Astros bringing back Ben Gamel on 1-year deal
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HOUSTON ¨C The Astros added a much-needed left-handed bat on Wednesday by agreeing to a Major League deal with outfielder Ben Gamel to return to Houston, the team announced. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
A source told MLB.comĄ¯s Mark Feinsand the deal is for $1.2 million. Gamel will receive a $200,000 signing bonus, and the other $1 million is not guaranteed unless he makes the team out of Spring Training.
Gamel, 32, began last season with the Mets and was claimed off waivers by the Astros on Aug. 20. He slashed .247/.384/.333 in 38 games combined between the Mets (18) and Astros (20). With Houston, he slashed .259/.377/.362 with a homer in 69 plate appearances before fracturing his left fibula sliding into the outfield wall in Anaheim while making a catch. That ended his season.
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The Astros have been in search of help in the outfield, preferably a left-handed bat, since trading Kyle Tucker to the Cubs in December. Their lineup is right-hand dominant after adding first baseman Christian Walker in free agency and acquiring third baseman Isaac Paredes from the Cubs in the Tucker deal. Jose Altuve, Jeremy Pe?a, Yainer Diaz, Jake Meyers and Chas McCormick are all right-handed.
Gamel can play either corner outfield spot and should give Houston some coverage in left field. The Astros have said they want slugger Yordan Alvarez to get most of his at-bats at designated hitter this year and fewer at-bats in left field. Meyers is the starter in center field and McCormick is the starter in right field.
Zach Dezenzo, the AstrosĄ¯ No. 6-ranked prospect, will compete to make the team, primarily as a left fielder, along with Taylor Trammell, a left-handed hitter acquired from the Yankees earlier in the offseason. Outfielder Jacob Melton (No. 2 prospect) has a real opportunity to make an impact this season and could push to make the club out of camp if someone else underperforms.
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Gamel spent most of last season at Triple-A Syracuse in the Mets organization, hitting .314 with 12 doubles, seven homers, 24 RBIs and a .961 OPS.