The Astros have agreed to a minor league deal with infielder Cesar Izturis, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports (on Twitter). Izturis, who is represented by the Legacy Agency, will receive an invitation to Major League Spring Training.
Izturis spent the 2013 season with Cincinnati, where he batted .209/.259/.271 in 142 plate appearances. A well-regarded defensive shortstop, Izturis posted a +4.8 UZR/150 and was worth +4 runs, according to The Fielding Bible's Defensive Runs Saved metric. Heyman notes that he has a good chance of making the Astros' roster as a utility infielder out of Spring Training.
Izturis could provide some nice veteran advice to Villar and Gonzalez but he definitely should not be starting over the kids in 2014.
I wonder if Izturis would have been a better choice than Barmes at SS for the Pirates.
Barmes is a better defender at SS and they produce about the same offense, money wise Izturis is a bit better deal but Barmes at 1 year 2 Million is not a bad deal. Pittsburgh relied on a lot of group balls last year so that added defense was probably worth the added cost to them.
If the Reds are looking for SS depth, why didn’t they just resign him?
You obviously didn’t see his stats from last year.
Whoever they sign to be the backup SS won’t be much better.
Available free agent shortstops..
Stephen Drew (31)
Alex Gonzalez (36)
Nick Green (35)
Paul Janish (31)
Elliot Johnson (30)
John McDonald (39)
Omar Quintanilla (32)
Take Drew out of the equation, is Izturis really any better or worse than any of these guys?
Solid signing in case Villar doesn’t continue to develop.
Good, now the Reds can’t resign him.
Surprised the Mets didn’t try to sign him to add some much needed depth in case Tejada gets off to a bad start at all.