Houston avoided arbitration with three players last week, including Octavio Dotel, Geoff Blum, and Daryle Ward. Dotel signed a one-year, $1.6M contract, which includes $25,000 incentives for reaching both 60 and 70 appearances. The 29-year-old went from 61 appearances in 2001 to 83 last season, so I fully expect him to receive the additional money.

I think the Astros probably should have more thoroughly considered signing him to a multi-year deal. He will likely only grow more expensive, as he was basically the best reliever in baseball last year and doesn't look to be slowing any time soon. Even in this off-season's depressed market, I'm sure he could have found at least as much and probably more than Mike Remlinger and Ramiro Mendoza. However, waiting until next off-season was a viable option and they found a nice middle price this year.

The Astros signed Geoff Blum to a one-year, $1.5M contract. While he still looks like their starting third baseman, we know Houston doesn't mind paying their bench players well. Morgan Ensberg will receive an opportunity to compete for the job in Spring Training, and if Craig Biggio has problems with returning to the outfield the logical step would be to move Jeff Kent to third. Blum's plate discipline markedly improved last season allowing him to post an overall increase in production. However, I think Houston would be mistaken to consider the 29-year-old a player they need to work around and fit into the lineup rather than someone to provide them with flexibility and fill in where he's needed.

Ward will remain with the Astros for the moment on a one-year, $1.35M contract. With Biggio moving back to cover center, and Lance Berkman in left, as well as Orlando Merced and Brian L. Hunter receiving significant money as back-ups, the Astros really don't want both Ward and Richard Hidalgo, especially since Jason Lane is fighting hard to earn spot on the roster as well. Unfortunately, they haven't been able to find deals that they're willing to accept for either of them. Ward would be an unquestioned starter if he could only support his power potential with improved plate discipline. However, the 27-year-old appears likely to remain in a limited role at least until he can escape the Astros.

Houston signed free agent Brian Moehler to a one-year, $500,000 contract that includes another possible $500,000 in bonuses. Apparently they plan to hand him a rotation spot behind Roy Oswalt, Wade Miller, and Shane Reynolds while leaving only one spot open for one of their young starters. Carlos Hernandez does not appear likely to participate in that competition due to a shoulder problem he suffered over the holidays while in Venezuela. Due to the governmental unrest in that area, Hernandez was only recently able to obtain his visa, so he wasn't able to return for immediate medical attention; he's scheduled to be examined today.

I think the Astros have made a mistake in committing the rotation spot to a veteran of Moehler's caliber. While there are question marks surrounding their platoon of candidates, the team likely would have benefited more by signing a sturdy veteran to a minor league deal and calling upon him only if the younger pitchers faltered. The alternative would have been signing a much better pitcher, who would unquestionably deserve to displace the younger players. Even before his injury, Moehler wasn't a particularly good pitcher and at this point Houston should be pleased if he provides them with league average innings.

The Astros have signed a number of players to minor league deals, including RHP Jared Fernandez, UT-R Tripp Cromer, C/CR-R Chris Tremie, and 1B-S Alan Zinter. Boston signed Fernandez as a nondrafted free agent out of Fresno State University in 1994. As a minor league free agent he twice signed with Cincinnati, making it to the majors in 2002. The 30-year-old knuckleballer has proven himself as a starter at AAA and seems capable of spot starting and relieving in the majors. Houston could really use him as an innings eater in their pen considering how heavily they leaned on their top relievers last season. However, I'm not sure he'll have an opportunity to help unless someone else is ineffective or injured first.

Despite the Astros' southern location, I doubt Cromer will be serenaded by girls signing parodies of country singer Trace Atkins' "Chrome", as I don't expect the 35-year-old to inspire that kind of following. After leaving his team prior to the end of the 2000 for undisclosed personal reasons, Cromer didn't play in 2001. Although he was originally drafted by the Cardinals out of the University of South Carolina in the third round of the 1989 draft, Cromer has twice before signed with Houston on minor league deals. Last season, he displayed a little power with their AAA affiliate at New Orleans, but his plate discipline prevents him from contributing much to an offense.

Tremie's developed decent strike zone judgment over the past few years, but the 33-year-old unfortunately doesn't possess any speed or power to complement that skill, so he's not likely to be noticed. Nevertheless, his positional flexibility gives the Astros an intriguing option in their minors.

Zinter's decided to return to the team that gave him major league debut at age 34. However, I think he's made a poor choice if he wants another cup-of-coffee, considering the depth of their bench and the shallowness of his skills.