The Houston Astros have gotten the ball rolling before the trade deadline.
The Astros got Houston native Scott Kazmir from the Oakland A’s and will send pitcher Daniel Mengden and catcher Jacob Nottingham to the A’s.
Kazmir has posted a 5-5 record and a 2.38 ERA and 101 strikeouts in his second season with the A’s. The 11-year veteran is set to be a free agent after this season meaning he is now exempt from receiving a qualifying offer in the off-season as a result of being traded, which means that any team that signs him will not have to give up a draft pick in exchange.
Mengden, a fourth-round draft pick in 2014, and has a 5.26 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 49 2/3 innings over 10 games this season in A ball. Nottingham, a ’13 sixth-round pick has hit .326/.383/.558 with 14 home runs and 60 RBIs in 329 plate appearances across two levels of A ball this year.
Kazmir was set to start for the A’s today in their series finale against the Blue Jays, and will be replaced by Arnold Leon on both the active roster and on the mound