Greeneville Astros Added to 40-Man Roster

HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros announced that they have purchased the contracts of right-handed pitchers Samuel Gervacio and Brad James adding the players to the club's 40-man roster. Both players previously played for the Greeneville Astros and join Juan Gutierrez, Troy Patton, Felipe Paulino, and J.R. Towles as former Greeneville Astros currently on the roster. In addition, right-handed pitcher Chad Reineke was also added to the club's 40-man roster. The club also announced that the Pittsburgh Pirates were awarded the contract of RHP Jimmy Barthmaier on an irrevocable waiver claim, removing him from the 40-man roster. The announcements were made by General Manager Ed Wade.

Gervacio, 22, was 1-3 with a team-high 18 saves and 2.44 ERA (15ER/55.1IP), including 80 strikeouts in 39 games for Class A Salem last season. He was named a 2007 Carolina League All-Star. Gervacio finished the season at Double A Corpus Christi, where he was 3-2 with a 1.99 ERA (5ER/22.2IP) in 13 games.

James, 23, split the 2007 season between Salem and Corpus Christi and finished the season 1-5 with a 5.17 ERA (27ER/47IP) in nine games (all starts) for the Corpus Christi Hooks. The Carolina League All-Star played 16 games for the Salem Avalanche and was 9-2 with a league-best 1.98 ERA (21ER/95.2IP).

Reineke, 25, posted a 4.68 ERA (52ER/100IP) with a 5-5 record in 32 games (16 starts) for the Round Rock Express in 2007.

Barthmaier, 23, was 2-9 with a 6.20 ERA (62ER/90IP) in 24 games (16 starts) for the Corpus Christi Hooks last season. The right-hander earned South Atlantic League All-Star and postseason All-Star honors while posting a 2.27 ERA (34ER/134.2IP) in 2005.

The Houston Major League roster now stands at 34 players.