Looking for a second left-handed reliever to pair with re-signed setup man Tony Sipp, the Astros have agreed to a minor-league deal with veteran Neal Cotts.
Cotts split last season between the Brewers and Twins, logging a total of 63 innings with a 3.41 ERA and 58/22 K/BB ratio. He has a 3.03 ERA in 187 innings since resurrecting his career in 2013 and fares well enough versus right-handed hitters to be more than just a southpaw specialist.
Houston has made the bullpen a priority this offseason, trading for stud closer Ken Giles from the Phillies, spending $18 million to retain Sipp, and bringing in Cotts as depth to go along with holdovers like Luke Gregerson, Pat Neshek, Will Harris, and Josh Fields. It’s an extremely good, depth relief corps.
