Houston Astros sign Matt Albers

Aug 17, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Matt Albers (32) pitches the ball against the Oakland Athletics during the ninth inning at O.co Coliseum. The Cleveland Indians defeated the Oakland Athletics 7-1. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

In a surprising twist, the Houston Astros are actually paying another veteran relief pitcher a decent amount of money to play for their team next season.

According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the Astros have agreed to a one-year, $2.45 million deal with Matt Albers. There is also a club option for the 2015 season worth a reported $3 million.

This is all, of course, pending a physical.

The Astros have already agreed to a two-year, $6 million deal with Chad Qualls with a club option worth $3.5 million for a third season.

Albers will make “$2.25 in 2014,” and has a “$3M option or $200K buyout in ’15,” according to Rosenthall.

Albers is a native of Houston and chose to sign with his home town team rather than continue to seek a mulityear deal that he reportedly desired.

Albers went 3-1 with a 3.14 ERA in 63.0 innings for the Cleveland Indians last season. He pitched for both the Boston Red Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks over the two seasons prior. He decided to rejoin Terry Francona, his manager in 2011, in 2013.

Over his career, Albers is 25-31 with a 4.49 ERA, but has put together two solid seasons in a row.

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