The Houston Astros have signed SS Jed Lowrie to a three-year contract worth $23 million with a 2018 team option for $5 million.
Lowrie spent 2012 with Houston, the year before he became an everyday player. Lowrie spent 2013 and 2014 with Oakland, where he played 290 games, batting a career best .271. He has hit 37 home runs over his past three seasons, compared to 17 in the four years prior to 2012.
Last season, Lowrie drove in 50 runs with a decent 79/51 K/BB ratio in 136 games. He will be Houston's 2015 starting shortstop, over Marwin Gonzalez. However, there is a chance that he sees time at third base in the years to come.