Avoiding arbitration, the Houston Astros signed relief pitcher Dave Borkowski to a one-year contract on Tuesday. The right-handed Borkowski will give the Astros more quality depth in their bullpen.
The 30-year-old from Detroit, Michigan will enter his third season with the Astros in 2008. During the 2007 campaign, Borkowski had five wins, three losses and a save while posting a 5.15 ERA. In 2006, he had three wins, two losses and a 4.69 ERA.
The Astros still have two arbitration-eligible players in pitcher Jose Valverde and infielder Mark Loretta.

Avoiding salary cap arbitration, the Houston Astros and right-handed pitcher Brandon Backe agreed on a one-year contract. Backe, who missed almost a year after an elbow injury, returned to the Astros late last season. In five starts, Backe went 3-1 with a 3.77 ERA. In six big league seasons, Backe has 22 wins – 21 of which were with the Astros.
In other new, the Houston Chronicle is reporting that the Astros and free-agent right-handed pitcher Runelvys Hernandez are close to coming to an agreement on a contract. The 29-year-old Hernandez has played all of his big league games for the …read more