INSIDE PITCH

Posted on 2012 under Astros | Comments are off

3 Feb

Despite where the Astros sit relative to the rest of baseball, spots in the rotation will not just be handed out this spring. That was assured when a sixth extremely viable candidate was added to the rotation mix with the signing of veteran workhorse Livan Hernandez. Hernandez, 36, signed a minor league contract complete with an invitation to major league spring training, where he will have a legitimate shot to make the opening day roster. It would be his 17th season in the major leagues for the 1997 World Series MVP. "He gives us a veteran presence and it gives us flexibility so we don't have to push some young guys into roles if they're not ready for them," Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said. The most obvious young arm is attached the body of Jordan Lyles, who debuted at age 20 with a 5.36 ERA last year as the Astros' top prospect. He had in some eyes been penciled into a rotation with Wandy Rodriguez, Brett Myers, Bud Norris and J.A. Happ after the Astros let most of the offseason pass unable to move the veterans in that rotation. Henry Sosa and Kyle Weiland also figured into the equation, which became a lot more complicated in the sunset of the offseason. Not only was Hernandez acquired, but also Zach Duke, who comes to camp on a minor league deal. Should Hernandez make the rotation, the Astros are counting on him to pitch a lot of innings. He pitched 175 1/3 for the Nationals last year before being shut down to give some of their young pitchers a chance to pitch in September. Hernandez has passed the 200-inning mark 10 times in his career.