The Astros have re-signed righty Brian Moehler and they also have signed outfielder David Newhan to minor league contracts. 36-year old Brian Moehler pitched in 42 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 1-4 with 1 save, a 4.07 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Moehler has now pitched in 252 games (189 starts) in his major league career and he is 64-83 with 1 save, a 4.75 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. 34-year old lefty swinging outfielder David Newhan played in 56 games last season for the Mets and he was 15 for 74 (.203 avg, .573 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 1 homer and 6 RBIs. Newhan has now played in 349 games in his major league career and he is 222 for 882 (.252 avg, .691 OPS) with 137 runs scored, 21 homers, 108 RBIs and 28 stolen bases.

Roy Oswalt and Woody Williams will lead the rotation but the #3 thru #5 spots all have question marks. Brandon Backe has proved that he’s a big time pitcher in the post season for the Astros in the past but he has been injured the last two seasons. The 29 year old righty has only started 13 games the past two seasons and he is 6-3 with a 3.77 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. The Astros are depending on him to anchor the #3 spot in the rotation in 2008. 28 year old lefty Wandy Rodriguez need to get more consistent. He started 15 games at home last season and he was 6-3 with a 2.94 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. On the road though Rodriguez was simply awful. In 16 road starts, Rodriguez was 3-10 with a 6.37 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. The Astros need him to pitch much better on the road if he is going to stay in the rotation full time. 29 year old righty Chris Sampson will likely be the #5 pitcher in the starting rotation. As a rookie last season, Sampson pitched in 24 games (19 starts) for the Astros and he was 7-8 with a 4.59 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. The Astros will need improvement out of Sampson if they are to make a playoff run this season.

The Astros have signed 29 year old righty starting pitcher Runelvys Hernandez and 28 year old righty swinging Nick Gorneault to minor league contracts. Hernandez last pitched in the majors in 2006 with the Royals. He has pitched in 78 games (all starts) in his major league career and he is 25-33 with a 5.38 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. Gorneault got his first taste of the major leagues last season with the Angels as he played in 2 games and he was 0 for 4 with 1 run scored.

The Astros have signed four pretty decent players to minor league contracts to add depth. 28 year old righty swinging catcher J.R. House played with the Orioles last season. He played in 19 games last year and he was 8 for 38 (.211 avg, .768 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 3 homers and 3 RBIs. House has now played in 29 games in his major league career and he is 10 for 57 (.175 avg, .603 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 3 homers and 3 RBIs. The Astros have also brought in 28-year old righty swinging Lance Niekro. Niekro played in 11 games last season for the Giants and he was 3 for 17 (.176 avg, .398 OPS). Niekro has now played in 195 games in his major league career and he is 123 for 499 (.246 avg, .709 OPS) with 61 runs scored, 17 homers and 79 RBIs. Outfielder Victor Diaz played in 37 games last season for the Rangers and he was 25 of 104 (.240 avg, .797 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 9 homers and 25 RBIs. Diaz has now played in 147 games in his major league career and he is 114 of 446 (.256 avg, .796 OPS) with 62 runs scored, 24 homers and 73 RBIs. 37 year old righty reliever Mike DeJean last played in the majors in 2006 with the Rockies. DeJean has now pitched in 565 games (1 start) in his major league career and he is 30-33 with 52 saves, a 4.30 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP.