Astros Crawfish Boil: November 23, 2022

Nov 23, 2022 - 2:00 PM

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It’s Today’s Crawfish Boil

Astros News

Astros receive largest postseason shares in MLB history at $516,437 each (CBSsports.com)

Houston Astros reportedly show free agency interest in former MVP (chron.com)

Justin Verlander Named AL Comeback Player of the Year (si.com)

Houston Astros utility player Mauricio Dubon and wife Nancy take post-World Series trip to London (abc13.com)

Houston Astros Sign Machado to Minor League Contract with Spring Training Invite (si.com)

Five Former Houston Astros Land on Hall of Fame Ballot (si.com)

Astros Starter Javier Receives His Own World Series Parade in Dominican Republic (si.com)

FOCO Launches New Houston Astros Orbit Holiday Bobblehead (si.com)

MLB News

Blue Jays’ Alek Manoah: Yankees’ Gerrit Cole is ‘worst cheater’ in baseball history (CBSsports.com)

MLB rumors: Aaron Judge to meet with Giants this week; Yankees check in on Jacob deGrom (CBSsports.com)

MLB Players Most Likely to Be Dangled in Trade Chatter (bleacherreport.com)

MLB world reacts to Aaron Judge SF Giants news (msn.com)

MLB Finds No Collusion Between Yankees, Mets Regarding Aaron Judge’s Free Agency (yardbarker.com)

MLB offseason doesn’t need to be an interminable slog (NBCsports.com)

MLB Rumour Roundup: Blue Jays among teams interested in Bellinger after non-tender (sportsnet.ca (you can tell it’s a Canadian website because of the way they spelled “rumors,” and it’s about the Blue Jays)).

Oops! All Astros: Jose Nodal

Jose Nodal is a six-foot-three, 195 lb. left-handed pitcher from Cienfuegos, Cuba. Born on July 15, 2002, Nodal signed his first professional contract with the Astros on March 15, 2019. The 2022 season was Nodal’s third at Houston’s rookie level.

Nodal opened 2022 with the FCL Astros Orange Squad, one of two stateside companions to the two DSL Astros affiliates. He pitched in 14 games for the Oranges, including five starts. In his first appearance, he came in as a reliever to pitch the third, and completed the game. He pitched seven innings and struck out 10, earning the win and allowing two runs on three hits and two walks in a 4-2 win over the FCL Mets on June 7.

On June 25, Nodal started and pitched five scoreless innings, striking out four and allowing three hits in a 6-0 blanking of the FCL Nationals. On July 21, in a 4-3 win over the FCL Mets, he earned a win by pitching four scoreless innings, allowing one hit and two walks while whiffing seven. On August 13, he pitched four shutout one-hit innings, walking one and striking out five in a 1-0 loss to the FCL Marlins.

Nodal’s first two rookie seasons were underwhelming, but he put it all together in 2022. He was 5-3 with a 3.18 ERA over a team-second 51 innings. He struck out 53 and walked 21, finishing with a 1.255 WHIP and an opposing slashline of .230/.319/.353. He was also hard to steal on, allowing only four-of-nine runners to find success taking a freebie. He should begin next season with the Low-A Fayetteville Woodpeckers.