Houston Astros: Is Hector Rondon an option for a long-term closer?

The new ninth-inning guy

Although Hinch never dubbed him as the team’s closer, Rondon has six saves since June 6. The Astros had a variety of pitchers obtain saves, but the right-hander shut the door down consistently for the past month.

The former Cubs pitcher isn’t new to the role. He compiled the most saves for Chicago from 2014 to 2016. Yet, the club demoted him once they acquired Aroldis Chapman and Wade Davis in back-to-back seasons.

But Rondon held his own in the late innings. He boasted a top-10 ERA among pitchers with more than 60 innings pitched in 2015 and owned a respectable 3.53 ERA with a WHIP below 1.00.

Nevertheless, his mediocre 2017 campaign wasn’t good enough to keep him in Chicago. He owned a 1.22 WHIP last year, as opposing hitters clocked more home runs against him and drew more walks.

Thus, few teams looked to sign him to a long-term deal. Yet, he offered experience and an uptick in strikeouts across his previous few seasons.

Hence, he was a good find for the Astros this offseason, who signed him to a two-year deal.

Now he owns a 1.44 ERA across 31 1/3 innings with a career-high strikeout rate. And he’s been reliable in late innings this season.

But what plagued him last season hasn’t impacted him yet this year. He boasts a similar walk and hit rate as he did last year, but he’s kept balls in the park.

Thus far, that’s been a main reason for his success. After allowing 10 bombs in 57 1/3 innings last year, hitters have just one against him in 2018.

Because of this, he may remain as closer. But trade bait might get in his way.