Russ Ortiz, a former All-Star pitcher who missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, was signed today by the Astros to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training. ?Jack Lind, one of our pro scouts, saw Russ work out in September and was pleased with what he saw,? Wade said. ?By all accounts, Russ has rebounded well from Tommy John surgery, and we have no doubt that a healthy Russ Ortiz should be able to come to camp and be a serious contender for a spot in the big league rotation. He?ll have every opportunity in Spring Training to win a job.?