Brandon Lyon Career Tracker

Astros, Lyon agree on three-year deal
Move to be finalized upon completion of physical

By Brian McTaggart / MLB.com

12/09/09 11:36 PM EST

INDIANAPOLIS -- Right-hander Brandon Lyon, who has saved 54 games in eight seasons in the Major Leagues with Toronto, Boston, Arizona and Detroit, has reached a three-year agreement with the Astros, according to a baseball source. The deal is pending a physical.

Lyon went 6-5 with three saves in 65 games last season for Detroit and saved 26 games and had a 4.70 ERA in 2008 with Arizona. In 374 career games, Lyon is 27-34 with a 4.20 ERA. He posted a 1.56 ERA after June last season in the role as setup man for Fernando Rodney.

The addition of Lyon, 30, helps the Astros further bolster a bullpen which had been decimated by the departures of closer Jose Valverde and setup man LaTroy Hawkins. Houston earlier Wednesday made a trade to acquire right-hander Matt Lindstrom from Florida to put at the back of the bullpen. Astros general manager Ed Wade declined comment late Wednesday.

Barry Meister, the agent for Lyon, said the Astros have interest, but said he wouldn't confirm any deals until a physical is passed.

Brian McTaggart is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Brandon Lyon signs with Houston

by billfer on December 9, 2009

in Free Agents, Winter Meetings

There goes one potential closer option for the Tigers with Brandon Lyon inking a 3 year, $15 milion deal with the Houston Astros pending a physical. It’s a great deal for Lyon, but probably a year longer than the Tigers would have preferred to go.

Earlier in the evening Ken Rosenthal reported that with the context of LaTroy Hawkins deal with the Brewers Lyon was looking for 2 years and $9 million. Maybe Ed Wade should have been on Twitter.

Lyon was signed just before the start of spring training last year on a one year deal and given a shot to be the Tigers closer. He struggled in spring training and those struggles extended through April. Then something clicked and Lyon was lights out. From May 19th until the end of the season he threw 63 innings with a 1.86 ERA.

The Tigers other free agent reliever, Fernando Rodney, is attracting attention from the Phillies. If it was going to take a multi-year deal to get either I would have preferred Lyon from a durability perspective. The Tigers are also reportedly still interested in Kevin Gregg.

Lyon will net the Tigers a sandwich pick. But for a team that can’t afford Curtis Granderson you have to wonder if they’ll be able to sign him.

Argg! We aren't going to have a strong pen if we don't get someone to close out games with consistency!

Lyon throws off mound for second time
Astros righty reliever could face hitters by this weekend

By Brian McTaggart / MLB.com

03/08/10 1:02 PM EST

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Another day, another step closer to a return for Astros right-hander Brandon Lyon.

Lyon, who hasn't faced batters or appeared in a game this spring after having a cyst drained in his right shoulder, threw 30 pitches off a bullpen mound Monday afternoon. It was the second time in three days he tossed 30 pitches from the mound.

"We'll see how my arm reacts again [Tuesday], but everything went well and the ball was coming out of my arm pretty good," Lyon said. "I'm comfortable where I'm at right now. We'll just come in [Tuesday] and see how it feels and kind of work from there. I don't know when I'm going to get on the mound again, but if I feel good maybe do a light thing [Tuesday]."

Lyon could possibly face hitters by the weekend. Houston manager Brad Mills said Monday he's not yet worried about Lyon not being ready for the start of the regular season.

"We still have plenty of time," Mills said. "Those concerns still aren't going to come for another week. If he stops progressing like he has, those concerns might come up a little bit, but it's not at that point yet."

Lyon remains confident he'll be ready by the end of the month.

"They always say Spring Training is for the starters and their pitch counts," he said. "As a reliever, we have the luxury of not having to throw so many pitches in Spring Training. Obviously, you'd like to get your full work in for six weeks, but I'm confident that if everything keeps going the way it's going I'll be ready go to."

Lyon is keeping his bullpen sessions to 30 pitches at varying intensity.

"Every day your arm feels different and you can't throw as hard as you want, and you have to take it easy to keep it loose and strong," he said.

Lyon, who signed a three-year, $15-million contact in December, could be Houston's closer this year. He went 6-5 with a 2.86 ERA in 65 games last year with Detroit, and saved 26 games for Arizona in 2008.

Brian McTaggart is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.