TRADE ALERT
Houston Astros trade with Orioles for starting pitcher
The Houston Astros are in need of some starting pitching depth, with Jose Urquidy still working his way back from injury and Lance McCullers and Luis Garcia out for the season.
Houston is adding starting pitcher Spenser Watkins in exchange for cash, per sources.
The Astros are acquiring Spenser Watkins from the Orioles, source confirms. Starting pitching depth on the 40-man roster for a team that needs it. @ByRobertMurray had it first.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) June 23, 2023
Watkins was designated for assignment by Baltimore on Tuesday. The thirty-year-old righty posted a 7.27 ERA in Triple A this season. He appeared in 8 games, started 6 of those games, and pitched a total of 26 innings.
In 2022, Watkins pitched in the big leagues for the Orioles, starting 20 games with a 5-6 record and a 4.70 ERA.
You can watch his 2022 highlights below.
Perhaps a change of scenery and the Astros ability to develop pitching will help him turn his career around.
If not, the Astros did not give up any prospects in the deal, so it's a low risk move.
