Right-handed Jake Odorizzi and Houston Astros agreed to a two-year deal with a player option, a source familiar with the deal said to ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Saturday.
Astros have already lost titleholder Framber Valdez for an indefinite period after the southpaw suffered a fractured left ring finger during his spring training debut on Tuesday.
Houston is also without star Justin Verlander, who is likely to miss the entire season after undergoing Tommy John’s surgery on September 30.
Odorizzi will join a rotation that likely includes Zack Greinke, Cristian Javier, Lance McCullers Jr. and Jose Urquidy.
After accepting a one-year, $ 17.8 million qualifying offer from the Minnesota Twins last season, Odorizzi, who turns 31 on March 27, was limited to four matches in 2020 due to bruised ribs and a blister, going 0-1 with an ERA of 6.59 in 13â…” innings.
His lost season began when he was hit on the side by a line drive without the baton of Alex Gordon, from Kansas City, on his third start. He returned in September, only to leave after three innings with bubble problems in what would be his final exit from the season.
Odorizzi went 15-7 with a 3.51 ERA in 30 matches in 2019, when he won his first All-Star selection. He set career records in victories and eliminations (178), with the twins winning 101 victories and winning the first division title since 2010.
He was called up by the Milwaukee Brewers with the 32nd overall choice in 2008. He made his debut with the Kansas City Royals in 2012 before being traded next season for the Tampa Bay Rays with Mike Montgomery and Wil Myers in the seven-player trade he sent James Shields and Wade Davis for royalty. He was traded to Minnesota before the 2018 season, after registering four solid years as a Rays holder.
Odorizzi was 62-56 with an ERA of 3.92 and 995 eliminations in 1,042â…“ major league entries.