Astros claim Sam Demel, Jake Elmore off waivers from Diamondbacks

Amidst a reshuffle of their 40-man roster, the Houston Astros claimed right-hander Sam Demel and infielder Jake Elmore off of waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday, reports Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle:

Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow wasn’t exaggerating when he said Wednesday that Houston would make additional moves before the free-agency signing period begins late Friday.

The Astros either announced or confirmed 10 total moves Thursday, highlighted by Houston claiming right-handed pitcher Sam Demel and infielder Jake Elmore off waivers from Arizona.

Demel, 27, appeared in seventy-two games for the Diamondbacks over the past three years, posting a 4.95 ERA and 6.8 K/9 in sixty-three and two-thirds innings. The right-hander only made one appearance for the D'Backs in 2012, spending a majority of the season at Triple-A Reno, where he put up a 4.07 ERA in sixty-six and a third.

Elmore, 25, got his first cup of coffee with the Diamondbacks in 2012, hitting .191/.247/.250 in thirty games at shortstop and second base. A late-round 2008 draft pick out of Arizona State, Elmore is a career .290/.388/.388 hitter in five minor-league seasons.