Pirates Acquire LHP Wandy Rodriguez From Astros

The Pittsburgh Pirates have made their first leap in the trade deadline waters acquiring LHP Wandy Rodriguez from the Houston Astros for three minor league prospects.

The three prospects headed to Houston in the deal are LHP Rudy Owens, OF Robbie Grossman and LHP Colton Cain.

With this trade, Neal Huntington was able to stay away from tapping into the Pirates core group of young prospects while adding a solid starting pitcher to the mix.

One thing to keep in mind with this deal, don’t read into Wandy’s win/loss record as he was pitching for the Houston Astros, who are the worst team in Major League Baseball record wise.

Wandy has posted a solid 3.79 earned run average to go along with 89 strikeouts compared to 32 walks in 130.2 innings.

In this deal the Astros also send cash to off set his current contract.  The Pirates will pay $1.7 million of Rodriguez’s salary this year, $8.5 million in 2013 and $7. 5 million in 2014.  Wandy is under Pirates control primarily through the 2013 season.  Before the trade, 2014 was a team option for the Astros, with the trade the team option now becomes a player option.

Now the only question that remains is who exits the rotation with the arrival of Wandy?