Astros Sign Former Reliever To Minor-League Deal

The Houston Astros bring back Joel Kuhnel and have also signed another pitcher to a minor-league deal.

The Houston Astros signed two more relief pitchers to minor-league contracts on Monday, per the MLB Transactions log.

Right-handed pitchers Joel Kuhnel and Drew Strotman signed deals that come with an invitation to Major League spring training, which starts next month in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Kuhnel is familiar to Astros fans, as he made seven appearances with them in relief last season, finishing without a decision and a 4.66 ERA in 9.2 innings. He struck out three and walked three.

Kuhnel started last season with the Cincinnati Reds, who designated him for assignment on June 13. The Astros picked him up four days later and he was on a constant yo-yo between Triple-A Sugar Land and the Astros the rest of the season.

Earlier this month, the Astros designated him for assignment. Kuhnel elected free agency three days later but ended up back with the Astros.

Re-signing gives him a chance to fight for a bullpen role with a team that is familiar with him.

Kuhnel broke in with Cincinnati in 2019 and in 76 career MLB appearances he has a 4-3 record with a 6.02 ERA in 83.2 innings. He also has six holds, 71 strikeouts and 24 walks.

He was the Reds’ 11th-round pick in the 2016 MLB Draft out of UT-Arlington.

Strotman has never played in the Majors. He was the Tampa Bay Rays’ fourth-round pick in 2017 out of Saint Mary’s. He has made 128 minor-league appearances, with 62 starts, and has a 24-20 record with a 5.01 ERA in six seasons. He has struck out 372 and walked 211 in his career.

Strotman has bounced around the past two years, with stints in the Minnesota Twins’ and Texas Rangers’ organizations. He spent all of last season with the San Francisco Giants’ Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento, where he went 5-7 with a 6.47 ERA. Strotman elected free agency in November.