Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Pirates trade three prospects for Wandy

Keep it posted here, because reports say that the Pirates are close to trading for Wandy Rodriguez.

If the Astros don't get the Clemente Bridge in the package, I'm gonna be pissed.

8:09pm: Jon Heyman is reporting the deal is done.

8:11pm: Money is apparently changing hands. Keep checking back for the return.

In return for Wandy, the Astros receive LHPs Colton Cain, Rudy Owens, and OF Robbie Grossman.


Alright, let's do this.

Colton Cain is a 6'3" 225lb 21-year old LHP out of Waxahachie High School, and was the 8th Round pick of the 2009 draft by the Pirates. In three seasons (55 appearances, 48 starts) he has a 10-15 record, with a 4.04 ERA/1.18 WHIP. In 229.2IP, he has allowed 195H/103ER, 179K:75BB. Pirates Prospects has a run-down here.
So far in 2012 for High-A Bradenton, Cain is 3-5 in 16 starts, with a 4.20 ERA/1.24 WHIP, allowing 10HR in 75IP.

Rudy Owens is a 6'3" 230lb 24-year old LHP, and was the 28th Round pick of the Pirates in 2006. For Triple-A Indianapolis in 2012 (a repeat year from 2011), Owens is 8-5 with a 3.14 ERA/1.17 WHIP, with 85K:25BB in 117.1IP. Owens dealt with left shoulder soreness and fatigue in 2011. Here's a pre-2011 MLB.com article on Owens' plans to get to the Majors.

Robbie Grossman is a 6'0" 205lb 22-year old switch-hitting OF out of Cy-Fair High School, and was the Pirates' 6th Round pick in the 2008 draft. For Double-A Altoona in 2012, Grossman is hitting .262/.374/.403, with 77K:58BB in 413PAs. He had a breakout year in 2011 for High-A Bradenton, hitting .294/.418/.451, with 49 extra-base hits in 616 PAs, with 111K:104BB.