Astros Sign Former Reds Knuckleballer

[GaryMrMets]

Astros Sign Former Reds Knuckleballer

.c The Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) - The Houston Astros signed knuckleballer Jared Fernandez to a minor league contract Friday and invited him to spring training.

Fernandez split time last season between Cincinnati and Triple-A Louisville. He is 1-4 in his career, with his lone win coming at Houston last July.

Infielder Tripp Cromer, catcher Chris Tremie and catcher-infielder Alan Zinter also signed minor league deals Friday and were invited to spring training.

Zinter, 34, made his big-league debut last season after more than 13 seasons and 1,400 games in the minors, much of it in the New York Mets system. He hit 212 homers and drove in 777 runs in his minor-league career.

12/20/02 18:13 EST

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[SpreadOffense]

I watched Fernandez's win over the stros. He looked good in that game but that was the only time I saw him.

[PopTop]

This could work out very well, assuming Fernandez can just provide some innings in that #4 or #5 slot, depending how the rotation shakes out in Spring Training.

I still think another deal or two is coming ... Even with the way Kent's contract is set up, Hunsicker will be trying to trim some dollars either this year or near future off the payroll, and I think that means Ward is gone in return for prospects, or Hidalgo is gone with a big chunk of his 2003 salary picked up by Houston.