Astros sign LHP Erik Bedard to Minor League deal

HOUSTON -- The Astros have signed veteran left-handed pitcher Erik Bedard to a Minor League contract, general manager Jeff Luhnow announced today. The deal includes an invitation to Spring Training as a non-roster player.

Bedard, 33, has posted a 3.85 ERA in 192 career Major League appearances (189 starts), posting a 63-64 record with 1,044 strikeouts in 1,077 innings pitched. He has pitched for the Orioles, Mariners, Red Sox and Pirates in his career.

Over a four-year period (2006-09), Bedard was one of the most effective left-handed starters in the American League, ranking third in winning pct. with a 39-23 (.629)  record and second in ERA (3.40) among southpaws in that span before being slowed by injuries.

In 2007, he was 13-5 for the Orioles with a 3.16 ERA and a .212 opponents average, allowing just 141 hits in 182 innings. In July of ‘07, he earned AL Pitcher of the Month honors after posting a 5-0 mark with a 2.21 ERA while posting a .140 opponents average (19 hits in 40.2 IP). On July 7, 2007 at Texas, Bedard matched Mike Mussina’s Orioles record with 15 strikeouts while facing the minimum 27 batters in a 3-0, two-hit complete game. His 15 K’s are a ML record for a Canadian-born pitcher.

Most recently, Bedard spent the 2012 season as a member of the Pirates rotation, making 24 starts. In his career, Bedard has been his club’s Opening Day starter three times, including for Pittsburgh in 2012.