Astros Strengthen Bullpen Depth, Sign Free Agent Reliever to Deal

The Houston Astros are pulling every lever to give their bullpen depth, and that includes bringing back a reliever they released just four days ago.

The Houston Astros could only live without Miguel Díaz for four days, as the Astros re-signed him to a minor-league contract after they designated him for assignment.

He signed a minor-league deal and was assigned to Triple-A Sugar Land, per his MLB player page. Sugar Land is in Albuquerque through this weekend.

The Astros (4-10) need as much help in their bullpen after a disastrous last two days in Kansas City.

Rookie Spencer Arrighetti was only able to get through three innings in his MLB debut on Wednesday and then Hunter Brown was unable to finish the first inning as the Royals shelled him for 11 hits.

Díaz wasn’t there for any of that. The Astros designated Díaz for assignment on Monday, four days after they claimed him off waivers from the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers designated him for assignment on March 28.

He pitched in one game for the Astros on April 5 against Texas, as he threw a scoreless inning.

After the Astros DFA’ed Díaz he elected free agency on Thursday after he was outrighted to Sugar Land.

The right-hander has been in the Majors since 2017 when he broke in with the San Diego Padres. He spent four seasons with San Diego (he opted out of the COVID-shortened 2020 season) and then spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons with the Tigers.

Last season he went 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA in 12 appearances, which included three starts.

He’s never been a full-time Major League player, but in 88 career appearances he is 6-2 with a 4.81 ERA with five holds and a save. He’s struck out 132 and walked 64.

With Díaz now on a minor-league deal, the Astros would have to clear room on their 40-man and 26-man roster to promote him to the Majors.