Astros DFA Reliever To Make Room For Hader
The Houston Astros made one of the biggest signings of the offseason by luring Josh Hader to the Astros on a five-year deal worth nearly $100 million.
But, there was another price to be paid for Hader. The Astros had a full 40-man roster. Because of that, once Hader’s deal was official on Monday, the Astros had to make a move.
The Astros designated left-handed pitcher Matt Gage for assignment to make room for Hader, per MLB.com.
Gage made five appearances with the Astros last season, as he did not factor into a decision and finished with a 2.70 ERA. He threw 6.2 innings, struck out eight and walked three.
Gage was up-and-down from the Astros to Triple-A Sugar Land all last season. Before the 2023 season, the Astros picked up Gage from the Toronto Blue Jays off waivers after he was released in February.
With the Blue Jays in 2022, Gage was effective in 11 relief appearances, as he went 0-1 with a 1.38 ERA. He threw 13 innings, striking out 12 and walking six while allowing batters to hit just 1.46 against him. With the Astros, that average went up to .261.
The San Francisco Giants selected Gage in the 10th round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft. After four years in the organization, the Giants released him in July of 2018. In August he joined the New York Mets as a minor-leaguer.
In 2019 he joined Diablos Rojos del México in the Mexican League and then played independent baseball with the Eastern Reyes del Tigre of the Constellation Energy League.
In 2021 Gage signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks and went 4-1 with a 4.14 ERA in 41 games at Double-A and Triple-A and later signed a minor-league deal in November of 2021.
