<p>WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Pitcher Steve Cishek was released from a minor league contract Thursday by the Houston Astros.</p>
<p>Cishek agreed last month to a minor league deal that specified if he wasn’t added to the 40-man roster by March 25, he could request to be added within 24 hours or be released.</p>
<p>He made seven spring training appearances and allowed three runs — on three solo homers — and seven hits in 7 2/3 innings with 12 strikeouts and two walks.</p>
<p>If added to the 40-man roster, he would have received a salary of $2.25 million while in the major leagues and $200,000 while in the minors, with the chance to earn $1.5 million in performance bonuses for innings up to 70.</p>
<p>The side-arm-throwing, sinkerballing reliever has a 2.78 ERA with 132 saves in 594 appearances over 11 major league seasons. </p>
<p>The 34-year-old spent last season with the Chicago White Sox, where he appeared in 22 games and had a 5.40 ERA. He earned $1,944,444 in prorated pay from a $5.25 million salary.</p>
<p>Cishek spent the previous two seasons with the Chicago Cubs, making 150 appearances with 11 saves and a 2.55 ERA. </p>
<p>He played for Miami from 2010 until he was traded to St. Louis in July 2015. His best seasons came with the Marlins when he had 34 saves in 2013 and a career-high 39 saves the following year. </p>
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