Spring training is drawing near, which means fringe roster candidates around Major League Baseball are quickly finding homes that they hope will become permanent.
The Houston Astros, even after ending their eight-year streak of playoff berths last year, are in a good spot to contend this year and are an attractive landing spot for pitchers who could fill out the front half of the bullpen. That translated to a good fit for a three-year veteran southpaw.
Tom Cosgrove, who elected free agency in November after a rough year in the Chicago Cubs organization, signed with the Astros on Thursday, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The deal will be worth $900,000 if Cosgrove makes the major league roster.
Cosgrove, 29, got into just two major league games for the Cubs last season in what was a frustrating year for the sidewinding lefty. He had just been designated for assignment in April by the San Diego Padres, for whom he pitched well in 2023, but poorly in 2024. Chicago recalled him from the minors on three occasions, then DFA’d him in August.
With Triple-A Iowa last year, Cosgrove put up a 4.30 ERA in 46 innings, striking out an impressive 55 batters. He owns a 3.86 ERA in his major league career across 70 innings, but the split between his 1.75 ERA in 2023 and 11.66 ERA in a smaller sample the next year proved to be the end of his upward trajectory in San Diego.
Though Cosgrove finished out the season in Chicago in case he was needed in an emergency scenario during the playoffs, it made sense that he was going to find a new opportunity for himself in free agency, and Houston proved to be the right fit.
The Astros’ primary bullpen lefties entering spring training are closer Josh Hader, setup man Bryan King, and middle reliever Steven Okert. Bennett Souza, who has a minor-league option remaining, will also be in the mix.
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