In news first broken by the Houston Chronicle's Zachary Levine, the Astros agreed to terms on a one year deal with right-handed reliever Alberto Arias. The contract will be worth a little under $440,000.
Arias, 27, was out for the entirety of the 2010 season after undergoing right shoulder surgery. In 2009, he had an ERA of 3.35 and a 2.05 K/BB ratio in 45 2/3rds innings for the Astros. The Astros will give Arias a look (along with many other pitchers) in their bullpen during spring training.
On Sunday, Arias said that his shoulder was not feeling well, as mentioned by The Examiner's Stephen Goff:
"In the Dominican I felt very good, and I went to Houston two weeks ago and threw bullpens and felt 100 percent," Arias told the Houston Chronicle on Sunday. "Now I don't feel very good."
The Astros have handled Arias very lightly thus far, giving him more days off than most pitchers get in camp. While there are probably scenarios where he breaks camp with the Astros, the shoulder problems and the sheer volume of relievers in camp probably point to Arias making a rehab assignment before he pitches for the big league club this season.