Astros Ink Sampson, Sutton, Towles
HOUSTON, TX - The Houston Astros announced today that three additional players have agreed to terms on one-year contracts with the corresponding Major League values: right-handed pitcher Chris Sampson, $449,000; infielder Drew Sutton, $400,000; and catcher J.R. Towles, $401,500. The announcement was made by General Manager Ed Wade.
Sampson, 30, was 6-4 with a 4.22 ERA (55ER/117.1IP) in a career-high 54 appearances in 2008 for Houston, including 11 starts. In three seasons with Houston since 2006, Sampson is 15-13 with a 4.12 ERA (125ER/273IP) in 90 career appearances, including 33 starts.
Sutton, 25, hit .317 (165x520) with 20 home runs and 69 RBI en route to being named Corpus Christi's 2008 Team MVP. A Texas League midseason and postseason All-Star, Sutton led all Astros minor leaguers in batting average, hits, runs scored (102), walks (76), doubles (39) and extra-base hits (63). In the Arizona Fall League, Sutton hit .315 (34x108) with seven home runs and 24 RBI in 30 games for the Scottsdale Scorpions.
Towles, 25, hit .137 (20x146) with five doubles, four homers and 16 RBI in 54 games during three stints with Houston in 2008. Among all rookie backstops in Astros history, only Mitch Meluskey (14 in 2000), Mark Bailey (9 in 1984) and Eddie Taubensee (5 in 1992) hit more home runs than Towles did in his rookie season.
Sampson, 30, was 6-4 with a 4.22 ERA (55ER/117.1IP) in a career-high 54 appearances in 2008 for Houston, including 11 starts. In three seasons with Houston since 2006, Sampson is 15-13 with a 4.12 ERA (125ER/273IP) in 90 career appearances, including 33 starts.
Sutton, 25, hit .317 (165x520) with 20 home runs and 69 RBI en route to being named Corpus Christi's 2008 Team MVP. A Texas League midseason and postseason All-Star, Sutton led all Astros minor leaguers in batting average, hits, runs scored (102), walks (76), doubles (39) and extra-base hits (63). In the Arizona Fall League, Sutton hit .315 (34x108) with seven home runs and 24 RBI in 30 games for the Scottsdale Scorpions.
Towles, 25, hit .137 (20x146) with five doubles, four homers and 16 RBI in 54 games during three stints with Houston in 2008. Among all rookie backstops in Astros history, only Mitch Meluskey (14 in 2000), Mark Bailey (9 in 1984) and Eddie Taubensee (5 in 1992) hit more home runs than Towles did in his rookie season.