"The Astros are trying to bolster their catching corps with some home-grown talent.

General manager Jeff Luhnow announced Friday that the Astros have signed Houston native Chris Snyder to a one-year contract that includes a mutual option for 2013. The Astros have not yet announced the move they'll have to make to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Snyder, who starred at Spring Woods High and the University of Houston.

Snyder, 30, has a career .231/.333/.394 batting line (average/on-base percentage/slugging average) in seven-plus seasons in the major leagues, with 70 home runs and 243 RBIs in 1,846 at-bats. Snyder had spent an anxious couple of months on the free-agent market after his 2011 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates had been cut short because of a herniated disk in his lower back. He joins a rebuilding Astros team that has only two other catchers on the roster – former first-round draft choice Jason Castro, who missed last season because of knee surgery, and veteran Humberto Quintero.

"I couldn't be happier," said Snyder said. "It's been a wild offseason – a lot of stress, a lot of uncertainty. But as of today, it's all washed away."

Snyder had a productive .271/.376/.396 line through last June 8 before undergoing back surgery. He said he is feeling no ill effects and expects to be a full speed when Astros pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Feb. 19.

"Everything's great," said Snyder, a second-round draft choice of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2002. "If you want to count rehabbing, I've been working out since July. As of right now, it's a normal offseason for me. I'm working out, getting stronger, hitting, throwing, catching bullpens. There are no restrictions, and I'm looking forward to putting a jersey on and getting out there.""