Free-agent outfielder Colby Rasmus signed a one-year contract with the Houston Astros on Tuesday. The deal comes just one day after the Astros traded Dexter Fowler to the Chicago Cubs.
According to MLB.com, the deal is for $8 million. The Astros will have Rasmus start somewhere in the outfield. Rasmus has played centerfield for most of his career. However the Astros could move Rasmus around all three outfield positions.
"He was the scouting director in St. Louis and I've always been pretty tight with him," Rasmus said of Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow. "He was always good to me. I think he's been good through this process. I've always liked playing against the Astros and the way they've handled themselves. I played with Lance Berkman, who was loyal in his time here. That was something that was on my mind, hearing him talk about it. Obviously, Jeff being the scouting director that drafted me, it looks pretty enticing."
Rasmus was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2005 draft. In 2011 the Cardinals traded him to the Toronto Blue Jays as part of an eight-player trade. He hit .225 with 18 homeruns in 104 games with the Blue Jays last year, according to ESPN. Rasmus has hit .246 and has 116 career homeruns in his six-year career.
The Astros are also nearing a deal with free-agent right-handed pitcher Ryan Vogelsong. In ten seasons with the San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates Vogelsong is 49-57 with a 4.42 ERA. He is 3-0 with a 2.92 ERA in eight playoff appearances with the Giants.
Rasmus will most likely replace Fowler in the Astros outfield. The Astros have designated catcher Carlos Corporan for assignment to make room on the roster for Rasmus.