The Rich Get Richer
Astros make last second deal to acquire former Cy Young Award Winner
Brian Barefield | 7/31/2019, 7:12 p.m.
Zack Greinke is now with the Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are the gift that keeps on giving. Two years ago, they made a major splash by acquiring All-Star and future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander from the Detroit Tigers helped the Astros secure their first ever World Series championship by defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers. Houston fans everywhere rejoiced as they thought they would never feel joy like that ever again. That was until July 31, 2019.
General manager and president of baseball operations Jeff Luhnow pulled off a major deal as the trade deadline was coming to an end by acquiring former 2009 Cy Young Award Winner Zack Greinke from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Greinke, 35, has an ERA of 2.87 and has won 10 games in 22 starts for the Diamondbacks this year.
“Wow… that escalated quickly,” said Verlander via Twitter.
Houston will send right-hander J.B. Bukauskas, right-hander Corbin Martin, infielder Josh Rojas, and first baseman Seth Beer to Arizona to complete the transaction.
Greinke will be added to a very talented Astros pitching staff that includes the aforementioned Verlander and Gerrit Cole. Both pitchers were on the 2019 American League All-Star roster (Verlander was named starter) and they currently are ranked number one (Cole 212) and two (Verlander 196) in strikeouts in the majors. Verlander is tied for first in wins with 14, while teammate Cole has 12.
Luhnow wasn’t done wheeling and dealing as he added right-handers Joe Biagini and 2016 All-Star Aaron Sanchez from the Toronto Blue Jays to the roster for outfielder Derek Fisher.
