The Astros agreed to a Minor League contract on Thursday with veteran left-handed pitcher Wandy Rodriguez, a source told MLB.com. The club has not confirmed the deal, which includes an invitation to Spring Training.
Rodriguez, 37, signed with the Braves last winter, but he was released before Opening Day. The Rangers picked him up, and in his first 10 starts for Texas, Rodriguez posted a 3.03 ERA while setting a club record by retiring 34 consecutive hitters over a two-start stretch in May.
But Rodriguez allowed 27 earned runs on 50 hits over 27 innings in his next seven games (five starts) and was released again on Aug. 4. He then signed with the Royals and made five relief appearances for Triple-A Omaha, but never got up to Kansas City.
By signing with the Astros, Rodriguez would be returning to the organization that signed him originally, as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 1999. Rodriguez debuted for Houston in 2005, and he pitched there until he was traded to Pittsburgh in July 2012.
During his time with the Astros, Rodriguez went 80-84 with a 4.04 ERA over 227 games (218 starts). He ranks 10th in franchise history for most games started.