The Astros have talked to Sergio Romo and Luke Gregerson - MLB

The Astros had the highest offer out to Andrew Miller before he signed with the Yankees last Friday and they were mentioned as a possibility for David Robertson before he agreed to a deal with the White Sox this week, but they remain determined to land a late-inning bullpen arm.

According to Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle, the Astros have talked to free agent relievers Sergio Romo and Luke Gregerson. Both could be options to close with Houston, which could make them a more appealing landing spot.

Romo struggled out of the gate with the Giants this past season before losing his closer job, but he finished the year strong. Gregerson doesn’t have as much closing experience, but he has been one of the game’s premier set-up men since breaking into the majors in 2009 and deserves a shot. Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish reported this morning that Gregerson is likely to get at least a three-year contract.

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CINCINNATI — The Los Angeles Dodgers placed pitcher Noah Syndergaard on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a blister on the index finger of his right throwing hand.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the timetable for Syndergaard’s return is unknown despite the 15-day designation.

“The physical, the mental, the emotional part, as he’s talked about, has taken a toll on him,” Roberts said. “So, the ability to get him away from this. He left today to go back to Los Angeles to kind of get back to normalcy.”

Syndergaard allowed six runs and seven hits in three innings against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night, raising his ERA to 7.16.

Syndergaard (1-4) has surrendered at least five runs in three straight starts.

Syndergaard has been trying to return to the player he was before Tommy John surgery sidelined him for the better part of the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Roberts said Syndergaard will need at least “a few weeks” to both heal and get away from baseball and “reset.”

“I think searching and not being comfortable with where he was at in the moment is certainly evident in performance,” Roberts said. “So hopefully this time away will provide more clarity on who he is right now as a pitcher.

“Trying to perform when you’re searching at this level is extremely difficult. I applaud him from not running from it, but it’s still very difficult. Hopefully it can be a tale of two stories, two halves when he does come back.”