Free agent starting pitcher Doug Fister and the Houston Astros have agreed to terms on a one-year contract that will pay Fister $7 million plus incentives that can boost its total value to $12 million.
The 31-year-old righty was 5-7 with a 4.19 ERA and 1.398 WHIP in 25 games last season, with only 15 of them being starts.
This is a good gamble for the Astros as Fister is only two years removed from a 2014 season in which he was 16-6 with a 2.41 ERA for the Nationals and ultimately finished 8th in National League Cy Young voting.
A consistent performer, Fister has a career record of 65-63 with a 3.42 ERA.
While his average fastball speed has been declining over the past few seasons, there’s no questioning his control. Fister’s career 1.77 walks per 9.0 innings ratio is the best mark among all active Major League pitchers who have at least 1000 innings pitched.
He’s also a player who steps up when the postseason rolls around. In 9 postseason games, he carries a career 2.60 ERA, which puts him fourth among active Major League pitchers behind only RHP Matt Cain, LHP Madison Bumgarner and RHP Colby Lewis.
Because the Nationals didn’t give Fister a qualifying offer, the Astros will not have to surrender a draft pick.
- TAGS
- Doug Fister
- Houston Astros
- Washington Nationals
