Astros, Happ agree to contract

HOUSTON, TX -- Left-handed pitcher J.A. Happ has agreed to terms on a one-year contract worth 2.35 million, Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow announced today. Happ, who earned 474,000 in 2011, had been eligible for arbitration for the first time in his career. With Happs signing, shortstop Jed Lowrie is now the only unsigned, arbitration-eligible player on the Astros roster. The deadline for clubs and players to exchange salary arbitration figures was today at noon (CT). Happ, 29, finished the 2011 season strongly after a slow start, posting a 2-1 record in his final six starts with a 2.43 ERA (10ER37IP) while allowing just 22 hits in 37.0 innings for a .175 opponents average. For the season, he was 6-15 in 28 starts overall with a 5.35 ERA (93ER156.1IP). For his career, Happ is 25-24 in 88 appearances (72 starts) with a 4.00 ERA (198ER445.1IP), which includes a 9-7 mark in 23 career starts at Minute Maid Park with a 3.99 ERA. Happ, who was the Sporting News NL Rookie of the Year in 2009 (12-4, 2.93 ERA), was acquired by the Astros from Philadelphia on July 29, 2010, as part of the Roy Oswalt deal.