Right-hander Brandon Backe, a local fan favorite as a native of Galveston, signed a $1.55 million, one-year contract that also includes another $1,075,000 in incentive clauses.
Backe is one of the best competitors on the club, and now he and the club must hope he's completely back from the Tommy John surgery and elbow problems that knocked him out for most of the 2006 and 2007 seasons. With the new contract, Backe is given a chance to prove his worth. If he pitches well and continues to merit innings and starts, he'll be rewarded with the incentives in his contract.
This Galveston kid has struggled, but he could be one of the biggest keys for this year.
Backe nearly doubled his base salary of $800,000 earned last year. He was 9-14 with a 6.05 ERA over a career-high 31 starts in 2008.
Backe, 30, likely will start the season as the Astros' No. 5 starter.
