Inside the Astros

Houston Astros Tender Contracts to All Eligible Players Except for One

The Houston Astros have tendered contracts to all eligible players except for Josh James ahead of Friday's deadline.

Kade Kistner

Houston Astros Tender Contracts to All Eligible Players Except for One
Houston Astros Tender Contracts to All Eligible Players Except for One /
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The Houston Astros tendered contracts to eight of the nine eligible players prior to Friday evening's 7 p.m. CST deadline. The only player left on the outside looking in was right-handed pitcher Josh James. 

James has had his ups and downs with the club over the past few seasons. The righty set the club record for most strikeouts by a rookie with 99, but has also dealt with injuries since then.

A lat injury has kept James from being able to perform for the big league club, and with James now age 29, the club felt it best to move on. He could be a good reclamation project for another team.

As for the other eight players, which consisted of outfielder Kyle Tucker, starters Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, and José Urquidy, utilityman Mauricio Dubón, relievers Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek, and Blake Taylor, tendering a contract was all but a formality. 

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Kade Kistner
KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Phillies. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl. During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated. Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.

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