Astros, Wander Suero Agree To Minor League Deal

The Astros have signed reliever Wander Suero to a minor league contract, per the transaction log at MLB.com. He’ll presumably get a look in MLB camp as a non-roster invitee.

Suero spent the 2023 season with the Dodgers. He signed an offseason minor league pact and was twice selected onto the big league roster. The 32-year-old righty pitched in five MLB contests, allowing seven runs over eight innings. Suero spent the remainder of the season in Triple-A, turning in a 3.26 ERA through 49 2/3 frames in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

While pitching in the minors, he punched out almost 26% of opponents. His 11.2% walk rate was higher than ideal. Suero had a better track record of strike-throwing before this season. He has walked a serviceable 8.6% of opponents over parts of five Triple-A campaigns, where he has a 3.59 ERA.

Suero has also pitched at the major league level in five different years. Aside from his limited time with the Dodgers, he’d otherwise only appeared for the Nationals. He was a durable and generally effective bullpen arm between 2018-20 before struggling to a 6.33 ERA in 2021.

The Astros have seen a trio of middle relievers — Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek and Hector Neris — reach free agency. That could open an opportunity in the middle innings for a non-roster veteran like Suero to battle for a roster spot.