Right-hander Jake Odorizzi and the Houston Astros have agreed a two-year deal with a player option, a source familiar with ESPN’s Jeff Passan said Saturday.
The Astros have already lost starter Framber Valdez for an indefinite period of time after the left-back suffered a left ring finger during his debut on Tuesday spring.
Houston also doesn’t have ace Justin Verlander, who will likely miss the entire season after being operated on by Tommy John on Sept. 30.
Odorizzi will join a rotation that will likely include 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 starts in 2020 due to bruised ribs and a blister, which goes 0-1 with an ERA of 6.59 in 13⅔ innings.
His missed season began when he was punched to the side by a line with Kansas City’s Alex Gordon bat line in his third outing. He returned in September, only to leave after 3⅔ entries with blister problems in what would be his last outing of the season.
Odorizzi won 15-7 with an ERA of 3.51 in 30 starts in 2019 as he won his first All-Star selection. He achieved maximums in the race by victories and stops (178), as the twins accumulated 101 victories and obtained their first division title since 2010.
He was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers with the 32nd overall pick in 2008. He made his Kansas City Royals debut in 2012 before being drafted the following season to the Tampa Bay Rays with Mike Montgomery and Wil Myers in the seven-player deal sent by James Shields and Wade Davis at the Royals. He was traded to Minnesota before the 2018 season after recording four solid years as a Rays starter.
Odorizzi has won 62-56 with an ERA of 3.92 and 995 stops in 42 1,042 major league entries.