HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros extended their first two Spring Training invitations Tuesday when they signed outfielder Phil Hiatt and right-hander Tony Fiore to minor league contracts. Hiatt, 34, spent the 2003 season with the Chicago Cubs' Triple-A affilate in Iowa where he batted .272 (130-for-478) with 25 homers and 89 RBIs. He has played parts of four seasons in the Major Leagues -- 1993 and 1995 in Kansas City, 1996 in Detroit and 2001 in Los Angeles -- and has a career average of .216 (91-for-422) with 13 homers and 55 RBIs over 170 big-league games. Hiatt was originally selected by the Royals in the eighth round of the 1990 draft, and he made his Major League debut for Kansas City in 1993. He spent the 1997 season with the Hanshin club in Japan. Fiore, 32, spent the last two seasons in the Minnesota organization. He began the '03 campaign with the Twins, compiling a 1-1 record and a 4.40 ERA over 21 relief appearances before he was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on June 17. At Rochester, Fiore was 5-6 with a 3.95 ERA over 16 games (11 starts). Fiore broke into the professional ranks in 1993 after he was selected in the 28th round of the 1992 draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. Fiore made his Major League debut in 2000 with Tampa Bay, and he has pitched parts of four big-league seasons -- Tampa Bay in 2000, Tampa Bay and Minnesota in '01, and Minnesota in '02 and '03. He has a career big-league record of 12-6 with a 4.39 ERA over 87 appearances (two starts).
hiatt is a good pick up. I remember when he was considered a good prospect. I don't know if he could replace orlando mercedes but he should be a good bench player
