Houston’s payroll keeps skyrocketing! OK, maybe not quite, but Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that the Astros have signed free agent reliever Matt Albers to a one-year, $2.45 million contract.

Two weeks ago there was a report about Albers already having at least one multi-year offer, but it’s possible the 30-year-old right-hander preferred to play in his hometown of Houston. His one-year deal includes a $3 million team option for 2015.

Albers was actually drafted by the Astros in 2001 and debuted with Houston in 2006 before moving on to pitch for five different teams. This year he had a 3.14 ERA and 35/23 K/BB ratio in 63 innings for the Indians and Albers was even better in 2012.

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