The Houston Astros have traded shortstop Jed Lowrie to the
Oakland Athletics, along with right-handed reliever Fernando Rodriguez, in
exchange for first baseman Chris Carter, right-hander Brad Peacock and catcher
Max Stassi, the team has announced.
The Astros acquired Lowrie last offseason from the Boston
Red Sox along with Kyle Weiland for late-inning reliever Mark Melancon. Lowrie
got off to a hot start last season before being hampered by injuries.
Houston decided to flip the 28-year-old after one season,
acquiring a power-hitting first baseman in Carter and two of Oakland’s top 14
prospects, according to Baseball America.
Carter hit .239/.350/.514 with 12 doubles and 16 home runs
over 218 at-bats last season. Peacock entered last season as the 36th-best
prospect in the minors, according to Baseball America, while Stassi is a
21-year-old catching prospect.
Oakland signed Hiroyuki Nakajima to a two-year, $6.5 million
contract earlier this offseason, and he’s expected to play shortstop for the A’s.
Lowrie also has experience at second and third base, so it will be interesting
to see how he’s used by the A’s.
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