Trying to fill the hole left when third baseman Ty Wigginton wasn't tendered a contract last week, the Astros signed veteran infielder Aaron Boone to a one-year, $750,000 contract Thursday.
The deal, which includes performance bonuses, gives the Astros the chance to have Boone and Geoff Blum share time at third base while allowing prospect Chris Johnson an opportunity to earn the spot out of spring training or later in the 2009 season. A one-time All-Star, the righthanded-hitting Boone, 35, is part of one of Baseball's most accomplished families. His grandfather Ray Boone, father Bob and brother Bret had lengthy careers in the majors.
"We see him factoring in, in the third-base picture," Astros general manager Ed Wade said of Boone. "We can envision a way where he and Geoff share time at third. It gives us another veteran player who is experienced in a lot of different positions and a good bat off the bench, but we also think he can start.
"We're still going to be open-minded with regard to Chris coming to spring training with the potential to win the job. But it behooves us to have all our options available."
With bargains at third base and catcher, it's apparent the Astros won't need to cut more payroll as they cope with the country's economic downturn, according to a National League executive. It appears Miguel Tejada and Jose Valverde will fit in the club's 2009 payroll, along with the club's other big-money players - Roy Oswalt, Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee.
Boone is the latest veteran signed or re-signed this winter by the Astros, joining relievers Doug Brocail and LaTroy Hawkins, veteran lefthanded starter Mike Hampton and outfielder Jason Michaels.
"We've been fortunate here that during the offseason our primary moves have all been veteran players - Hawkins, Brocail, Hampton, Michaels and Boone," Wade said. "Hawkins and Brocail we all know what they're about. People here know what Hampton's all about.
"I can vouch personally for Michaels and his makeup. And I think all you have to look at is genealogy to know what Aaron is all about. I think he's been a solid player everywhere he's been."
Boone, a career .264 hitter over his 11 seasons in the majors, hit .241 last season for Washington while batting .275 against lefthanders.
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BOONE'S CAREER STATISTICS
Year .. Team .. G .. AB .. R .. H .. HR .. RBI .. BB .. SO .. SB .. AVG .. OBP
1997 .. Cin .. 16 .. 49 .. 5 .. 12 .. 0 .. 5 .. 2 .. 5 .. 1 .. .245 .. .275
1998 .. Cin .. 58 .. 181 .. 24 .. 51 .. 2 .. 28 .. 15 .. 36 .. 6 .. .282 .. .350
1999 .. Cin .. 139 .. 472 .. 56 .. 132 .. 14 .. 72 .. 30 .. 79 .. 17 .. .280 .. .330
2000 .. Cin .. 84 .. 291 .. 44 .. 83 .. 12 .. 43 .. 24 .. 52 .. 6 .. .285 .. .356
2001 .. Cin .. 103 .. 381 .. 54 .. 112 .. 14 .. 62 .. 29 .. 71 .. 6 .. .294 .. .351
2002 .. Cin .. 162 .. 606 .. 83 .. 146 .. 26 .. 87 .. 56 .. 111 .. 32 .. .241 .. .314
2003 .. NYY .. 54 .. 189 .. 31 .. 48 .. 6 .. 31 .. 11 .. 30 .. 8 .. .254 .. .302
2003 .. Cin .. 106 .. 403 .. 61 .. 110 .. 18 .. 65 .. 35 .. 74 .. 15 .. .273 .. .339
2004 .. Cle .. Injured - did not play
2005 .. Cle .. 143 .. 511 .. 61 .. 124 .. 16 .. 60 .. 35 .. 92 .. 9 .. .243 .. .299
2006 .. Cle .. 104 .. 354 .. 50 .. 89 .. 7 .. 46 .. 27 .. 62 .. 5 .. .251 .. .314
2007 .. Fla .. 69 .. 189 .. 27 .. 54 .. 5 .. 28 .. 21 .. 41 .. 2 .. .286 .. .388
2008 .. Was .. 104 .. 232 .. 23 .. 56 .. 6 .. 28 .. 18 .. 52 .. 0 .. .241 .. .299
Totals .. .. 1,142 .. 3,858 .. 519 .. 1,017 .. 126 .. 555 .. 303 .. 705 .. 107 .. .264 .. .327
