As per Kevin T. Czerwinski at MLB.com, the Houston Astros have signed right-handed pitcher Alay Soler to a one-year deal. The split deal is worth $400,000 ($12k in minor leagues), and will officially be signed on Monday. Soler will then spend the next 2 weeks in extended Spring Training, and then report to AAA-Round Rock. The Cuban defector won an MVP award in his home country in 2003.

Soler, 28, was originally signed by the New York Mets as a free agent in 2004. The Mets gave him a 3-year deal at the time, worth $2.8 million. However, problems with his visa kept him out of the United States until 2006. In 20 games (8 starts) for the Mets and its affiliates, Soler went 2-3 with a 6.00 ERA. Last spring with the Mets, he was ineffective and released by the team in March. He then briefly signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and was released upon his request in June.

Said Soler’s agent on the signing, “He’s been training like an animal. He’s running seven miles a day and lifting weights. He’s in the same form he was when the Mets signed him. We just wanted an opportunity and [Houston general manager] Ed Wade gave it to him.”

Filed under: Houston Astros, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates