Free agent reliever joins the bullpen mix.
After rumors of 10 teams being interested in him surfaced Thursday afternoon, SB Nation's own Chris Cotillo is reporting that the Houston Astros have signed free agent reliever Joe Thatcher to a minor-league deal.
Source: #Astros in agreement on minor-league deal with Joe Thatcher.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) February 13, 2015Thatcher gets $1M if major-league roster Deal
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) February 13, 2015Thatcher becomes the second pitcher to join Houston this week on a minor league deal. On Thursday, the Astros announced they had signed starting pitcher Roberto Hernandez to a minor-league deal.
Last season, Thatcher threw 30 innings with a 3.86 ERA and 27 strikeouts with four walks. He's got a career walk rate of 7.7 percent and a career strikeout rate of 24 percent, though that dipped to 20 percent last season.
Thatcher came up through the Brewers system, but made his MLB debut with the Padres in 2007. He played in San Diego until 2013, when he was traded to Arizona for Ian Kennedy.
He was then traded last summer by Arizona with outfielder Tony Campana to the Angels for a pair of minor leaguers.
Thatcher has appeared in 362 career games with an ERA of 3.40 in 238 innings. He's got a career strikeout rate of 23.9 percent.
What do you think? Who does this bump out of the bullpen? Will Thatcher make the Opening Day roster? Are you glad that the Astros have added another reliever to the mix?