http://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Report-Astros-agree-to-deal-with-free-agent-12433419.php
Astros agree to terms with free agent reliever Hector Rondon
Updated 6:13 pm, Friday, December 15, 2017
PHOTOS: Who is left on the MLB free agent market?
Former Cubs relief pitcher Hector Rondon has agreed to a deal with the Astros.
>>>See who else the Astros might have eyes on this offseason ...
PHOTOS: Who is left on the MLB free agent market?
Former Cubs relief pitcher Hector Rondon has agreed to a deal with the Astros.
>>>See who else the Astros might have eyes on this offseason ...
Wade Davis, closer
The 32-year-old Davis is the best reliever on the market, which means he's automatically being mentioned as someone in who the Astros are interested. After saving 27 games for the Royals in 2016, Davis had 32 saves with the Cubs this season.
lessWade Davis, closer
The 32-year-old Davis is the best reliever on the market, which means he's automatically being mentioned as someone in who the Astros are interested. After saving 27 games for the Royals in
... moreAddison Reed, reliever
The 28-year-old Reed recorded 19 saves with the Mets before being traded to the Red Sox in July where he worked as an effective setup man.
Addison Reed, reliever
The 28-year-old Reed recorded 19 saves with the Mets before being traded to the Red Sox in July where he worked as an effective setup man.
Tony Watson, reliever
The 32-year-old lefthander is someone the Astros have been rumored to be looking at from his days with the Pirates. He's also one of the few high quality lefthanded relievers on the market.
Tony Watson, reliever
The 32-year-old lefthander is someone the Astros have been rumored to be looking at from his days with the Pirates. He's also one of the few high quality lefthanded relievers on the market.
Greg Holland, closer
The former Royals closer missed all of 2016 after having Tommy John surgery, but he bounced back with 41 saves this season for the Rockies. He turned down a $15 million player option, so he's expecting - and should get - a big payday.
lessGreg Holland, closer
The former Royals closer missed all of 2016 after having Tommy John surgery, but he bounced back with 41 saves this season for the Rockies. He turned down a $15 million player option, so
... moreZach Duke, reliever
The 34-year-old Duke, who grew up in Waco, has been in the big leagues for 13 seasons, and has been an effective reliever for the past seven years. He'd be a valuable lefty out of the bullpen.
lessZach Duke, reliever
The 34-year-old Duke, who grew up in Waco, has been in the big leagues for 13 seasons, and has been an effective reliever for the past seven years. He'd be a valuable lefty out of the
... moreFernando Abad, reliever
Abad, who started his career with the Astros, is another lefty reliever the Astros could look at. He made 48 appearances for the Red Sox last season with a 3.30 ERA and 1.24 WHIP.
Fernando Abad, reliever
Photo: Omar Rawlings/Getty Images
Abad, who started his career with the Astros, is another lefty reliever the Astros could look at. He made 48 appearances for the Red Sox last season with a 3.30 ERA and 1.24 WHIP.
Brian Duensing, reliever
The lefty reliever made five appearances for the Cubs this postseason, giving up one run in 5 1/3 innings.
Brian Duensing, reliever
Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images
The lefty reliever made five appearances for the Cubs this postseason, giving up one run in 5 1/3 innings.
Tommy Hunter, reliever
The 31-year-old was really good in Tampa last season, going 3-5 with a 2.61 ERA. He struck out 64 with just 14 walks in 58 2/3 innings.
Tommy Hunter, reliever
The 31-year-old was really good in Tampa last season, going 3-5 with a 2.61 ERA. He struck out 64 with just 14 walks in 58 2/3 innings.
Koji Uehara, reliever
Uehara is 43 years old, but he still has an impressive ratio of 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings.
Koji Uehara, reliever
Uehara is 43 years old, but he still has an impressive ratio of 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings.
Matt Albers, reliever
The former Houston Astro and Houston native revived his career with a good season with the Nationals after a brutal 2016 with the White Sox.
Matt Albers, reliever
Photo: Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle
The former Houston Astro and Houston native revived his career with a good season with the Nationals after a brutal 2016 with the White Sox.
Yu Darvish, starting pitcher
Despite his flop in the World Series, he's still the best starter on the market and will command No. 1 starter money.
Yu Darvish, starting pitcher
Despite his flop in the World Series, he's still the best starter on the market and will command No. 1 starter money.
Jake Arrieta, starting pitcher
After a dominant 2015 and a season where he led the Cubs to a World Series title in 2016, Arrieta tailed off this season. He'll still get close to $20 million per year.
Jake Arrieta, starting pitcher
After a dominant 2015 and a season where he led the Cubs to a World Series title in 2016, Arrieta tailed off this season. He'll still get close to $20 million per year.
Browse through the rest of the photos for a look at the best free agents available this offseason.
The best Major League Baseball free agents available in the 2017-18 offseason.
Browse through the rest of the photos for a look at the best free agents available this offseason.
The best Major League Baseball free agents available in the 2017-18 offseason.
J.D. Martinez, outfield
Martinez is the biggest bat on the market and, according to reports, his agent Scott Boras is seeking a $200 million contract for his client.
J.D. Martinez, outfield
Martinez is the biggest bat on the market and, according to reports, his agent Scott Boras is seeking a $200 million contract for his client.
Mike Moustakas, third base
The 29-year-old had the best offensive season of his career at just the perfect time as he enters free agency as the best hitting infielder available.
Mike Moustakas, third base
The 29-year-old had the best offensive season of his career at just the perfect time as he enters free agency as the best hitting infielder available.
Eric Hosmer, first base
The 28-year-old Hosmer had his second straight 25-homer season and likely priced himself out of Kansas City.
Eric Hosmer, first base
The 28-year-old Hosmer had his second straight 25-homer season and likely priced himself out of Kansas City.
Jay Bruce, outfield
The Beaumont native hit 34 home runs in a contract year split between the Mets and Indians.
Jay Bruce, outfield
The Beaumont native hit 34 home runs in a contract year split between the Mets and Indians.
Lorenzo Cain, outfield
Another piece of the Royals core that took the team to a world championship and likely has priced himself out of Kansas City.
Lorenzo Cain, outfield
Another piece of the Royals core that took the team to a world championship and likely has priced himself out of Kansas City.
Todd Frazier, third base
Frazier didn't have great numbers in 2017 (.213 average, 27 home runs), but he set a career high in walks (83), which is a good sign. Frazier also is considered a positive presence in the clubhouse.
lessTodd Frazier, third base
Frazier didn't have great numbers in 2017 (.213 average, 27 home runs), but he set a career high in walks (83), which is a good sign. Frazier also is considered a positive presence in
... moreJonathan Lucroy, catcher
Lucroy didn't have a great offensive year (.265, 6 home runs, 40 RBIs) split between Texas and Colorado, but he's the best catcher on the market.
Jonathan Lucroy, catcher
Lucroy didn't have a great offensive year (.265, 6 home runs, 40 RBIs) split between Texas and Colorado, but he's the best catcher on the market.
Eduardo Nunez, utility
Nunez played five different positions this season split between the Giants and the Red Sox and produced a career-high .801 OPS.
Eduardo Nunez, utility
Nunez played five different positions this season split between the Giants and the Red Sox and produced a career-high .801 OPS.
Alex Cobb, starting pitcher
After missing all of 2015 and most of 2016 following Tommy John surgery, Cobb bounced back to go 12-10 with a 3.66 ERA this season. The Cubs are rumored to be trying hard to sign Cobb.
lessAlex Cobb, starting pitcher
After missing all of 2015 and most of 2016 following Tommy John surgery, Cobb bounced back to go 12-10 with a 3.66 ERA this season. The Cubs are rumored to be trying hard to sign
... moreLance Lynn, starting pitcher
The 30-year-old Lynn bounced back from Tommy John surgery with a solid 2017 season, going 11-8 with a 3.43 ERA.
Lance Lynn, starting pitcher
The 30-year-old Lynn bounced back from Tommy John surgery with a solid 2017 season, going 11-8 with a 3.43 ERA.
Neil Walker, second base
The 32-year-old Walker has been a steady hand up the middle since his days with the Pirates, and he should get paid accordingly.
Neil Walker, second base
The 32-year-old Walker has been a steady hand up the middle since his days with the Pirates, and he should get paid accordingly.
Yonder Alonso, first base
Alonso set career highs in a season split between Oakland and Seattle with 28 home runs and 67 RBIs. The Mariners traded for Ryon Healy this offseason and won't be bringing back Alonso.
Yonder Alonso, first base
Alonso set career highs in a season split between Oakland and Seattle with 28 home runs and 67 RBIs. The Mariners traded for Ryon Healy this offseason and won't be bringing back Alonso.
Logan Morrison, first base/outfield
The 30-year-old Morrison had a breakthrough season, setting career highs in home runs (38) and RBIs (85).
Logan Morrison, first base/outfield
The 30-year-old Morrison had a breakthrough season, setting career highs in home runs (38) and RBIs (85).
Carlos Gonzalez, outfield
Gonzalez's power numbers dipped severely with 14 home runs in 2017.
Carlos Gonzalez, outfield
Gonzalez's power numbers dipped severely with 14 home runs in 2017.
Jason Vargas, starting pitcher
Vargas won 18 games with the Royals this season and will be a nice bottom-of-the-rotation starter for somebody.
Jason Vargas, starting pitcher
Vargas won 18 games with the Royals this season and will be a nice bottom-of-the-rotation starter for somebody.
C.C. Sabathia, starting pitcher
After several subpar seasons in New York, the 37-year-old Sabathia revived his career this season, going 14-5 with a 3.69 ERA. The Angels reportedly have interest in adding Sabathia.
lessC.C. Sabathia, starting pitcher
After several subpar seasons in New York, the 37-year-old Sabathia revived his career this season, going 14-5 with a 3.69 ERA. The Angels reportedly have interest in adding
... moreJose Bautista, outfield
The soon-to-be 38-year-old had a huge dropoff in 2017 (.203 average, 23 home runs, .674 OPS), but someone will give him a lucrative one-year deal.
Jose Bautista, outfield
The soon-to-be 38-year-old had a huge dropoff in 2017 (.203 average, 23 home runs, .674 OPS), but someone will give him a lucrative one-year deal.
The Astros added depth to their bullpen by signing free-agent righthander Hector Rondon to a two-year, $8.5-million contract Friday.
Rondon, 29, passed a physical Friday in Houston to make the deal official. The 29-year-old Venezuelan righthander was recently non-tendered by the Chicago Cubs, the only team he's previously pitched for at the major league level.
The signing required the Astros clear a spot on their 40-man roster, which they did by designating for assignment outfielder Preston Tucker. They have seven days to trade Tucker or attempt to pass him through outright waivers. Tucker, 27, spent all of last season in Class AAA, where he batted .250 with a .798 OPS in 568 plate appearances.
The Astros view Rondon as a bounce-back candidate after a down 2017 in which he recorded a 4.24 ERA in 57 1/3 innings and also missed time because of inflammation in his pitching elbow. His signing could signify the final addition to their major league roster this offseason, though they have vowed to be "opportunistic" if a deal they like materializes.
In five major league seasons, each with the Cubs, Rondon has a 3.22 ERA. He relies on a four-seam fastball that averages 96 mph and a slider in the mid-80s. His 10.8 strikeouts per nine last season marked a career high but so did his 10 home runs allowed. His 3.1 walks per nine signified his worst total since his rookie season (4.1).
Rondon was the Cubs' closer in 2014 and 2015 and part of 2016. He's made at least 45 appearances and logged at least 50 innings in each of his five major league seasons. The Cubs acquired him in the 2012 Rule 5 Draft. He signed as an amateur in 2004 with the Cleveland Indians.
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