The Athletics have traded left-handed pitcher Travis Blackley to the Astros in exchange for minor league outfielder Jake Goebbert, Oakland announced via Twitter. The A's designated Blackley for assignment last Friday after claiming pitchers Danny Otero and Josh Stinson earlier that day.
Blackley, 30, tossed 107 2/3 innings last year, mostly for Oakland, sporting a 4.10 ERA with 5.9 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9. After the A's claimed him on waivers from the Giants last season, the Australian started fifteen games for the eventual AL West champs. Blackley is expected to work as a long reliever for Houston, which will need to make a corresponding roster move, writes Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.
Goebbert is a 25-year-old corner outfielder who hit .291/.388/.450 over 468 minor league plate appearances last year, the vast majority of which came at Double-A . He has yet to show much at the Triple-A level, with a .250/.325/.360 line in 152 plate appearances over the last two seasons. Goebbert had been set to start the year in Triple-A for the Houston organization.
