ANAHEIM -- With three shortstops on the injured list, the Astros took a step to address their lack of depth at the position Wednesday by acquiring Minor League infielder Raynel Delgado from the Rays in exchange for cash. Delgado will report to Triple-A Sugar Land.
Delgado, a left-handed hitter, was slashing .250/.320/.362 with three homers, 33 RBIs and 24 steals at Triple-A Durham, with games at third base, shortstop and second base. He was drafted in the sixth round by Cleveland in 2018.
The Astros placed infielder Nick Allen on the 10-day injured list on Monday with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, an injury that’s not expected to keep him out long term. Infielder Braden Shewmake went on the 10-day IL on June 2 with a right adductor strain and is rehabbing in West Palm Beach, Fla.
And Carlos Correa underwent surgery to repair the tendon in his left ankle May 11 and is out for the season. Correa entered the season as Houston’s starting third baseman, but played mostly at shortstop this year while starting shortstop Jeremy Peña missed a little more than a month with a hamstring strain.
Shay Whitcomb, who was called up from Sugar Land when Allen went on the IL, spelled Peña at shortstop in the final innings of Tuesday’s loss to the Angels, but it’s clear the Astros need more options at the position.