The Houston Astros' signing of former first-round pick Nate Pearson wasn't the move many fans expected to kick off Houston's offseason. Released by the Chicago Cubs before the end of the regular season, Pearson didn't need to wait until the conclusion of the World Series to sign with a new team, and the Astros jumped his market.
At first blush, the impression is that the Astros could have waited until closer to spring training to make this signing. Pearson has the velocity that teams fall in love with, but his time with the Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays suggests that he may be nothing more than an up-and-down arm.