The Astros made a big push to sign free agent reliever Andrew Miller before he settled on a four-year, $36 million contract offer from the Yankees. Now the Houston front office is focusing its effort and its budget on a different late-inning option.
Buster Olney of ESPN reports that the Astros “continue to pursue” free agent closer David Robertson, and there is a belief that Robertson’s biggest offer could ultimately come from Houston.
It’s odd that a team coming off four consecutive 90-plus loss seasons would want to pay huge money for a closer, but the ‘Stros do have quite a bit of young talent on their roster and in the minors, and they clearly want to have a reliable bullpen in place when that promise turns into a real ability to contend.
Robertson, 29, boasts a dominant 2.20 ERA, 1.097 WHIP, and 12.3 K/9 in 258 innings since the beginning of the 2011 season. If the Astros can’t get him, they’re expected to then try for Sergio Romo.
