Houston Astros: Yusmeiro Petit needed to top off bullpen

You’ll need a roster the next time you see the Houston Astros take the field, as there has been a lot of turnover to the team. At least in the bullpen that is.

Since the season ended and players filed for free agency, several pitchers have walked away or been let go from the team. Are you ready (takes deep breath), Joe Biagini, Brad Peacock, Chase De Jong, Chris Devenski, Roberto Osuna, Carlos Sanabria, Brandon Bailey, Rogelio Armenteros, Cy Sneed, Humberto Castellanos, and Cionel Perez, were all members of the Astros pitching staff who are no longer with the team.

While the team has filled some empty spots on the roster by signing Ryne Stanek and Pedro Baez, the Astros would be wise to bring in another veteran arm. Yusmeiro Petit.

The Houston Astros should sign Yusmeiro Petit

Petit is a journeyman, who at age 36, has been around the league a time or two. The veteran of 13 years has pitched for six different teams during his time in the majors. Petit is coming off three solid years with the Oakland Athletics organization and is currently still available in the free agent market.

With the window closing for the Astros as World Series contenders, Petit seems like a perfect fit for a bullpen needing some more veteran presence. Petit is a long man, and can be used as a spot starter if needed. Where he was once known as only an innings eater, his time in Oakland boosted his reputation. His ERA dropped each year while managing a heavy workload. In 2019, Petit led the league with 80 appearances.

Thomas Harrigan of MLB.com has some concerns:

"Petit recorded four-plus outs in only two of his 26 appearances last season, getting two outs or fewer in 10 of them. And while he finished the year with a sparkling 1.66 ERA, some of his numbers below the surface weren’t as inspiring. Petit’s xERA was 4.42, as his strikeout rate (19.6%), walk rate (5.7%) and barrel rate (10.6%) all went in the wrong direction from the previous year. Teams may view that as an ominous sign for a pitcher who is now 36 years old."

The xERA may be an issue, but the strikeout rate and walk rate are not. Petit is an effective pitcher regardless of whether the ball is put in play or not. With a WHIP of .80 in 2019 and 1.11 last year, the walks are not troublesome.

Petit can be signed for one year, at decent money and is worth the flier. The Astros 40-man roster is currently full, though with the amount of juggling they have done recently they can find room for him. Justin Verlander will begin the season on the 60-day injured list, which frees up a spot as well.

Advice to general manager James Click: Sign Yusmeiro Petit.