The Houston Astros were on the market for a centerfielder for all but a day before singing former Blue Jays centerfielder, Colby Rasmus, to a 1-year deal worth about $8 million, according to Jon Morosi of FOXSports.
Rasmus, 28, had a decent year last season with Toronto hitting .225/.287/.448 over 104 games. His home runs were down to 18 after he hit 22 the year before, and he also had 26 less runs batted in. Rasmus is a player who isn’t going to light up the stat sheet, but rather make up for it with his fielding. Rasmus had only one error last season in center with over 230 putouts. He is a solid player who will be a viable replacement for Dexter Fowler; who was traded to Chicago on Monday.
Rasmus was drafted in the 1st round by the Cardinals back in 2005, but didn’t make his professional debut with the team until the start of the 2009 season. He was then traded to Toronto in the 2011 season.
Rasmus is a below average fielder , only ever posting a career best 4.8 WAR in the best season of his career two years ago. He posted a measly 0.8 WAR last season while playing and starting more than 100 games in the toronto outfield. He is not even the best defensive outfielder on the Astros current roster. Jake Marisnick is easily their best defensive option and an up-an coming player in the organization leading me to believe he will be used in the corners and primarily for his ability to rip righties as he posted a OPS over .800 against right handed pitching last year. While he does possess a power arm he lacks discipline in center and at the plate.