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The Houston Astros have added four players to their organization, signing Trevor Crowe, Sergio Escalona, Edgar Gonzalez and Jose Valdez to minor-league deals, reports Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle:
The Astros announced Tuesday they signed outfielder Trevor Crowe, left-handed pitcher Sergio Escalona, and right-handed pitchers Edgar Gonzalez and Jose Valdez.
The minor league free agents will receive invitations to Houston’s 2013 spring training.
The 29-year-old Crowe, a former first round pick by the Indians, has seen sporadic playing time at the big-league level over the past three seasons, all with Cleveland. The switch-hitter batted just .245/.295/.329 with three home runs in 205 games with the Tribe, leading to his release in mid-July.
Escalona, 28, spent all of 2012 on the disabled list recovering from Tommy John surgery. The left-hander put up solid numbers out of the bullpen for the Astros in 2011 -- a 2.93 ERA and 8.1 K/9 rate in 49 appearances -- so could find himself back in the majors fairly quickly once healthy.
Gonzalez, 29, made six September starts for Houston this past season, posting a 5.04 ERA in 25 innings of work. The veteran right-hander -- who has pitched in parts of nine big-league seasons -- was outrighted off the 40-man roster at the beginning of the month and will likely stay in the minors as rotation depth.
Valdez, 29, was also a September call-up along with Gonzalez. The right-hander posted a 2.25 ERA in 12 relief appearances, a much better result than his 2011 call-up when he put up a 9.00 ERA in 14 innings.
