Astros sign CF Colby Rasmus to one-year deal
The Houston Astros have signed centerfielder Colby Rasmus to a one-year deal, the team announced on Tuesday. Rasmus will make $8 million in 2015 with no club or player options, reports Jon Morosi of Fox Sports.
The 28-year-old Rasmus spent the past four seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays. In 2014, he hit .225 with 18 home runs, 40 RBI and a .735 OPS in 104 games.
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For his career, Rasmus is a .246 hitter with a .751 OPS. He broke into the majors in 2009 with the St. Louis Cardinals and was traded to the Blue Jays in July 2011.
On Monday, the Astros announced they had traded centerfielder Dexter Fowler to the Chicago Cubs for infielder Luis Valbuena and pitcher Dan Straily. Fowler spent only one season with the Astros, hitting .276 in 116 games.
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SI.com's Jon Tayler broke down the trade's implications for the Astros' outfield before the signing of Rasmus:
As for the Astros, the return for Fowler is a little underwhelming, though it does clear up a murky outfield situation and give them a viable bat at third base [in Valbuena].
With Fowler gone, the Astros now have the option of moving George Springer from rightfield to center or going with Jake Marisnick as the regular centerfielder. The 23-year-old Marisnick, acquired in a midseason deal with the Marlins, has more big league experience in centerfield, though the 25-year-old Springer played there almost exclusively in the minors before his 2014 callup.
- Mike Fiammetta
