--INF David Newhan signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, and he's in great position to earn a spot on the Opening Day 25-man roster. The journeyman Newhan, 35, made a solid impression last year while hitting .260 (27-for-104) with two home runs and 12 RBI over 64 games after he was promoted from Class AAA Round Rock.
--RHP Roy Oswalt, the Astros' ace, says he has started throwing three weeks ahead of schedule this year to prepare for the World Baseball Classic. "I cut off some of the heavy lifting this year and have thrown more," he said. "Normally I don't start throwing until mid-January, but this year I started in December to get ready for the WBC." --Astros assistant GM Bobby Heck started the 2009 scouting season by attending a showcase of talent in Puerto Rico on Wednesday.
--LHP Andy Pettitte's signing with the New York Yankees was a severe blow to the hopes of Lance Berkman and ace Roy Oswalt, who had hoped against hope that Astros owner Drayton McLane would offer Pettitte a contract.
--LHP Wandy Rodriguez, who signed a one-year, $2.6 million contract, will likely be the Astros' No. 2 starter. GM Ed Wade hopes the young lefty will continue improving. "I think Wandy has turned significant corners over the past couple of seasons," Wade said. "Had it not been for the side muscle issues, he would have put up some fairly significant numbers for us. I don't think those issues will be ongoing, but I do believe that the performance trend will continue."
BY THE NUMBERS: 5 -- Number of the Astros' top prospects who will attend major league camp as non-roster invitees, the most young true prospects the club will have in camp as non-roster invitees in memory.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's a learning experience to face some top-level competition and to learn from the guys that have been there ahead of me and take whatever advice they have and grow as a player and prepare for this season and improve my chances in moving up through the organization." -- C Jason Castro, the Astros' No. 1 pick, 10th overall, in the 2008 June draft, on attending spring training as a non-roster invitee.
