Astros, pitcher Fister agree to 1-year-deal

A.J. Hinch, Doug Fister, Jeff Luhnow

The Houston Astros and free agent right-handed pitcher Doug Fister have agreed to terms on a one-year contract through the 2016 season, Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow announced on Thursday.

Fister, 31, has started 167 games (180 total appearances) over the course of his seven-year Major League career, posting a 65-63 record and a 3.42 ERA (413ER/1085.2IP). Over the last five seasons, the right-hander ranks 15th in the Majors in ERA (3.42) and has recorded an ERA below 3.70 in four of those five seasons. Fister’s career 1.77 walks per 9.0 innings ratio (213BB/1085.2IP) is the best mark among all active Major League pitchers with at least 1000 innings pitched.

Fister has spent the last two seasons with the Washington Nationals, including a 2014 season in which he finished eighth in the National League Cy Young Award voting after going 16-6 with a 2.41 ERA (44ER/164IP). Last season, he made 25 appearances (15 starts) for the club, going 5-7 with a 4.19 ERA (48ER/103IP).

Fister also carries a tremendous track record in the postseason, as his career 2.60 ERA (16ER/55.1IP) in nine postseason games (8 starts) with Detroit (2011-13) and Washington (2014) ranks fourth among active Major League pitchers behind only RHP Matt Cain, LHP Madison Bumgarner and RHP Colby Lewis.

With the addition of Fister, the Astros will have 61 players at Major League camp in Spring Training (31 pitchers, 30 position players), including 39 on the 40-man roster. The Astros will have 22 non-roster invitees. The report dates for Spring Training are Feb. 18 for pitchers and catchers, and Feb. 22 for position players.