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 The Houston Astros announced today that the club has signed right-handed pitcher Geoff Geary and left-handed pitcher Wandy Rodriguez to one-year contracts. Geary will earn $1.7 million plus incentives, while Rodriguez will make $2.6 million, plus incentives. The announcement was made by General Manager Ed Wade.
Geary, 32, went 2-3 with a career-best 2.53 ERA (18ER/64IP) in 55 appearances in his first season with the Astros in 2008. A veteran of six Major League seasons, Geary has gone 15-7 with a 3.67 ERA (135ER/331.1IP) in 271 games with Philadelphia (2003-07) and Houston (2008). Rodriguez, 30, posted a 9-7 record and a 3.54 ERA (54ER/137.1IP) in 25 starts for Houston last season. Since his rookie season in 2005, Rodriguez has recorded at least nine wins in each of his four Major League seasons. He owns a career record of 37-40 with an ERA of 4.79 (311ER/584.1IP) in 111 career games (102 starts). Geary had been requesting a salary figure of $2.1 million while the Astros were offering $1.425 million, or a difference of $675,000. Geary's $1.7 million is $62,500 above the mid-point. His 2009 salary will be 51 percent higher than his 2008 salary of $1.125 million. Rodriguez had been requesting a salary figure of $3 million while the Astros were offering $2.25 million, or a difference of $750,000. Rodriguez' $2.6 million is $25,000 above the mid-point. His 2009 salary will be 476 percent higher than his 2008 salary of $451,000. With the signings of Geary and Rodriguez, the Astros have now come to terms with all six of their arbitration-eligible players, a group that also included RHP Brandon Backe (1-year, $1.555 million), LHP Tim Byrdak (1-year, $1 million), C Humberto Quintero (1-year, $610,000) and RHP Jose Valverde (1-year, $8 million, reached before players filed for arbitration). All told, the Astros will see a total of $15.46 million for all six salary arbitration eligible players that they came to agreement with this off-season. FOR MORE SIGNING DETAILS SEE: Salary Arbitration Filings Tracker Salary Arbitration Figures Tracker Arbitration Scorecard Free Agent Tracker
 Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus, and is available as a freelance writer. Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network.
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