Houston Astros baseball team

01/29/10 4:30 PM EST The long, cold winter is almost over, and we'll soon hear the popping of mitts on the back fields in Florida. Yes, Spring Training is almost here, but that doesn't mean the questions stop. The Astros, like most teams, are going to continue to have questions all year long, which means [...]

01/27/10 9:00 PM EST HOUSTON — Catching prospect Jason Castro represents a fresh, new beginning for the Astros' player development department. Castro, selected No. 10 overall in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, was the first Draft pick by assistant general manager and scouting director Bobby Heck, who was hired by general manager Ed Wade after [...]

01/26/10 7:25 PM EST HOUSTON — It's been a long time since Astros icon Jeff Bagwell was able to swing a baseball bat with much authority, but with two young girls at home and a passion for golf, he knows there's a need to fix the ailing right shoulder that shortened his terrific career. Bagwell, [...]

01/25/10 7:05 PM EST HOUSTON — Astros general manager Ed Wade said the club will head to an arbitration hearing with left-hander Wandy Rodriguez after the two sides were unable to reach an agreement by Monday's team-imposed deadline. Rodriguez, who led the club in wins (14), starts (33), innings pitched (205 2/3) and strikeouts (193), [...]

01/24/10 8:52 PM EST HOUSTON — The Astros have just one arbitration-eligible player remaining after reaching a one-year deal Sunday with left-hander Tim Byrdak for $1.6 million, which was the midpoint between the club's offer and the player's number. "We got him done tonight," said Astros assistant general manager Ricky Bennett, who was handling the [...]

01/22/10 1:07 PM EST HOUSTON — Astros general manager Ed Wade said Friday he has informed the agents for the club's three remaining arbitration players — outfielder Hunter Pence and pitchers Wandy Rodriguez and Tim Byrdak — they have until end of business Monday to work out a deal or go to a hearing. Players [...]

01/21/10 11:43 PM EST HOUSTON — Center fielder Michael Bourn is always on the move, on the baseball field and off. So don't expect him to stop and do much reflecting on what he accomplished in the 2009 season. "I had a good year, but that was 2009, and it's over with, and it's time [...]

01/20/10 4:19 PM EST LEAGUE CITY, Texas — Roy Oswalt is feeling just fine, thank you, so quit worrying about him. At least, that's the message Oswalt had for those who are wringing their hands about the back condition that has bothered the ace right-hander the previous three seasons, forcing him to miss the final [...]

01/19/10 5:45 PM EST HOUSTON — Michael Bourn doesn't let much bother him. Not a prolonged slump, a strong-armed catcher or even a funky hill in center field. So it shouldn't be surprising Bourn wasn't overly concerned about his contract negotiations. "I never really worried about it," he said. Bourn has even less to worry [...]

01/18/10 4:30 PM EST HOUSTON — Enos Cabell remembers a time when he wasn't allowed to stay in the same hotel with his white teammates when he was a player in the Minor Leagues. Cabell and his fellow African-American teammates would get dropped off a few blocks away at a different hotel before the bus [...]