Astros Select Roddery Muñoz, César Salazar

The Astros announced that they have selected right-hander Roddery Muñoz and catcher César Salazar to their roster. They also announced their acquisition of right-hander Evan Reifert, a deal that was previously reported. Reifert has been added to the roster as well. Outfielder Jake Meyers has been outrighted off the roster and will elect free agency. It was reported earlier today that Meyers would be removed from Houston’s 40-man roster.

Houston took Muñoz from Cincinnati in the Rule 5 draft last year, and he held a roster spot with the Astros into the season. However, the team placed Muñoz on outright waivers after a 1 1/3-inning, five-run blowup in his third appearance of the year on April 3. Muñoz went unclaimed, and the Reds didn’t take him back, leaving him to finish the season with the Astros’ Triple-A affiliate. The 26-year-old put up quality production over 53 innings in Sugar Land, where he parlayed a 33.3% strikeout rate and a 53.3% ground-ball mark into a 3.06 ERA.

Muñoz is out of minor league options, meaning he could end up back in limbo sometime in the coming months. The same applies to Salazar, who saw minimal action with the Astros in each of the past four seasons. He temporarily lost his 40-man roster spot when they outrighted him in early June. The 30-year-old is back five months later, and with Christian Vázquez now a free agent, Salazar, starter Yainer Diaz and Collin Price represent the only catchers on the Astros’ 40-man. Known more for his defense, Salazar has only managed a .189/.295/.216 line and a 56 wRC+ over 89 homer-less plate appearances in the majors.