Jerome Williams tossed six innings of one-run ball in a 4-1 win over the Athletics on Friday.

Well, we weren't expecting that. Making his Rangers' debut, Williams held the A's to five hits and no walks while striking out five. The only run scored on an RBI single by Yoenis Cespedes in his final inning of work. Williams has likely earned another opportunity, but we're not expecting fantasy relevancy moving forward.

Rangers purchased the contract of RHP Jerome Williams from Triple-A Round Rock.

Williams will join the rotation on Friday against the Blue Jays. The veteran right-hander held a 6.04 ERA and 38/16 K/BB ratio over 47 2/3 relief innings with the Astros earlier this season and is not a fantasy option.

Jerome Williams will be called up from Triple-A Round Rock to start Friday against the Blue Jays.

Williams, who signed a minor league deal with the Rangers two weeks ago, posted an ugly 6.04 ERA and 38/16 K/BB ratio over 47 2/3 innings with the Astros earlier this season. He's not a fantasy option.

Rangers signed RHP Jerome Williams to a minor league deal.

He'll head to Triple-A Round Rock as depth but has an opt-out clause that he can exercise if he's not promoted in the next two weeks. Williams was released by the Astros earlier this month after posting a 6.04 ERA.

Astros released RHP Jerome Williams.

Williams had been designated for assignment last week. He put up a 6.04 ERA for the Astros but won't have trouble catching on elsewhere, though it might have to be on a minor league deal.

Astros designated RHP Jerome Williams for assignment.

He gets the boot after allowing two runs over two relief innings Monday to push his ERA up to 6.04 for the season. The veteran righty turned out to be a poor investment for the Astros, as Williams was given $2.1 million over the winter to serve as a bad middle reliever for three months. That said, he should be able to find a veteran minimum deal once he clears waivers.

Jerome Williams (groin) will be available out of the Astros' bullpen Saturday against the Rangers.

Williams sat out a few days with a minor groin strain. He's functioning as a long reliever this year for Houston.

Jerome Williams (groin) is considered day-to-day.

Williams left Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays with a right groin strain, but it doesn't appear to be serious. Of course, the Astros could revisit the situation if it's still an issue a couple of days from now.

Jerome Williams left Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays due to a right groin strain.

Williams left in the middle of an at-bat, a sign that something was definitely wrong with the 32-year-old. A trip to the disabled list appears to be in the right-hander's future.

Jerome Williams left Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays due to an undisclosed injury.

Williams immediately called the trainer out of the dugout after delivering a pitch to Edwin Encarnacion in the seventh inning. It appeared to be a lower-body injury, possibly a groin. The Astros should update his status shortly.

Jerome Williams will start the season in the Astros' bullpen.

The Astros gave Williams $2.1 million this offseason -- serious money for the low-budget team -- in hopes he'd solidify the team's rotation. Instead, the veteran had a 5.84 ERA over 12 1/3 spring innings. Williams has experience as a starter and reliever, and he may do some of both before the season is said and done.

Jerome Williams was tagged for three homers and six runs in four innings by the Cardinals on Sunday.

Williams was told before the game that he's made the Astros. Hopefully, the poor outing today ensures that he'll be in middle relief and not the rotation. Dallas Keuchel and Brad Peacock are the best choices to occupy the final two rotation spots, assuming that Keuchel is healthy.

Astros manager Bo Porter announced that Jerome Williams has made the club.

Porter refuses to state whether he'll be deployed as a starter or reliever, though every expectation is that Williams will slot behind Scott Feldman, Jarred Cosart and Brett Oberholtzer in either the No. 4 or 5 rotation slot. Williams signed a one-year, $2.1 million contract in February. The 32-year-old right-hander had a 4.57 ERA in 169 1/3 innings with the Angels last season.

Jerome Williams surrendered four runs -- all of them unearned -- in 3 2/3 innings Wednesday against a Nationals split-squad.

Two errors from shortstop Jonathan Villar led to the runs. Williams did allow six hits, though, while facing a lineup that didn't include a single regular. At this point, Williams' chances of landing a rotation spot probably hinge on one of the younger pitchers disappointing and getting sent back to Triple-A.

Astros signed RHP Jerome Williams to a one-year, $2.1 million contract.

Williams can earn up to $1 million more in incentives. He immediately becomes one of the Astros' better starters and should be a mainstay in the rotation in 2014. The 32-year-old had a 4.57 ERA in 169 1/3 innings with the Angels last season.

Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish.com reports that the Astros have agreed to a deal with Jerome Williams, pending a physical.

The specifics of the deal are not yet known, but Williams wants a chance to start and he'll get that opportunity with the Astros. The veteran right-hander posted a 4.57 ERA over 169 1/3 innings last season for the Angels before being non-tendered. He's not going to carve out much fantasy value in Houston.

Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish.com reports that Jerome Williams has offers from at least three teams and "seems close" to making a decision.

It was Cotillo who reported earlier this month that Williams was nearing a deal with the Rangers, so they're presumably one of the clubs with an offer on the table. Williams posted a 4.57 ERA over 169 1/3 innings last season for the Angels before being non-tendered.

The Rangers are "making progress" on a deal with free agent Jerome Williams, a source tells Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish.

Cotillo says talks intensified after it came out Friday that Derek Holland would miss half the season after undergoing left knee surgery. Williams has drawn some interest this offseason but the market for pitchers has been pretty stagnant waiting for Masahiro Tanaka to makes a decision. Williams posted a 4.57 ERA over 169 1/3 innings last season and was non-tendered by the Angels earlier this offseason.

Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish.com reports that Jerome Williams has drawn interest from four American League teams and two National League teams.

Cotillo says that all six clubs are looking at Williams as a starter. The right-hander was non-tendered by the Angels last week after posting a 4.46 ERA and 1.34 WHIP over the last three seasons for the Halos. He should find a new home by the end of the Winter Meetings.

Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish.com reports that four teams are "seriously interested" in Jerome Williams.

Cotillo expects Williams to pick a new club before the end of next week's Winter Meetings. The right-hander was non-tendered by the Angels earlier this week, but he's good enough to fit in at the back-end of someone's rotation.