Shortstop Cedeno finds home with Astros
It didn't take long for eight-year veteran Ronny Cedeno to find a home.
Released by the St. Louis Cardinals last week, the 30-year-old Cedeno and the Houston Astros on Sunday agreed on a one-year contract. The Astros immediately told Tyler Greene, who had been battling for the shortstop job, that he no longer was in the team's plans and that they would try to trade him, according mlb.com
The Astros inserted Cedeno into the lineup on Sunday against the Miami Marlins. He tripled as the Astros won, 4-1
"I'm very excited to be here," Cedeno said. "I can be an everyday player and that's very important. It's kind of frustrating because I got released in St. Louis but they pushed me to get here and I have an opportunity, so now I'm going to enjoy it the best I can."
Cedeno batted .258 in 78 games for the New York Mets last year. The Astros will be looking for him to provide solid defense and leadership for one of the league's youngest teams.
Greene, 29, had an opportunity to be the starter after being acquired by the Astros from the Cardinals on waivers last year when he hit .246 with seven homers in 39 games. But this spring he struggled hitting .167.
"(Cedeno) is defensively very, very good and with our young pitching staff, our ground-ball staff, we felt we needed a reliable defensive player that could help the pitchers," said Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow. "The last thing we want to do is extend innings by not being able to make plays. Ronny is also a Major League hitter, and I think he's going to give us an opportunity to produce some runs from that position as well."
