Dusty a draw for outfield candidate Brinson

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The opportunity to play for manager Dusty Baker, as well as to be part of a winning culture, is what helped draw outfielder Lewis Brinson to the Astros this offseason. He signed a Minor League deal with an invitation to Spring Training on March 13 and is battling for a spot on the Opening Day roster.

“Honestly, I just wanted to play for Dusty,” Brinson said. “He’s a legend in the game. He managed some of the greatest players in the game, and I wanted to pick his brain and be a part of his team.”

• Baker surprised by son Darren during lineup exchange

Brinson, 27, played the past four seasons with the Marlins after breaking into the big leagues with the Brewers in 2017. He spent time in the offseason the past two years working out with Alex Bregman. Brinson spent a week in the Houston area each month in the winter to hit with the Astros’ third baseman.

“I played against him in the Minor Leagues [in Double-A] when he was in Corpus [Christi] and I was in Frisco,” Brinson said. “We kind of linked up then, and I hit with him in the offseason the last two years and he taught me a lot. Cleaned up my swing a little bit and just gives good advice. He’s a good guy. I like being around him and picking his brain. I’m glad I’m on this team.”

Brinson got a taste of the playoff with the Marlins in 2020 and appreciates the winning culture in Houston.

“It’s the Astros, man,” he said. “Definitely was a team once I became a free agent that I was eyeing. I definitely wanted to be part of a winning culture and knew some of the guys, so I wanted to come over here and be a part of that.”

Brinson, a career .199 hitter, started in left field Tuesday against the Mets and will play all three outfield spots this spring. He says he’s most comfortable in center, which is where there could be some opportunity to play because Jake Meyers will be on the injured list to start the season because of a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

“Anywhere Dusty wants to put me,” Brinson said. “I’ll play anywhere.”

Astros reach arb deals with 6
The Astros agreed to terms with all six of their players who were eligible for salary arbitration: infielder/outfielder Aledmys Díaz; right-handers Josh James, Phil Maton, Rafael Montero and Ryne Stanek; and left-hander Framber Valdez.

Díaz and Montero were arbitration-eligible for the third time and can become free agents after the ’22 season. Maton and Stanek were second-year arb eligible, while Valdez and James were both arb eligible for the first time. According to a source, Díaz will make $4.45 million, Montero will make $2.725 million, Maton will make $1.55 million, Stanek will make $2.1 million, Valdez will make $3 million and James will make $800,000.