Barreto brings infield depth
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Astros added more middle infield depth Thursday, signing Franklin Barreto to a minor league deal that included an invitation to major league spring training.
Barreto has played parts of four seasons in the major leagues, all within the American League West. The 26-year-old appeared in 95 games for the Oakland A’s from 2017-20 before a brief stint with the Los Angeles Angels in 2020.
Barreto has a career. 549 OPS in 237 major league plate appearances. He has played primarily second base and shortstop throughout his career, endearing him to an Astros club in need of more depth at both positions after Carlos Correa’s departure to Minnesota.
Houston has Aledmys Díaz and Niko Goodrum on its 40-man roster to back up Jose Altuve and presumed starting shortstop Jeremy Peña, but Díaz’s injury history calls for more depth.
In their first roster cuts of spring training, the Astros optioned righthanders Tyler Ivey and Shawn Dubin to minor league camp along with lefthander Jonathan Bermudez. Outfielder Corey Julks and infielder Scott Schreiber, who are not on the 40-man roster, were reassigned to minor league camp.
Short spring adds havoc for pitchers
Rainy weather Thursday threatened to wreak havoc on an already truncated spring training. The Astros adjusted their pitching plans, continuing the mad dash to stretch out their starters prior to opening day April 7.
José Urquidy, who was scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut during Thursday night’s rain-delayed game against the Nationals, instead threw in a minor league game on the back fields earlier in the day. Urquidy built his pitch count to 26 and finished two innings.
Urquidy said afterward he might be built up to only four or five innings by April 7. Framber Valdez threw two frames in a minor league game Wednesday and, ostensibly, is on a similar schedule. Valdez’s arm is one of the most durable and resilient in the organization, though, so it’s conceivable he could pitch a tad deeper.
Cristian Javier made his first appearance in a minor league game Thursday. Luis Garcia will piggyback starter Jake Odorizzi on Sunday against the Marlins at Jupiter. Odorizzi threw 27 pitches in his first Grapefruit League start against the Mets on Tuesday.
Of Houston’s six healthy starting pitchers in camp, only Justin Verlander has built up to near 50 pitches. He threw 51 in Wednesday’s start against the Cardinals. Verlander, who is ahead of most Astros pitchers, has acknowledged he doesn’t have enough time to reach his normal opening day workload.
Presuming he remains on schedule, Verlander will make two more spring training starts.
Houston is fortunate to have three off days within the first 14 days of its season, but workload will still be a problem. The Astros already have six traditional starters, but a minor league depth piece like Peter Solomon or Brandon Bielak might benefit early in the season — especially as rosters expand to 28 in April.
Now that opening day rosters will expand to 28, it’s conceivable to think either Bielak or Solomon is a legitimate candidate for inclusion to afford some length across the first two series.
Slimmer Gurriel focused on future
Yuli Gurriel gave up pizza and Coca-Cola this winter with a new contract in mind. A delayed start already meant he needed to report in better shape than spring trainings past. His age and future made the work more urgent.
“I think it’s about the process,” Gurriel said through an interpreter. “I know it’s my last year here. For older players, I know it’s harder to get deals, so I just came in better shape than before just to be ready.”
Gurriel has three hits in his first five Grapefruit League at-bats. He annihilated a grand slam against Washington Nationals reliever Sean Doolittle on Thursday, one day after taking Aaron Brooks deep in his second spring at-bat.
A year after capturing the American League batting title and his first Gold Glove, Gurriel reported to camp 15 pounds lighter thanks to his new diet. The 37-year-old is in the final year of a contract extension he signed prior to the 2020 playoffs.
The Astros have no obvious heir apparent at first base in their minor league system, making Gurriel an obvious extension candidate this spring. Asked if he wants one, Gurriel said through an interpreter, “Of course.
“Doing it during spring training is a little easier, but once the season starts, it gets harder for that,” Gurriel said. “I take care of myself, take care of my body and family. I live for baseball and do my best to be able to play as long as possible.”