Have the Astros traded for Oliver Perez? Yes, they have (with an update)

According to MLB.com, the Astros may have traded for Oliver Pérez from the Diamondbacks.  MLBTR - at the time of writing - does not have a post up about it, but it is late Friday night or early Saturday morning in the US.

Pérez has a fascinating history that is probably a post in its own right.  He signed a 2 year contract before the 2014 season started, totalling 4.25M.  So he is likely to earn around 600k from now until the end of the year.

Anyhow, he seems to be having one of his better seasons.  He has pitched in relief, totalling 29 innings, allowing 25 hits and 11 walks for a WHIP of 1.241.  He has allowed 12 runs, 10 of which were earned, for a 3.10 ERA / 2.99 FIP.  He has struck out 37.  He has been used equally against lefties and righties this year (64 plate appearances each), but his line against lefties has been a solid .183/.234/.267

No word on what the Astros gave up.  My guess is that Pérez's acquisition is worth a lottery ticket of some form.  Especially because lefty relief has been a problem area for the Astros for a while.  Sam Deduno moved to the 60-day DL to make room for Perez on the 40-man, but a 25-man roster change will need to be made.  Perhaps Wojciechowski returns to Fresno.

Updated bit:  The Astros gave up 19 year old lefty starting pitcher Junior Garcia in the trade.  Garcia started the season at Greenville, and was promoted to Tri-City, where he has appeared in two games.  His 2015 combined ERA (ie. at both levels) is 0.96 in 37.1 innings.  He has allowed 29 hits, 11 runs (but only 4 earned runs) while striking out 26 and walking 7.  His 2015 WHIP is 0.964.

PreStros Morning Report: July 21

The Astros' affiliates went 2-5 on the day.

Fresno (56-41, 11.0 games up)

Fresno got straight dominated by Las Vegas' Matt Bowman, a 2012 13th Round pick by the Dodgers. Bowman held the Grizzlies to two hits and three walks in a complete game shutout in which Las Vegas beat Fresno 4-0.

Three 'Stros of the Game:
3. Leo Heras, outfield assist at the plate
2. Tyler White: 1x4
1. Brady Rodgers: 6IP, 7H/2ER, 5K:1BB

Note: I chose Tyler White because it would give me a chance to write that, in his first 14 games in Triple-A, White is hitting .411/.484/.607 with 6K:8BB.

Corpus (60-35, already clinched playoff berth)

Midland took a 3-0 lead in the top of the 1st, but the Hooks scored the next six runs, and then allowed six more runs in a 9-7 loss to Midland. It's a testament to how good Chris Devenski has been that he can allow 8ER in 4.2IP and still have an ERA of 2.64.

Three 'Stros of the Game:
3. A.J. Reed: 1x3, 2BB
2. Chan Moon: 2x4, SB
1. Colin Moran: 2x5, HR, 2RBI

Lancaster (49-46 overall, 12-13 in 2nd half - 0.5 games up)

Lancaster had a 2-0 lead by the end of the first at San Jose, and then proceeded to give up ten unanswered runs in a 10-2 loss in which the JetHawks got two hits (seven walks, though....15 strikeouts, though....)

Three 'Stros of the Game:
3. Jamie Ritchie: 0x2, 2BB
2. James Ramsay: 0x3, 2BB, SB
1. Ronnie Mitchell: 1x3, BB, 3B, 2RBI

Quad Cities (60-34)

Quad Cities had a 5-1 lead in the middle of the 5th before giving up eight Kane County runs in a 9-5 loss.

3. Trent Woodward: 1x3, BB, RBI
2. Drew Ferguson: 2x4, BB, RBI
1. Jason Martin: 4x5, RBI

Tri-City (16-15, 1.0 games back)

Lowell and Tri-City scored their meager runs early in the game, but Tri-City just couldn't come up with the tying run, going 1x9 w/RISP in a 2-1 loss at Lowell.

Three 'Stros of the Game:
3. Ralph Garza: 3IP, 2H/0ER, 5K:1BB
2. Bryan Muniz: 2x3, 2B, 2BB
1. Bobby Wernes: 3x3, BB, RBI

Greeneville (15-11, 2.0 games up)

Bluefield carried a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the 6th, and Greeneville scored six unanswered runs in the 6th-8th innings for a 6-1 win.

Three 'Stros of the Game:
3. Brauly Mejia: 2x4, 3B, 2RBI
2. Ryan Deemes: 5IP, 5H/1ER, 3K:0BB
1. Junior Garcia: 4IP, 0H/0ER, 2K:2BB

GCL Astros (9-16, 4.0 games back)

It was 0-0 heading into the 8th when the GCL Astros got the go-ahead run and then put the GCL Blue Jays away with four runs in the 9th for a 5-0 win.

Three 'Stros of the Game:
3. Daz Cameron: 2x4, 2B, BB
2. Moreno Polanco: 5IP, 2H/0ER, 2K:1BB
1. Kyle Tucker: 1x4, 3B, 3RBI, SB

PreStros Morning Report: July 8

Oklahoma City (49-41), 1.0 GB

Asher Wojciechowski was super-human last night as OKC beat the Junior Rangers 5-0. Wojo pitched a complete game one-hitter, striking out five and walking one. Two double plays along the way meant that he faced the minimum, 27 batters.

Grossman was 2x4 with 2 RBI. Marwin Gonzalez was 1x5 with 1 2B and 3 RBI. George Springer went 1x3 with 1 BB and 1 SB

Man of the Match: Asher Wojciechowski

Corpus (9-9), 1.0 GB

Bobby Doran turned in a strong start and Preston Tucker showed signs of getting things on track as he propelled CC to a 4-2 win over Tulsa. Doran turned in 6 IP, allowing 4H/2R with 2K:2BB. Carlos Quevedo, Pat Urckfitz, and Jorge De Leon combined for 3 shutout innings in relief, with Quevedo giving up 1 H and De Leon adding 1 K.

Tucker went 2x4 with 2 HR and 3 RBI. Max Stassi added a solo HR as he went 1x4.

Man of the Match: Preston Tucker

Lancaster (14-5), 2.0 up

Lancaster lost to High Desert 7-3. Tyson Perez threw 6 IP and gave up 8H/6R with 1K:3BB. Theron Geith threw 2 IP and allowing 3H/1R with 2 K.

Andrew Aplin was 2x4 with 1 2B, 1 R, and 1 RBI. Joe Sclafani went 2x3 with 1 BB

Man of the Match: Andrew Aplin

Quad Cities (12-5), 0.0 GB

Cancelled 

Tri-City (14-8) 2.0 up

The ValleyCats and the IronBirds locked up for 11 and a half innings before a walk-off home run in the 12th gave Tri-City a 2-1 win. Randall Fant threw 5 scoreless innings with 4 H and 2 K. Zach Morton went 4 IP, allowing 3H/1R with 5K:1BB. Richard Rodriguez went the final 3 IP allowing 1 H and striking out an amazing 8 batters.

Tony Kemp was the only ValleyCat hitting for most of the game, finishing 4x5 with 1 R, but had 2 CS. Ryan Dineen supplied the game-winner while going 1x5.

Man of the Match: Tough call. Four strong individual performances and one clutch hit. (channeling my inner Oprah) YOU get a Man of the Match, YOU get a Man of the Match, YOU get a Man of the Match, YOU get a Man of the Match, YOU get a Man of the Match! EVERYBODY GETS A MAN OF THE MATCH!!!!!

Greeneville (10-8), 2.5 GB

The Astros avoided the sweep by beating Kingston 3-2. Sebastian Kessay threw 2.2 IP, allowing just a solo HR with 3 K. Christian Garcia went 2.1 scoreless innings with 1 H, 1 K, and 1 BB. Austin Chrismon threw 2 IP, giving up 3H/1R. JD Osborne went the final 2 scoreless with 2 H and 5 K for his fifth save. Osborne has been lights out so far for Greeneville. In 6 games and 10 innings, he has yet to allow a run while tallying 19 strikeouts to just 2 walks. With runners on, opponents are hitting just .053 against him so far.

Tanner Mathis was 2x3 with 1 RBI. Chase McDonald went 1x4 with 1 HR and 2 RBI.

Man of the Match: JD Osborne

GCL Astros (8-5), 1.5 GB

The Astros unloaded on the Braves, winning 13-1. Joe Bircher went 5 shutout innings with 6 H and 4 K. Javier Lozano threw 1 IP, giving up 0H/1R (unearned) with 1K:1BB. Chris Munnely went 1 scoreless with 1 BB. Kevin Ferguson went the final 2 IP with 1 K.

Luis Reynoso went 4x6 with 1 2B and 2 R. Tyler White went 2x3 with 1 2B, 2 R, and 2 RBI. Jean Batista was 3x4 with 1 2B, 2 R, and 2 RBI. Jacob Nottingham was 1x2 with 2 BB, 1 HR, 2 R, and 2 RBI. Luis De La Rosa was 1x2 with 1 BB, 1 2B, 1 R, and 3 RBI.

Man of the Match: Joe Bircher

DSL Astros (18-11) 1.5 GB

The Astros squeeked one out against the Red Sox, winning 4-3. Juan Hernandez pitched 1.1 innings and gave up 3H/2R with 2K:2BB. Junior Garcia went 4.2 scoreless IP with 1 H and 3 K. Victor Mesa threw 1 IP, allowing 2H/1R (unearned) with 1K:1BB. Christhoper Santamaria went 1.1 scoreless, and Angel Heredia (yep, this guy) finished up the final .2 IP with 1 H and 2 K.

Luis Payano was 1x3 with 1 2B, 1 R, and 1 RBI. Hector Roa was 1x4 with 1 2B and 1 R. Jarico Reynoso was 1x3 with 1 R and 1 RBI.

Man of the Match: Junior Garcia

Astros sign Dominican LHP Junior Garcia

Here's Ben Badler with a report that the Astros have signed 17-year old LHP Junior Garcia out of the Dominican Republic for $200,000.

The link takes you to the free write-up, but Garcia currently throws 86-88mph with an apparently decent curve.

The $200,000 comes out of the Astros' $2.9m bonus pool for international signings in 2012/13.