Astros to sign right-hander Jesse Crain

Right-handed pitcher Jesse Crain and the Houston Astros have come to an agreement on a one-year deal, the team announced Tuesday. Financial terms and details of the deal between the sides are currently unknown. 

Crain, 32, was originally drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 2002 First Year Player Draft from the University of Houston. Although he has battled injuries throughout his entire career,  he has posted a career 3.05 ERA and a 1.231 WHIP. Crain has posted career lows in ERA over the past three seasons while being nominated for an All Star appearance in 2013. 

The right hander went 2-3 with a fantastic 0.74 ERA and a 1.145 WHIP with the Chicago White Sox, setting career-highs in both of those marks. He tied a career high with a 11.3 SO/9 rate while posting the third-lowest BB/9 rate of his career (2.7). Crain's 2013 campaign was shortened by injuries; he was only able to appear in 38 games (36.2 IP). He was sent to Tampa Bay midseason, but did not appear in a single game with the Rays. 

Crain had surgery during the offseason, and while he may be battling for the closers job in Houston, there still isn't a guarantee that he will be ready for action on the first day of camp. If Crain is able to remain healthy during the entire season, the Astros will have found a gem for a very low price. As they continue to rebuild this offseason, the Astros add another low-risk, high-reward signing to a team that looks to be much improved in 2014.