage reliever Enoli Paredes, figure to have spots in the opening day bullpen locked down.
The battle for the final spot could involve Cishek, a durable righthander who had 30-save seasons in 2013 and 2014. He posted an unsightly 5.40 ERA in 20 innings with the Chicago White Sox last year, allowing 21 hits in 20 innings.
The Astros can hope for a bounce back to form seen not long ago. Cishek appeared in at least 70 games during the 2018 and 2019 seasons as a Chicago Cub. He finished both seasons with a sub-3.00 ERA. Cishek has a 2.78 ERA, 132 saves and 1.163 WHIP in 594 career appearances.
Cishek primarily relies on a slider and sinker. Righthanded hitters have just a .571 OPS against him in 1,348 career plate appearances. Cishek overlapped with Astros general manager James Click during the 2017 season in Tampa Bay, which acquired him for Erasmo Ramirez at the trade deadline. The Rays are one of his six teams across 10 major league seasons.