WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The Astros¡¯ roster construction for Opening Day became a bit clearer Saturday afternoon with a series of roster moves, including the release of veteran outfielder Ben Gamel and left-handed reliever Jalen Beeks, who had an opt-out clause in his contract.
Gamel was claimed off waivers by the Astros last Aug. 20 and slashed .259/.377/.362 with a homer in 69 plate appearances before fracturing his left fibula sliding into the outfield wall in Anaheim, ending his season. He re-signed with Houston on Feb. 5 for $1.2 million, which included a $200,000 signing bonus and $1 million if he made the team out of Spring Training.
The club also informed right-handed reliever Miguel Castro and veteran infielder Luis Guillorme they would not make the Opening Day roster, though both will stay with the team through the end of Spring Training. Also, right-handed pitchers Kaleb Ort (oblique) and Forrest Whitley (knee) will begin the season on the injured list.
The decisions on Beeks, Ort, Castro and Whitley leave the Astros with eight healthy relief pitchers in camp: Josh Hader, Bryan Abreu, Tayler Scott, Bryan King, Luis Contreras, Rafael Montero, Logan VanWey and Steven Okert. Montero, Okert and VanWey would have to be added to the 40-man roster to break camp with the team.
Right-hander Ryan Gusto (No. 21 prospect), a starter who was optioned to Minor League camp two weeks ago, is among those scheduled to pitch in relief in Monday¡¯s exhibition against Triple-A Sugar Land in Houston and could be a candidate to make the club.
Ort and Whitley are ¡°not that far away¡± from being able to join the team, manager Joe Espada said. Whitley said Saturday his knee feels fine, and he will remain in West Palm Beach next week and pitch in Minor League games to build himself up.
The decision not to carry Guillorme on the Opening Day roster likely means fellow non-roster infielder Brendan Rodgers will make the team. The Astros signed Rodgers at the start of camp to provide some depth at second base alongside utility player Mauricio Dub¨®n. All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve is being moved to left field this year.
Zach Dezenzo (No. 5 prospect) appears on track to win a spot in the outfield, with No. 1 prospect Cam Smith, first baseman Jon Singleton and infielder/outfielder Cooper Hummel in the running for what appears to be one remaining spot. Hummel is a switch-hitter who¡¯s on the roster and can play the corner outfield spots and first base. Smith is a third baseman who has spent time in right field this spring.
Dezenzo entered Saturday hitting .415 (17-for-41) with two homers and a 1.138 OPS in Grapefruit League play. He¡¯s split time between the corner outfield positions and first base.
¡°I told him from the very beginning he had a chance to make this club and he hasn¡¯t backed down,¡± Espada said. ¡°He¡¯s taken it very seriously and has made a strong case for himself.¡±
Smith has made a great impression, too, but the Astros are going to want him to be an everyday player, which may mean he¡¯s ticketed to the Minor Leagues to start the year. Isaac Paredes was signed to start at third base, and Dezenzo and Chas McCormick can play right field.
¡°His approach at the plate, his swing decisions, how hard he¡¯s hitting the ball, we need some of that type of hitter in our lineup, something last year that we somewhat struggled with,¡± Espada said of Dezenzo. ¡°If we could add players like in our lineup, it would stretch our lineup even further.¡±