Houston Astros Trade Update: Acquire Dan Straily, Luis Valbuena for Dexter Fowler
The Houston Astros have traded outfielder Dexter Fowler to the Chicago Cubs, multiple sources reported Monday.
In the deal, the Astros acquired starting right-hander Dan Straily and infielder Luis Valbuena. Straily, 26, is 13-12 with an ERA of 4.54 in a total of 48 major league appearances. 42 of them were starts. The Cubs had acquired him from the Oakland Athletics in a trade back in July.
Third baseman, Valbuena, 29, has been with the Cubs over the past three seasons. In 2014, he finished with a batting average of .249 and a career-best of 16 homeruns. Valbuena recorded 33 doubles and 55 RBI over 149 games. Valbuena, who has played for the Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Indians over seven-years in the majors, is a career .229 hitter.
Fowler, 28, spent only one year with the Astros, who acquired him from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for outfielder Brandon Barnes and right-hander Jordan Lyles. He batted .276 with eight homeruns, 11 stolen bases and 35 RBI in 116 games for the Astros. He has a career batting average of .271 over seven MLB seasons with 48 homeruns, 94 steals and 245 RBI. His career on-base hitting percentage is at .366.
Fowler will most likely be the Cubs' lead-off man this upcoming season. Matt Snyder with CBSSports.com wrote:
"Prior to acquiring Fowler, the Cubs leadoff options weren't very desirable. They could have gone with Chris Coghlan, Starlin Castro, Arismendy Alcantara, Valbuena or even Tommy La Stella. None of them are very good leadoff candidates, for various reasons...Fowler is."
The switch-hitter will become a free agent after the 2015 season. He reportedly asked for $10.8 million in arbitration last week and was offered $8.5 million.
