Right-hander Jake Odorizzi and the Houston Astros have agreed to a two-year deal with a player option, a source familiar with the transaction told Jeff Passan on ESPN on Saturday.
The Astros have already lost incumbent Framber Valdez for an indefinite period of time after the left suffered a fractured left ring finger during his spring training debut on Tuesday.
Houston is also without ace Justin Verlander, who will likely miss the entire season after being operated on by Tommy John on September 30th.
Odorizzi will join a rotation that likely includes Zack Greinke, Cristian Javier, Lance McCullers Jr. and Jose Urquidy.
After accepting a $ 17.8 million one-year qualifying offer from Minnesota twins outside of last season, Odorizzi, who turns 31 on March 27, was limited to four starts in 2020 from the cause of the bruised rib and a blister, reaching 0-1 with an ERA of 6.59 in 13⅔ innings.
His missed season began when he was drilled to the side by a car line on Alex Gordon’s old home in Kansas City at the third start. He returned in September, only to leave after 3⅔ innings 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 set career highs for wins and strikes (178), while the Gemini racked up 101 victories and claimed the title in the 2010 First Division.
He was recruited by the Milwaukee Brewers with the 32nd general election in 2008. He made his Kansas City Royals debut in 2012 before being assigned to the Tampa Bay Rays next season with Mike Montgomery and Wil Myers in the seven-player deal. he sent James Shields and Wade Davis to the Royals. He was transferred to Minnesota before the 2018 season, after four solid years as a starter for the Rays.
Odorizzi won 62-56 with a strength of 3.92 and 995 hits in 1,042⅓ innings in the major league.