The Astros have signed 32-year old righty swinging Kevin Cash to a minor league deal. He played in 10 games for the Yankees last season and he was 6 for 26 (.231 avg, .558 OPS) with 1 run scored and 3 RBIs. Cash has now played in 197 games in his major league career and he is 98 for 527 (.186 avg, .535 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 10 homers and 53 RBIs. Cash came to the right place because he just might get a shot for the Astros at some point in 2010 based on his defense which is outstanding.

The Astros have signed 30-year old lefty swinging outfielder Cory Sullivan to a minor league deal. He played in 64 games for the Mets last season and he was 34 for 136 (.250 avg, .720 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 2 homers, 15 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Sullivan has now played in 419 games in his major league career and he is 293 for 1,063 (.276 avg, .720 OPS) with 150 runs scored, 10 homers, 93 RBIs and 32 stolen bases. Sullivan will have a good chance in spring training to make the Astros as a back-up outfielder.

The Astros have signed 30-year old righty starting pitcher Shane Loux to a minor league deal. Loux pitched in 18 games (6 starts) for the Angels last season and he was 2-3 with a 5.86 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP. He has now pitched in 39 games (13 starts) in his major league career and he is 3-7 with a 6.14 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. Loux has thrown a lot of batting practice in the majors allowing 156 hits in only 118 2/3 innings pitched. It’s doubtful that Loux will help the Astros in 2010 as he’s just not that good of a pitcher.

The Astros have signed 29-year old righty starting pitcher Brett Myers to a 1-year deal worth $3.1 million bucks with a mutual option for 2011 worth $8 million bucks with a $2 million dollar buyout. Myers pitched in 18 games (10 starts) for the Phillies last season and he was 4-3 with a 4.84 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. He has now pitched in 240 games (183 starts) in his major league career and he is 73-63 with 21 saves, a 4.40 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. The Astros will probably slot Myers #3 in the rotation behind Roy Oswalt and Wandy Rodriguez. If Myers can stay healthy all year long I like this signing for the Astros.

The Astros have signed 27-year old righty starting pitcher Josh Banks to a minor league deal. Banks pitched in 6 games (3 starts) last season for the Astros and he was 1-1 with a 7.15 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He has now pitched in 26 games (18 starts) in his major league career and he is 4-7 with a 5.38 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. The Astros will give him a shot to compete for a spot in the starting rotation which really says something about the back end of it…..and it’s not good.