1. 新聞來源：
mlbtraderumors
2. 新聞標題：
Astros Sign Hector Rondon
3. 新聞內容：
By Steve Adams | December 15, 2017 at 2:11pm CDT
The Astros have inked free-agent righty Hector Rondon to a two-year, $8.5MM
pact. Rondon, an Octagon client, was non-tendered by the Cubs earlier this
month. Now, he’s lined up for successive $4MM and $4.5MM salaries in
Houston, where he’ll represent an arm with closing experience to help
fortify the back of the bullpen.
Rondon, 30 in February, saved 77 games with a 2.44 ERA, 9.3 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9
with the Cubs fro 2014-16. He initially lost the closer’s role in Chicago
through little fault of his own, as he was bumped from that spot when Chicago
acquired Aroldis Chapman from the Yankees prior to the 2016 non-waiver trade
deadline.
The 2017 season was Rondon’s worst since the 2013 campaign (when he was a
Rule 5 pick out of the Indians organization), as he turned in a 4.24 ERA with
a 3.1 BB/9 mark — both his highest levels since that rookie season. However,
Rondon also logged a career-high 10.8 K/9 and 29.1 percent overall strikeout
rate in 2017 while maintaining excellent fastball velocity (average of 96.4
mph) and an above-average ground-ball rate (48.3 percent).
Like many pitchers throughout the league, Rondon has become increasingly
susceptible to home runs across the past two seasons, averaging 1.5 HR/9
despite being extremely stingy in that regard throughout the first three
seasons of his career. His increased vulnerability to the long ball obviously
made the uptick in walks this past season all the more damning, though
metrics like xFIP (3.43) and SIERA (3.20) remained generally bullish on his
abilities.
Houston has already reportedly added to its supply of late-inning arms by
striking a deal for sidearm righty Joe Smith, and Rondon will give them
another option to pair with the likes of Ken Giles, Chris Devenski and Will
Harris in the late innings. Giles, who served as the team’s closer
throughout the season, struggled in the playoffs, though the addition of
Rondon wouldn’t seem to supplant him from that ninth-inning role. If Giles’
struggles carry over into the 2018 campaign, though, Rondon would certainly
be a plausible alternative for manager A.J. Hinch to get the final few outs
of a game, given his extensive experience in Chicago.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported the signing on Twitter. Rosenthal (in
a tweet), SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo (via Twitter), and Jon Heyman of Fan Rag
(via Twitter) had contract details.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
4. 新聞連結：
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/12/astros-sign-hector-rondon.html
5. 備註：
1. 太空人以$8.5MM/2YR簽下現年29歲的Hector Rondon，明後年薪水分別是$4MM及$4.5MM
，預計是協助分擔後段局數的工作。
2. 小熊隊在2012年從印地安人以規則五選秀選入Hector Rondon，2014年至2016年一度擔
任球隊的終結者，去年球季因為投的跌跌撞撞而被調離現職，由從洋基交易過來的Aroldis
Chapman接任。
3. 今年球季是Rondon新人年以來投的最差的一季(4.24 ERA與3.1 BB/9)，球季結束後小熊
也未與他續約而成為自由球員。然而，他也投出生涯新高的10.8 K/9與29.1%的三振率，
直球均速仍是夠水準的96.4 mph。
4. 相對於生涯前三年不易挨轟的特性，過去這兩個球季他HR/9是1.5；另一方面，雖然他
因為保送過多與長打率過高，常造成大量失分的危機，但就進階數據來分析，xFIP(3.43
)、SIERA (3.20)都顯示出他未來仍大有可為。
5. 明年球季太空人隊的牛棚陣容預測：
A. CL：Ken Giles。(文章指出若Giles投的像WS掙扎，Hinch說不定會借重Rondon的經驗)
B. SU：Chris Devenski、Will Harris。
C. RP：Joe Smith、Hector Rondon、Michael Feliz、Tony Sipp(L)、Francis Martes
、James Hoyt。
6. Hector Rondon今年球季在小熊隊的成績表現：
ERA HLD SV SVO IP SO HR BB FIP WHIP
4.24 10 0 3 57.1 69 10 20 4.12 1.221