Houston
Astros

News: The Astros have signed Valdez, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: He spent 2009 between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Valdez has pitched well in the Dominican Winter League since then with a 12:0 K:BB ratio in 15 innings along with a 1.20 ERA there. Look for him to be among the cast competing for a spot in the Astros' bullpen during spring training. 

News: Villar has been added to the Astros' 40-man roster, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: He carved up Low-A hitters as a 22-year-old in 2009, but the results were impressive enough to put him on the radar in the long haul and for the Astros to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft next month. Working mostly out of the bullpen, Villar had a 109:18 K:BB ratio in 90 innings last season. 

News: Nevarez has been added to the Astros' 40-man roster, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: The 22-year-old reliever was part of the package Houston received from the Rangers for Pudge Rodriguez. He had an impressive 63:15 K:BB ratio in 43.1 innings at Low-A in 2009, allowing just 25 hits and one home run against younger competition. More than likely, he'll spend the entire 2010 season working his way through the rest of the minor league chain. 

News: Englebrook has been added to the Astros' 40-man roster.
Impact: He spent 2009 between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Round Rock before a stint in the Arizona Fall League. Overall at those three stops, Englebrook had a 36:16 K:BB ratio in 48.2 innings, so he'll get a chance to compete for a bullpen spot with Houston during spring training. 

News: According to the Houston Chronicle, the Astros have signed right-hander Jose Valdez to a minor league contract and added him to the 40-man roster.
Impact: Valdez compiled a 3.43 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A last season, but it was the first time in his seven minor league seasons that the 26-year-old reached Triple-A. The former Yankee farmhand was added to the 40-man roster so the Astros can protect him from the Rule 5 draft, but don't count on him to make much of, if any, impact on the 2010 season. 

News: Arias (hamstring) is expected to pitch for the Tigres del Licey of the Dominican Winter League in the coming weeks.
Impact: He had a nice year between Triple-A Round Rock and the Houston bullpen in 2009, so Arias figures to claim a middle-relief spot for the Astros as long as he's healthy during spring training. 

News: Hampton (shoulder) has filed for free agency.
Impact: He's not going to pitch in 2010, so Hampton will likely wait until next winter to make an attempted comeback by signing with a new team. 

News: Wright has impressed thus far in winter ball, striking out 33 in 26 innings as a starter, according to the team's official site. His ERA now stands at 1.73.
Impact: Wright will enter spring training with a shot to win a rotation spot. The Astros are in rebuilding mode and could do worse than giving the 24-year-old lefty a shot. 

News: Wilton Lopez hurled four hitless innings and racked up three strikeouts against the Scottsdale Scorpions in AFL action, according to MLB.com.
Impact: Lopez looked great and had good control of his pitches. The 26-year-old hurler could push for a roster spot with the Astros next season, but probably would be limited to a relief role. 

News: MLB.com is reporting that there is a mutual interest in closer Jose Valverde returning to Houston next season. Valverde would be open to returning, but he also plans to test the free agent waters before making a decision.
Impact: Valverde seems genuinely excited by the prospect of free agency, but he enjoyed his time with the Astros as well. He still has plenty left in the tank, so he should be a solid fantasy closer in 2010 regardless of where he ends up. 

News: Bourn captured his first gold glove award, making him just the second Astros' outfielder to win the award and the first since Cesar Cedeno in 1976, according to the team's official site.
Impact: This is coming on the heels of the announcement that Bourn won the team's MVP award. It was a heck of a season for Bourn, who finished the year defensively with 11 outfield assists, tied for fifth in the NL. 

News: Valverde officially filed for free agency, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: The Astros have an exclusive window to negotiate with Valverde until Nov. 19, but given that he's probably the best closer on the free agent market, he'll probably wait until after that deadline to sign anywhere. 

News: Astros' closer Jose Valverde has filed for free agency as expected, according to the Houston Chronicle. Valverde had 25 saves and a 2.33 ERA in 2009.
Impact: Valverde had a relatively slow season in 2009 with only 25 saves, but he is still capable of being a very effective closer when healthy. His ERA was solid, and he struck out 56 hitters in 54 innings pitched.  

News: Tejada has filed for free agency, according to the team's official site.
Impact: With the news that Tommy Manzella will takeover as the Astros' starting shortstop in 2010, Tejada's days at short in Houston appear over. The team has not ruled out bringing Miggy back as a third baseman, however, which could work out well for both Tejada and the Astros. 

News: The Astros have sent Castro home from the Arizona Fall League, according to the team's official site. "We feel it's time for Jason to rest and focus on the 2010 season," Astros assistant general manager Ricky Bennett said.
Impact: Castro was just hitting .143 through 42 AFL at-bats. The team sent him home presumably to rest and regroup so that he is ready for the start of spring training. 

News: The Astros say left-handed starting pitcher Mike Hampton will miss next season after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder.
Impact: A statement issued by the Astros on Tuesday say surgeons at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York repaired a full left rotator cuff tear in Hampton's pitching shoulder. Dr. David Altchek, the New York Mets' medical director, also repaired partial damage to the labrum in the shoulder. The 37-year-old lefty was 7-10 in 21 starts this season with a 5.30 ERA in 112 innings. He's 148-115 in 409 career appearances with a 4.07 ERA in 2,264 career innings. 

News: Astros' GM Ed Wade told Brian McTaggart of MLB.com that the club plans to go with Manzella at shortstop next season.
Impact: Manzella made his MLB debut at the end of the 2009 season and his just five career big league at-bats. Miguel Tejada filed for free agency Friday, though the club may elect to bring him back as a third baseman, clearing the way for Manzella to play short. Manzella put up solid but unspectacular numbers in the minor leagues, and has never posted a OPS above .792 at any level. 

News: The Astros are planning to go with Tommy Manzella at shortstop next season, but Tejada could return to the club as a free agent, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Impact: Tejada officially filed for free agency on Friday, but it looks like the Astros will make an attempt to bring him back at a price less than the $13 million he made during 2009. 

News: Abad was added to the 40-man roster Thursday, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: Abad compiled a 4.14 ERA pitching at one of the toughest ballparks in the minor leagues. He struck out 79 and walked eight in 82.2 innings as a Lancaster reliever before making three starts for Corpus Christi. 

News: Sutil was added to the 40-man roster Thursday, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: The light hitting second baseman posted a .273 average at Double-A Corpus Christi. At 25, he does not project to be a major league regular. 

News: The Astros declined their 2010 option on Brocail and will pay him a $250,000 buyout, the Astros' official site reports.
Impact: Brocail spent a good portion of the season on injured reserve, and will become a free agent prior to the 2010 season. In 20 relief appearances, Brocail went 1-0 with a 4.58 ERA. 

News: Geoff Blum has inked a one-year deal with Houston for 2010 worth $1.5MM, according to MLB beat writer Brian McTaggart's twitter page. The deal includes a mutual option for 2011 worth $1.65MM.
Impact: The veteran infielder will turn 37 in April and only batted .247 in 2009, but the Astros like his defensive skills as a utility man.  

News: Blum re-signed with the Astros on Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Impact: He'll be back for the 2010 season at $1.5 million, and the contract includes a mutual option for 2011 at $1.65 million. Blum is likely to be a reserve infielder next season. 

News: Coste was outrighted to Triple-A, but refused the assignment and elected to become a free agent.
Impact: He'll likely find a backup catcher role with a team this winter. 

News: Chris Coste has been outrighted to Triple-A Round Rock by the Astros, according to MLB.com.
Impact: The veteran catcher refused the outright assignment, and is a free agent. Coste only hit .224 with two homers over 205 at-bats in 2009.  

News: Alyson Footer of MLB.com is reporting that the Astros have hired former Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills as their new manager.
Impact: They decided not to go with Houston retread Phil Garner. Mills has never before managed in Major League Baseball. The Astros will be coming off a 74-88 season with many aging parts on offense and gaping holes in both their rotation and bullpen. It could be a long first season in Texas for Mills. 

News: The Astros claimed Bourgeois off waivers from the Brewers on Monday, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact: Bourgeois spent most of the season with Triple-A Nashville, hitting .316 with an impressive 37 steals. He hit .189 in limited time with the Brewers near the end of the 2009 campaign. 

News: Jason Bourgeois has been claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Impact: Bourgeois is a .200 hitter in 40 career at-bats. He has stolen 237 bases in his minor league career, however, and his speed will be his one shot at making the Astros next season.