Lance

Pendleton

Pendleton made four appearances with the Astros late last year after being claimed off waivers from the Yankees. The 28-year-old right-hander will hope to latch on elsewhere.

Pendleton had been pitching for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League. The righty will join the bullpen at Durham and function as organizational relief depth.

Pendleton failed to make the Opening Day roster after being selected by the Astros in the Rule 5 draft last offseason, but he wound up back in the organization after being claimed off waivers in September. The 28-year-old will receive a spring training invite as part of the deal and will compete for a spot in the bullpen.

Pendleton was a Rule 5 pick of the Astros but failed to make the Opening Day roster and was sent back to the Yankees before the season began. But, they’ve decided to scoop him up again after the Yanks designated him for assignment earlier this week. Pendleton held a 3.21 ERA but 8/10 K/BB ratio over 14 innings for the Yanks this year and a 3.11 ERA and 45/24 K/BB ratio over 66 2/3 frames with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Pendleton, 28, can elect to become a free agent after the World Series and is likely to do just that.

Pendleton was called up just a couple of days to serve as a long reliever. He’s registered a 3.21 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 14 major league innings this season.

He was cleared to make room for Thursday’s starter Brian Gordon on the active roster. Pendleton, 27, has a 2.25 ERA and 7/8 K/BB ratio over 12 innings in two stints with the Yankees this season.

Pendleton posted a 3.61 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over 29 games (27 starts) between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season, averaging 7.7 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9. Now 27 years old, he’s a little old for a prospect.

Also in contention will be veteran Nelson Figueroa and 20-year-old Jordan Lyles. Relievers Fernando Abad and Henry Villar could also be considered, but they’ll likely wind up back in the bullpen. The most interesting name here, other than Lyles, is Rodriguez, who compiled a 3.71 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 7.3 K/9 rate over 29 games (19 starts) between Double- and Triple-A this past season. Rowland-Smith, though, is likely the favorite despite coming off a terrible year with the Mariners.

The 27-year-old posted a 3.61 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over 29 games (27 starts) between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season, averaging 7.7 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9. He walked eight in just 7 2/3 spring innings.