The Astros have a lot of live, but inexperienced arms in the bullpen for 2013. 32-year old righty Jose Veras will get his big shot to close for the Astros in 2013. He pitched in 72 games (0 starts) for the Brewers last year and he was 5-4 with 1 save, a 3.63 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. Veras has now pitched in 327 games (0 starts) in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 19-17 with 5 saves, a 4.01 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. 28-year old lefty Wesley Wright will likely be the Astros’ top set-up man in 2013. He pitched in 77 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 2-2 with 1 save, a 3.27 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. Wright has now pitched in 232 games (4 starts) in first five years in the majors and he is 10-11 with 2 saves, a 4.55 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. The rest of the guys in the pen will have to earn spots this spring. 28-year old righty Hector Ambriz pitched in 18 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 1-1 with a 4.19 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. He has now pitched in 52 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 1-3 with a 5.19 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP. 27-year old righty Sam Demel pitched in 1 game (0 starts) for the D-Backs last year and he was 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA and a 3.00 WHIP. He also pitched in 56 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year in which he was 1-4 with 1 save, a 4.07 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. Demel has now pitched in 72 games (0 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 4-4 with 2 saves, a 4.95 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. 26-year old righty Rhiner Cruz was a Rule 5 Draft pick two winters ago. He pitched in 52 games (0 starts) in his first taste of the majors last year and he was 1-1 with a 6.05 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. The Astros plucked 27-year old righty Josh Fields away from the Red Sox in last winter’s Rule 5 Draft. He comes into this season as the Astros’ #25 prospect according to Baseball America. Fields pitched in 42 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 4-3 with 12 saves, a 2.01 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. He has now pitched in 132 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the minors and he is 11-8 with 23 saves, a 3.57 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. 26-year old lefty Xavier Cedeno could also see an expanded role in 2013 for the Astros. He pitched in 44 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 0-1 with 1 save, a 3.77 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. He has now pitched in 47 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Astros and he is 0-1 with 1 save, a 4.96 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. 28-year old lefty Sergio Escalona missed all of last season due to injury. He pitched in 49 games (0 starts) for the Astros in 2011 and he was 2-1 with a 2.93 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. He has now pitched in 63 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 3-1 with a 3.48 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. 30-year old righty Jose Valdez is also in the running for a bullpen spot. He pitched in 12 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 0-0 with a 2.25 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. Valdez has now pitched in 24 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 0-0 with a 5.88 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP.
PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BULLPEN IN 2013: D-