The Houston Astros are going for it all this season, acquiring lefty starter Scott Kazmir from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for a pair of prospects, Jake Nottingham and Dan Mengden.
Scott Kazmir has been traded to #Astros for Jake Nottingham and Dan Mengden, source confirms.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 23, 2015
Kazmir, who resurrected his career back in 2013 with the Indians after being completely out of baseball in 2012 compiled a 3.12 ERA in fifty total starts for the Athletics. This also includes a 2.38 ERA and 101/35 K/BB ratio in 110 innings this season according to NBC Sports.
Kazmir is quite the pickup for the Astros who suddenly have a nice one-two punch that includes All-Star Game starter Dallas Keuchel. Houston’s philosophy heading into this year’s deadline has to be a welcomed site for Astros fans after suffering though losing season after losing season. Not to mention Kazmir’s acquisition by the Astros is a pretty good indication that Houston’s rebuild went better than expected and are prepared to go for it all in 2015.
As far as the return for the Athletics, neither Jake Nottingham and Dan Mengden were one of Houston’s higher end prospects. Nottingham, a catcher who was drafted by the Astros in the 6th round of the 2013 Amateur Draft has hit .326 with a .941 OPS in the California and Midwest Leagues. Meanwhile Mengden is a right-handed pitcher taken in the 4th round of the 2014 Amateur Daft by the Astros. During this season, Mengden has compiled a 6-2 overall record with a 3.46 ERA and 1.302 WHIP.