Velazquez was released by the Astros on Thursday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Velazquez pitched well for Triple-A Sugar Land this year and posted a 1.46 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 24.2 innings across 14 appearances (two starts). However, the right-hander is slated to play for Mexico during the Olympics, and he'll be let go by Houston following a successful start to the year. It's not yet clear whether Velazquez could land another contract once he returns from Tokyo.
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Astros' Hector Velazquez: Sent down by Astros
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Velazquez was reassigned to minor-league camp Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Velazquez missed time in early March due to COVID-19 protocols and made three spring appearances for the Astros. He posted a 2.70 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 3.1 innings but should begin the regular season with Triple-A Sugar Land.
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Astros' Hector Velazquez: Makes spring debut
Rotowire
Velazquez (COVID-19 protocols) made his Grapefruit League debut Sunday, tossing a scoreless ninth inning in the Astros' 5-0 win over the Nationals. He struck out two and worked around a hit and a walk.
Velazquez missed a handful of workouts while waiting to clear COVID-19 protocols, but his brief absence from camp shouldn't affect his readiness for Opening Day. Even so, the 32-year-old is on the outside looking in for a spot in the Houston bullpen due to his status as a non-roster invitee.
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Astros' Hector Velazquez: Away from camp
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Manager Dusty Baker said Friday that Velazquez is away from the team due the league's health and safety protocols, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Velazquez has yet to appear in any spring games and will be unavailable until cleared to return to the team facility.
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Astros' Hector Velazquez: Traded to Astros
Rotowire
Velazquez was traded from the Orioles to the Astros on Wednesday in exchange for a player to be named later, Jon Meoli of The Baltimore Sun reports.
It says something about how decimated the Astros pitching staff is at the moment that the team elected to acquire a pitcher who was deemed dispensable by the lowly Orioles. The 31-year-old struggled to a 5.43 ERA in 56.1 innings for the Red Sox last season, striking out just 19.9 percent of opposing batters while walking 11.4 percent. Velazquez had been previously outrighted off the Orioles' 40-man roster, but the Astros likely didn't acquire him without the intention to use him; therefore, he'll presumably see his contract selected by his new team soon.
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Orioles' Hector Velazquez: Outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
Velazquez cleared waivers, was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk and was also removed from the Orioles 60-man pool Friday.
The 31-year-old was sent to the team's alternate training site earlier in camp, but he now finds himself off the roster entirely. Velazquez made 34 appearances for the O's last season and had a 5.43 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 49:28 K:BB over 56.1 innings.
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Orioles' Hector Velazquez: Sent to alternative camp site
Rotowire
The Orioles have optioned Velazquez from their big-league summer camp site to their alternative site in Bowie, Jon Meoli of The Baltimore Sun reports.
The move seemingly implies that Velazquez is no longer in the mix for a bullpen job with the Orioles as part of their 30-man Opening Day roster. Velazquez's prior experience working as both a starter and reliever with the Red Sox could allow him to get a look from the big club at some point in 2020 when injuries inevitably strike the Baltimore pitching staff.
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Orioles' Hector Velazquez: Claimed by Baltimore
Rotowire
Velazquez was claimed off waivers by the Orioles on Sunday.
The 31-year-old was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on Thursday, but he'll be remaining in the AL East. Velazquez had a 5.43 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 49:28 K:BB in 34 appearances (eight starts) during 2019, and the Orioles are intending to utilize him as a long reliever, per Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com.
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Red Sox's Hector Velazquez: Dropped from 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Red Sox designated Velazquez for assignment Thursday.
The transaction opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for Collin McHugh (elbow), whom the Red Sox signed to a one-year deal. With Chris Sale (elbow) slated to begin the season on the injured list, Velazquez had been one of several candidates for a back-end spot in Boston's Opening Day rotation. His removal from the roster likely leaves Ryan Weber, Chris Mazza and Matt Hall as the primary contenders for the two rotation spots that will be open until McHugh and Sale are ready to fill them.
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Red Sox's Hector Velazquez: Returns from Triple-A
Rotowire
The Red Sox recalled Velazquez from Triple-A Pawtucket ahead of Sunday's 4-3 win over the Angels. He tossed a scoreless seventh inning and secured his first hold of the season in the outing.
Velazquez was one of six pitchers to take the hill for Boston in what amounted to a bullpen day with starter David Price (wrist) pulled after 45 pitches in his return from the injured list. Entering play Sunday, Velazquez owned a 5.81 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over 26 outings (eight starts) with the big club, so one solid relief appearance won't be enough for him to earn a prominent role in the bullpen.
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Red Sox's Hector Velazquez: Sent back to Triple-A
Rotowire
Velazquez was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday.
Boston will trade pitching for hitting, summoning Chris Owings in a corresponding move. Velazquez gave up three runs (two earned) in one inning Saturday against the Angels. He could return to the majors the next time Boston needs a fresh arm.
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Red Sox's Hector Velazquez: Recalled to majors
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Velazquez was recalled to the majors Thursday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
David Price (wrist) was placed on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. Velazquez will look to find success in a struggling Red Sox bullpen that owns a 4.46 ERA. The 30-year-old right-hander has posted a 1-4 record with a 5.67 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and a 44:21 K:BB across 46 innings.
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Red Sox's Hector Velazquez: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Velazquez was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday.
The Red Sox need a fresh arm in the bullpen following Sunday's extra-innings loss. Velazquez hasn't pitched well enough to keep his spot, with a 5.67 ERA on the season and a 6.75 ERA over his last seven outings. Ryan Weber was recalled in a corresponding move.
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Red Sox's Hector Velazquez: Allows three runs in short start
Rotowire
Velazquez did not factor into the decision against Toronto on Thursday, completing 2.1 innings and giving up three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out one batter.
Making his eighth start of the season, Velazquez was once again given a short leash as he recorded only seven outs while throwing 50 pitches. The abbreviated outing was by design -- the Red Sox have prevented him from facing batters a third time through the order in each of his starts -- but he did little to earn more trust, allowing seven of the 14 batters he faced to reach base. With Boston looking to fill the fifth starter spot there is a chance that Velazquez will be given additional starts, but he will need to improve upon his 5.65 ERA and 1.40 WHIP to earn a consistent spot in the rotation.
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Red Sox's Hector Velazquez: Confirmed for Thursday's start
Rotowire
Velazquez is scheduled to start Thursday's series finale at Toronto, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
The Red Sox previously indicated Velazquez was the likely starter for Thursday and confirmed he'll take the mound following Wednesday's loss. The 30-year-old has a 6.41 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 15:11 K:BB in his seven starts this season, covering 19.2 innings.
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Red Sox's Hector Velazquez: Likely to start Thursday
Rotowire
Velazquez is the likely starter for Thursday's series finale in Toronto, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
The Red Sox are considering the makeup of the rotation following two recent bits of news: Brian Johnson (infection) is out indefinitely and Nathan Eovaldi (elbow) is expected to be the team's closer upon his return. That leaves the fifth starter's spot open, with Velazquez being considered for the job. "We're leaning towards Hector doing that for us on Thursday," president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told reporters in Toronto. "He has done that for us in the past. We feel comfortable." Another option being considered is having Steven Wright start every fifth day, either as a traditional starter or in shorter outings in which the bullpen will be heavily relied upon.
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Red Sox's Hector Velazquez: Activated from IL
Rotowire
Velazquez (back) was activated from the injured list prior to Saturday's game against the Yankees, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
He traveled with the team to London, so this move is not a surprise. Look for Velazquez to offer some length out of the bullpen initially, but he could move to the rotation for a start next week in Detroit. Brian Johnson was placed on the injured list in a corresponding move.
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Red Sox's Hector Velazquez: Traveling to London
Rotowire
Velazquez (back) will travel to London with the Red Sox this weekend, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
Velazquez threw 20 pitches to Mitch Moreland (quadriceps) in a simulated game Wednesday and said he felt "really good" afterward. If the right-hander checks out OK in the coming days, it sounds like he could be activated ahead of Saturday's series opener against the Yankees in London after a minimum stay on the shelf.
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Red Sox's Hector Velazquez: Returns to injured list
Rotowire
Velazquez was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a lower-back strain, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Velazquez had only just returned from a stint on the injured list due to the same issue two days prior. He allowed one run in four innings in his lone appearance Tuesday against the Twins before exiting with a recurrence of the injury. It's not clear how long he's expected to miss this time, though the previous issue kept him out for two and a half weeks. Josh Smith was recalled to take his place in the bullpen.
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Red Sox's Hector Velazquez: Exits with undisclosed injury
Rotowire
Velazquez left Tuesday's loss to Minnesota in the 17th inning due to an undisclosed injury, according to the Twins television broadcast. He had given up one run over four innings with three strikeouts before departing.
Velazquez was warming up for the 17th inning, but couldn't continue and had to leave the game. Brian Johnson replaced him in the game and took the loss. Velazquez may have suffered a recurrence of the back issues that kept him out for several weeks, as he had just returned from the IL on Monday.
