The Astros, who prioritized offense at the trade deadline and entered August with a 3.65 team ERA (11th in MLB), made two roster moves on Thursday to tweak their pitching staff before a weekend series in New York. Right-hander Nick Hernandez was optioned to Triple-A and righty Luis Contreras was designated for assignment, opening a spot on both the 26- and 40-man rosters. To fill the 40-man vacancy, Houston signed veteran reliever Enyel De Los Santos to a major-league contract; he is expected to join the club in New York on Friday.
De Los Santos, 29, was recently designated for assignment by Atlanta, cleared waivers and elected free agency before signing with Houston. He appeared in 43 games for the Braves this season, posting a 3-3 record with a 4.53 ERA across 43.2 innings, allowing 39 hits, 22 earned runs (including two homers), and 18 walks while recording 38 strikeouts. Opponents have hit .231 against him with a .655 OPS. Because De Los Santos is out of minor-league options, he will need to stay on the active roster and perform to remain in the big-league bullpen.
Contreras, also 29, will pass through waivers and could be claimed by another club. His big-league results this year were rough — a 6.75 ERA across nine appearances — though he posted a much better 3.34 ERA in 18 relief outings at Triple-A Sugar Land. Hernandez returns to Triple-A as the club manages short-term roster needs and depth.
Why this move makes sense
– Houston’s bullpen has been a strength (3.34 ERA, third-best in MLB, and 34 saves), so the club didn’t feel compelled to chase high-profile arms at the deadline. These smaller roster adjustments are low-cost ways to look for incremental help and depth as the season moves toward September.
– Signing De Los Santos gives the Astros an experienced arm who can be evaluated immediately against major-league competition. With no minor-league options remaining, he’ll have to earn and keep a role, which brings clarity to the roster.
– Contreras’ Triple-A success suggests there’s still a chance for him to catch on elsewhere; being DFA’d can lead to a fresh opportunity with a club that needs bullpen depth.
Additional comments and what to watch
– Performance and health: De Los Santos’ fastball velocity, strikeout rate and command will be key indicators of whether he can rediscover the form that kept him in a big-league bullpen this season.
– Roster flexibility: Optioning Hernandez preserves in-house depth while the team evaluates matchups and bullpen usage down the stretch.
– Opportunity: For De Los Santos, joining a consistently strong bullpen environment could help him stabilize results; for Contreras, a change of scenery might revive his big-league prospects if claimed.
Short summary
The Astros cleared roster space Thursday by optioning Nick Hernandez and designating Luis Contreras for assignment, then signed veteran reliever Enyel De Los Santos to a major-league deal. De Los Santos will join the team in New York; he’ll need to perform immediately because he has no minor-league options. The moves aim to bolster bullpen depth without disrupting a relief corps that’s been one of MLB’s best this year.
Hopeful angle
This is a low-risk move that gives the Astros an experienced bullpen arm and creates opportunities for players who have shown Triple-A success to reset. If De Los Santos can regain consistent command, the addition could strengthen an already strong relief group for the stretch run, while Contreras might find renewed opportunity elsewhere.