Hinch: Astros’ clubhouse can handle newcomers

OAKLAND — A day after dugout confrontations involving pitcher Mike Fiers made news in the Astros’ loss to the A’s, manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday that his team is equipped to put such matters behind them. A bigger issue Hinch may soon deal with is the arrival of Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel, who signed last week and is expected to join the team in a few weeks.

The likely eventual arrival of Gurriel, as well as top prospect Alex Bregman from Triple-A Fresno, means a couple of players currently on the roster will lose their spots. The players are cognizant Gurriel and Bregman are coming, and Hinch said his team’s position player youth and enthusiasm will make that easier.

“That’s generally the easier type of personalities that can adapt to new additions,” Hinch said. “Obviously, an older team with more established veterans, more established roles that have been together for a long time, it’s a tough shell to crack. The makeup of our team is our veterans are mostly in the pitching staff, with a couple of veteran position players, and certainly will pay attention to any new arrival, whether it be Gurriel or a younger player in the …

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