Astros Agree to 2-Year Deal with RP Pedro Baez

Pedro Baez with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Photo by Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/Shutterstock (10968816aa)

The Houston Astros and veteran relief pitcher Pedro Baez have reportedly agreed to a two-year deal that will take him outside of Los Angeles for the first time in his big league career.

Baez, who spent 2014 to 2020 pitching for the defending World Series champions, saw his contract with the Dodgers expire after last season and will now try his luck in the AL West.

His new contract with Houston is said to fall within the $12 to $14 million range, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.

Baez is set to be a key set-up man for the Astros in the coming seasons, a job at which he excelled with the Dodgers. He posted a 3.18 ERA in 2020 and has a career mark of 3.03 over 356 innings pitched with 369 strikeouts.

The Dominican Republic native, who turns 33 just before the season starts, saw his strikeout rate dip last season but continued to be effective thanks to inducing plenty of soft contact.

Expect Baez to be a key part of an Astros bullpen that will look to help the team qualify for the playoffs for the fifth season in a row.

Baez will report to Astros Spring Training in Florida next month.

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