‘Stro Wars: Return of the Jed L.

While some teams (see the A’s, Padres and Dodgers) are completely restructuring their lineups this offseason (and garnering splashy Hot Stove League headlines), the Houston Astros are quietly plugging in the necessary parts for what they believe will be an earnest push for the playoffs in 2015.

To that end, the Astros signed free agent SS Jed Lowrie to a three-year, $23 million deal (with a team option for a fourth year), days after shoring up the worst bullpen in baseball with the mid-December signings of right-handed relievers Luke Gregerson and Pat Neshek. The 30-year-old Lowrie returns to Houston after spending 2012 with the team, logging a .244 batting average, a career-high 16 home runs with 18 doubles in 97 games.

Interestingly, the switch-hitting Lowrie was part of Astro general manager Jeff Luhnow’s first trade in Houston, sending the shortstop to Oakland with RHP Fernando Rodriguez for still-current Astros Brad Peacock (P), Chris Carter (DH/1B), and catcher Max Stassi.

Shortstop was identified as a need area for the team (along with the aforementioned bullpen help already addressed) at the close of the 2014 season. The Astros cycled through Jonathan Villar, Marwin Gonzalez, and Gregorio Petit at the position to the aggregate tune of .258 BA, 14 HR, 54 RBI, and .302 on-base-percentage. Petit was designated for assignment shortly after the signing to make room on the 40-man roster for Lowrie, already a Houston resident.

Lowrie, a Stanford grad who spent the last two years with the A’s, is expected to have no problem exceeding the offensive shortstop numbers the Astros put up last season, while bringing his solid defensive skills to Minute Maid Park, as well. In 2013, his first year with Oakland, Lowrie played in a career-high 154 games, hit .290, scored 80 runs, and batted in 75, all while slugging 15 home runs and 45 doubles.

Astro manager A.J. Hinch is excited about the addition of Lowrie to the Houston lineup, stating recently, “There’s a lot of comfort in knowing that Jed’s here. He’s a real pro, he’s committed to winning. He’ll help our team, he’ll help our players. He’s entering a phase in his career where he can be a leader.”

For his part, Lowrie can’t wait to suit up: “I can’t explain how excited I am to be back. I feel like I left with maybe a little unfinished business. Look at the young talent that has been acquired, and now the willingness to go out and invest in some veteran players to go with that young talent. That’s how you sustain success in this game, and this is a great place to play.” Reflecting the optimism that’s growing in the Astro camp as 2015 looms, Lowrie concluded, “I’m happy to be back, and I think it’s an exciting time to be an Astro.”

May the force (and the occasional tag play) be with him.

Author: Brad Kyle

Brad was born the same year as rock’n’roll and Disneyland. Aging only slightly better than one of them, he’s a Houston native, and has seen countless Astro games, in all three Houston pro ball stadiums: Colt Stadium, The Astrodome, and Minute Maid Park.

His favorite non-Astro was Pirate legend Roberto Clemente, with 3rd baseman Bob Aspromonte his favorite Houston player as a kid, and Jeff Bagwell more recently.

Brad has spent professional time as a teacher, youth minister, radio personality, record store manager, entertainment booking agent, singer, comedy writer, and…..oh, yeah, sports writer!

Related Posts

• 
  2015 NCAA Tournament: Final Four
• 
  Chelsea Racists In Court
• 
  Top MLB Players 2015: Pitchers