Astros Re-Sign Nelson Velázquez

The Astros re-signed outfielder Nelson Velázquez on a new major league deal, the team informed reporters (including Chandler Rome of The Athletic). Infielder Ray Delgado was optioned back to Triple-A Sugar Land to open an MLB roster spot. Houston already had an opening on the 40-man roster after dropping Velázquez last week.

This just reverses a move the Astros made on Thursday. They recalled Delgado as an extra infielder while Jeremy Peña was day to day after being hit by a pitch. Velázquez was the last man on the bench and is out of minor league options, so Houston had to place him on waivers. He went unclaimed and elected free agency yesterday.

Peña missed two games but returned to the starting lineup on Saturday. The Astros evidently feel comfortable enough with his health to send Delgado back out and bring Velázquez back as right-handed outfield depth. The move didn’t have huge implications in the long run, but the Astros were short a righty bat for the final two games of their weekend series against the Athletics. The A’s ran lefty Jacob Lopez on Saturday in a game Velázquez likely would’ve started. Houston had to plug LaMonte Wade Jr. in there against the southpaw instead. Wade went 1-3 in an eventual 4-3 loss.

The 27-year-old Velázquez has played in three games as an Astro since they claimed him off waivers from the Cardinals on August 10. He’s 0-4 with a sacrifice fly in five plate appearances. Velázquez got into 34 games with St. Louis over two and a half months on their roster. He’s hitting .205/.273/.410 with four homers in his first big league action since 2024.