The Astros signed Brad Lidge to a one year, $5.35 million deal and in the process, avoided arbitration with the closer. Lidge had a pretty poor season last year and now that he’ll be making closer money, the Astros should expect something more in line with 2005 season. Regardless, you don’t see too many relievers these days with three straight seasons with more then 100 strikeouts (and he came three strikeouts short in 2003 of making that four straight). Lidge is special but a long term deal was probably out of the question after the drop off in 2006.
The Astros also re-signed infielder Mike Lamb to a one year deal worth $2.7 million. Lamb set career highs with 70 runs, a .307 batting average and a .361 on base percentage and he split most of his time between first and third base. At those rates, Lamb is a nice guy to have around because he left handed bat that fields the ball right handed, making for a nice platoon split at third base.
