Athletics starter Scott Kazmir is headed to the Astros in the year’s first major trade, Oakland has announced. Returning to the A’s in the deal are righty Daniel Mengden and catcher Jacob Nottingham, per the release.
Trade talks were said to be “heating up” late yesterday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported. She tabbed Houston as the likely suitor, and indeed that has come to fruition.
He’ll return to his home town in the deal. The Astros had previously pursued him in free agency, but he decided to join the A’s on a two-year, $22MM pact. Kazmir will finish that contract with the Astros, and will also pick up a $500K assignment bonus in the process. Because he was acquired in the middle of the year, the Astros won’t be able to extend Kazmir a qualifying offer, which should aid his free agent case.
In Kazmir, the Astros get a top-performing starter to slot into the club’s rotation. Though he has long been dogged by injury questions, any such concerns are much less prevalent in a rental scenario. The 31-year-old, who burst back onto the scene after a long layoff, threw 190 1/3 quality innings last year and has been even better in 2015. He owns a 2.38 ERA over 109 2/3 frames, with 8.3 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 to go with a 45.9% groundball rate.
ERA estimators view Kazmir more as a mid-three earned run per nine talent, but that’s plenty useful for a Houston rotation that was in need of good innings down the stretch. He’ll join Dallas Keuchel and Collin McHugh atop the rotation, which also features the sturdy Scott Feldman and youngsters Lance McCullers Jr. and Vincent Velasquez. Astros GM Jeff Luhnow said that the acquisition gives his club “one of the deepest rotations in the American League,” adding that he hopes the move makes Houston “a viable force,” as Mark Berman of FOX 26 tweets.
By moving for a short-term piece, Luhnow avoided the need to part with the organization’s highest-rated minor league talent. That could keep some powder dry should the club look to add a bat or other piece. While neither of the pieces going to Oakland have received much hype, though, it’s worth bearing in mind that they come from a deep Houston system and have improved their stock with their 2015 performances. And A’s GM Billy Beane obviously preferred to add the pair rather than attempting to pick up a draft pick by offering Kazmir a qualifying offer after the season.
Mengden, 22, holds the 19th overall spot in MLB.com’s ranking of Astros prospects. A fourth-round pick in 2014, the righty is said to have four pitches with some promise. That could make him a rotation piece down the line, though some view him as a reliever in the long run. Mengden dominated at the Class A level this year, though he’s slowed somewhat since moving up to High-A, with a 5.26 ERA and 8.7 K/9 against 3.3 BB/9 over 49 2/3 innings.
Meanwhile, in Nottingham, the A’s will add Houston’s 22nd-rated prospect, per MLB.com, which says there are some questions whether he can stick behind the dish. He just earned a call-up to the High-A level, and has put up big numbers as his promising power has turned into production. Over 329 total plate appearances this season, Nottingham owns a .326/.383/.558 slash with 14 home runs. That performance bumped the backstop into the top-ten of Houston’s pre-MLB talent in Baseball America’s mid-season update.
While both acquired players obviously have some real promise, it’s notable that Beane elected for a return of more projectable, far-from-the-majors assets. His offseason moves seemingly focused more on adding talent at or near the major league level. It will certainly be interesting to see whether the club follows suit if (or, more likely, when) it moves some of its other veteran pieces.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported on Twitter that Kazmir was headed to Houston. Ron Kroichik of the San Francisco Chronicle reported (Twitter links) that a move was afoot.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Images. Post initially published at 12:13pm central time on 7-23-15.
Let the trades begin!
This begins to set the market price for rentals.
Beane has complete trust in his scouts, truly works off his own list
Good pickup for the stros hopefully the trades start coming in now
Finally, let’s hope the returns aren’t ridiculous!
I vote for ridiculous returns. Unfortunately, this wasn’t even close. Good get for Astros.
its about time
For who???
As an A’s fan, I will really miss him. Great competitor, teaammate, everything. Thank you Scott.
Mengden and Nottingham
Talks were heating up yesterday, but no mention by MLBTR yesterday? That is a bit dissapointing.
Hope somebody gets fired for that one, jk
Sometimes Beane sees (indeed pretty good) stuff that nobody else sees. But that one really seemed disappointing.
Yeah. Terrible. You should ask for your money back
Constructive critism my friend.
MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOR!
Good for the stros! Good to see a new play off team other than usual suspects!
What a difference a couple of years make. Excited to see him impact the Astros.
At least Toronto got out of his start tonight;)
Is that a lot? Or reasonable?
Would have expected the A’s to get players closer to being ready for the majors but naturally if he did get AA or AAA talent the players wouldn’t have been as good. The catcher the A’s got seems to have good batting lines and power which is a premium at that position. For a rental in an inter-division trade I wouldn’t have expect much more. I just would have thought the A’s preferred players in the upper minors.
For a #3 rental, a Major League-caliber (as opposed to ready) is a solid get.
I would think Kazmir is a number 2 on many/most pitching staffs. He’d be the ace on a few teams as well just based on this seasons numbers.
he wasnt with the angels
That was then, but this season and last was different. Kazmir was coming off injury from what I remember with the Angels. He was great with the Rays if you want to talk history.
difference between a #1 and an ace
Uh Matt Garza was rented for 13 starts and bought back 3 top 20 prospects and a fringe guy. I don’t like Beane lying when he said he was looking for AAA guys and then gets 20 year olds in A ball. The A’s as of today are closer to the playoffs than theyve been all year. Dumb dumb dumb trade.
Times have changed.
This guy is a top 30 prospect overall. Good get for a rental. Pitcher is a fringe prospect. Good k rates but not dominating.
I agree , I can not believe the Jays for example could not offer more than this.
I don’t think he was lying. But if someone makes what you think is a really good offer, would you say no? I’m not saying that I think that this deal was a steal for the A’s only, I’m just pointing out that if you get an offer you can’t refuse, you make the trade. Beane clearly thought this was the offer he liked best.
I think it’s a fair trade. Obviously, both are far away but show some nice promise.
That doesn’t really seem like a lot, especially in an intra-divisional trade
Kazmir is a pure rental. Couldn’t have expected much more than a decent pitching prospect with 4 pitches and a C/1B prospect that has been mashing in A ball.
Well that seems like a really good trade for Houston imo just because they didn’t give up a prospect in their top 10-15
Nottingham was nothing much before the season but the way he’s been mashing he’s probably #4-8 for the Astros. The Astros have a good system. He might be the A’s #2 prospect now.
And Mengden really depends on who you ask. Some think that he’ll have to move to the pen, which affects his value, but if he can stick as a starter he projects as a mid to late rotation guy. Not a bad trade at all for Oak. I’m sure there were other names on the list of assets and these are the 2 that they chose.
I was just going by MLB’s, and they have him 21st I think
Those rankings get updated once a year in like March. Both those guys should be well within the Astros top 15-20 by now.
old list. Nottingham has been outstanding this year. Sickels had him in his mid season top 70.
Hes higher than that. If you think hes a catcher hes a top 25 overall prospect.
Hes 22nd overall prospect on one of the guy mot named kileys prospect lists. Bats legit.
Be careful about getting too high on Nottingham. The catcher thing aside, he’s raking in a hitter’s league. If he continues it at the next level, then you might have something very nice. I rather liked Mengden; hope both do well.
pretty good return for the A’s Nottingham was one of the Astros top 2-3 catching prospects and Mengden (who is my cousin) was a steal in the draft where he was picked and is expected to advance through the minors very quickly with good stuff (scouts descriptions not mine lol)
Hoping your cuz is as good as you say he is!
A’s are super thin @ C in the minors, so there’s that.
Just sucks as an A’s fan to send off Kaz, especially to a division rival. Sigh.
According to mlb.com, Nottingham is unlikely to stay behind the plate. He has already been getting work at 1B in A ball. If he can’t stay at catcher in A ball, he is probably not going to be a major league catcher.
Mike Ferrin just said Nottingham’s ceiling is everyday MLB catcher – i’ll take his word over an old report on mlb.com.
Ceiling and probable are two different things. His ceiling is a HOF player, but he also may flame out and never make the majors.
right-handed pitcher Daniel Mengden and catcher Jacob Nottingham are what the A’s are getting in return. Don’t know anything about these guys. Info???
They are #19 and #22 on MLB.com’s top 30 Astros prospect list. They both received a midseason promotion to high A after dominating at low A. And Daniel Mengden has a GLORIOUS mustache.
just saw that- Rollie Fingers-esque. seems to be struggling in high a now. So Nottingham turned down both college football and baseball scholarships to sign a couple years ago.
Nottingham will probably be in a lot of top 100 prospect lists.
Didn’t even get a top 20 prospect from Houston? Seems like Houston did well on this one.
Daniel Mengen is 19th….
Nottingham is pushing for top 100 consideration. If he continues to hit at his level the rest of the year.
Hes past consideration. Hes firmly a top 75 guy everywhere now.
Ya Nottingham is really raking this year and still isn’t halfway thru 20 years old.
Considering that Kazmir is a rental and you dont get a draft pick back makes his value drop quite a bit in terms of the return the A’s get.
Not top 100 because they are so young.
So the ‘Stros get Kazmir. We’ve been hearing that the Astros would go after Cueto, and while they still could get him, the most likely landing spot for Johnny is now, in my mind, the Dodgers.
Potentially the Jays or Royals as well
Or Toronto and maybe it doesn’t even cost Norris anymore
Would love to see Cueto for Puig. Add in Sweeney if they extend Cueto. LAD gets a 3rd ace for their run and a possible replacement for Grienke. CIN gets a reported clubhouse cancer, but also has fellow Cubans Chapman, Pena, Iglesias in the fold to smooth things over.
Puig’s value may be down, but Friedman and Co. would have to be losing their mind to trade Puig for anything less than a controllable #2 starter.
Cueto for Puig would be a HUGE over-pay by LAD. Puig may be a malcontent, but he is an elite and controllable bat.
Don’t love the trade for the A’s. I’d rather get a draft pick. Both of these guys are in A ball. They could’ve drafted someone that starts out above that next June.
Nottingham is young and raking.
Only competitive balance picks can be traded in MLB and Houston doesn’t have one next year. And Nottingham is flying up the prospect rankings besides.
The A’s would get a draft pick after offering Kazmir a QO.
You’d rather get a comp pick than 2 prospects?
I’d rather get a comp pick than two prospects said to be “possibly average.”
Both these guys are drastically out performing those assessments that were written months ago. Plus a comp round pick is far from a sure thing and almost certainly would not start out higher than A ball.
A comp pick isn’t attached to Kazmir
Nottingham has been one of the biggest break out players in the minor leagues this year.
Can you show us some articles or posts written about him?
Check the comments on most recent nl trade list. Author has nottinghsm as 22nd overall prospect.
I work for the minor league team they were both with. Nottingham is the real deal offensively. Coaches said he was on his way to catch for the Astros in 2017.
link to pe.com
What players drafted in the comp round start in AA? Heck, what players drafted anywhere start in AA? You are severely overrating the draft if you think you would find better talent than these two players at the 25th pick.
Elite college players. Could possibly be gotten with a QO pick, but probably because of signing concerns.
I looked up the college players drafted with those picks this year and those that signed are playing short season A. If a team is aggressive a player taken with a comp pick would be at the same level as these guys two years after them.
Good trade for both sides. Nottingham was a piece I hoping would be included if Hamels was traded to Houston.
Anyone know anything about who these prospects are? Did the A’s get a decent return?
Neither were ranked highly going into the season, but both are quickly rising up. Nottingham appears to be a legit catching prospect with some power and he’s hit for average so far.
MLB says basically Nottingham has a chance to be an average hitter, although might not be able to stay at catcher, making him a dime a dozen. They say Mengden is probably a reliever. So, we traded Kazmir and a draft pick for two commodities. Fail.
Those prospect listings haven’t been updated since the start of the season. Nottingham is only 20 and has exploded on to the scene this year.
You’re referencing old scouting reports that don’t include data from this season. Nottingham had the third highest ISO of any player in A ball at the time of his promotion, and has continued mashing since. That’s valuable data and cannot be ignored.
You continue to essentially ignore what everyone else is saying in this thread, and quoting one old article from MLB.com…
You’d rather keep one comp pick then get two prospects that appear to have strong MLB-potential (especially Nottingham)??? Please…
plus, you dont have to pay the signing bonus a draft pick would cost, or pay Kazmir for the last 2 months of the season.
optimist!
Good deal for Houston
Jacob Nottingham is actually a fairly good catching prospect
Except for the fact that he is probably going to become a 1B.
With the A’s? I’m sure
Yeah, if that’s true, he’s just like 50 others. If he can stay at C, he’s got potential.
Don’t teams usually shy away from trading for players within their division because they don’t want to constantly be reminded of what they gave away if those players turn out to be solid big leaguers? The Astros must have really wanted Kazmir.
maybe a big time prospect, but not guys like these.
Lol Astros thought Hamels or Cueto where possible……………
They still are. Whats it like being the biggest troll on this page btw…
I really hope Jacob Nottingham’s nickname is “The Sheriff”.
The prospect watchers over at Crawfish Boxes do call him the Sheriff, so yes.
nice deal for astros- they could conceivable still go out and get a top of rotation guy to take pressure of Keuchel, slot Kazmir 3, McHugh 4 for the playoffs-
Well I wasn’t really expecting much of a return because of his injury history, but I’m glad we were able to get something for him.
I love how some people downvote certain comments for no reason. Get a life trolls.
If up voting or down voting affects you, you may be the one who needs to get a life
I actually like how you have a -8 rating for that comment – for now.
thank you. I figured complaining about downvoting would give me a shot at easy downvotes to compete with scannn (or whatever that dude’s name is that always gets a ton of them haha). You get an upvote.
I dont think this is the piece the Astros need for the playoffs considering how terrible Kazmir is in October
Beane “I only want AAA prospects”
/immediately trades for A-ball prospects
Hes a bat that will move quickly. September call up next year is likely
So you’re saying he starts at AA, at 21, and goes to the bigs the same year? Not likely, unless he has a 1.000+ OPS at both levels. Kris Bryant didn’t even make bigs until he was 23. A guy who’s not even in the teams top 5 prospects isn’t likely to do that.
He will be in double a later this year. As a 20 y.o catcher..
Doubt that. He’s only had 17 games at A+ ball. He’ll be at A+ til the end of the season, then in AA early 2016. No way he’ll sniff the bigs as a 21 year old, he’s only been a good hitter for 300 pro ABs and that’s largely due to a massive, unsustainable .385 BABIP that is fueling his .326 BA. Best case is he’s probably a .240 hitter with some pop. Mike Napoli has been talked about as a comp, that sounds about his ceiling, but he has to produce more over a larger sample than 300 AB.
Why is that an unsustainable babip in the minors? Look at any of the top bats babips in the minors. When you hit the ball hard you run a higher babip especially in the minors. The improvimg k rate along with growing power is the best sign you can have for a young hitter. Beane is also fairly aggressive moving prospects
yeah i found that funny too haha
Nottingham will be a stud in a couple years. I hate to lose him.
Well Nottingham has a legit bat. Good deal for both sides.
Next up for the Astros, Carlos Gomez.
that’s too bad, I was really hoping the Dodgers went after Kazmir. I would guess that means LA is got its hands in other pots. Good pickup for the ‘Stros
A’s fans, please dont look at dated prospect rankings.
per Jon Sickels midseason top 75 rankings
71) Jacob Nottingham, C, Astros (NR): Crushing A-ball pitching at age 20, stock moving up but I want more information before going higher than this. If final reports back up the numbers, will rank much higher in three months.
Wow! that seems to be another Lunhow gamble…
There’s A’s fans in this thread, don’t talk about “gambling” – we gambled our own Correa, and then Donaldson. You traded your 8th best prospect. Not a gamble at all. Beane is the ultimate gambler.
Hope the Jays get Shields from San Diego!
Great move by the Astros. Surprised they got it done in their own division.
I tend to agree with the GM… The Astros rotation looks a lot different and more formidable with Kazmir in the mix.
Good luck Houston! What a story it will be if they can compete in the postseason.
gotta put the new photoshop hires to work!
Does appear that this is a good trade for both clubs. As an A’s fan, it’s a bit of a bummer that he’s going within the division, but I’m liking what I’m reading about Nottingham especially.
Not much chance the A’s were going to re-sign Kaz past the season, and Oakland recognizes the chances of making the post-season this year are pretty remote.
This will be one of those trades that we will need to review in 1 – 2 years time to see who ‘won’ the deal.
Nottingham is a stud, and a great pickup for Oakland. Plenty of Astros fans are probably upset that he’s gone…people are going to be seeing him on Top 100 lists next season, book it.
I gotta admit, I jumped to conclusions when I saw his name on no pre-season lists, now people are saying he’s definitely a top 100 2016 pre-season guy. Guess that’s a decent pickup. A’s have zero depth or prospects at C.
Roughly a 1.3 ERA at Oakland, and almost a 4.0 ERA so far on the road. And Houston isn’t exactly the pitchers park that Oakland is. This is a good trade, but let’s not pretend they just got an ace.
Kuechel is the ace of the staff. Kazmir will slide over to number 2/3
Kuechel
McCullers
Kazmir
McHugh
Veslaquez
I’ll value Kaz’s time with the club, like the pieces the team got in return for him. Could be nice in a few years.
great trade for both sides. The Astros were better off going smaller than to go after guys like Hamels, Cueto, and Price. Kazmir has had himself a solid season, and really came back strong after leaving that start against the Yankees in the third inning. They get to keep Santana, Kemp, Phillips, Appel, and Reed (their big prospects). As for the Athletics, Nottingham’s numbers have been great this year and after giving up prospects for Zobrist, Samardzija, and Hammel last season (which was a BIG mistake), they get a good young catcher/ first baseman to make up for it.
They robbed the White Sox blind on the shark deal though, you missed the part where they got an everyday SS, an outstanding lefty-mashing C and now Kazmir’s replacement in Bassit.
Except semien will be moved off ss next year. They got the better end but lol at making if sound like they got 3 all stars. Semiens war was all in the first month, bassit is a back end starter no kazmirs replacement and phegley can hit lefties which is basically all righty hitting catchers. Look at david ross numbers against them for instance. Value in all just not the way you said.
Can’t really look at rankings when it comes to Beane trades. When it comes to prospects,he likes who he likes.
Rick Peterson still working on fixing Victor Zambrano?
This should get the ball rolling, should keep Astros in the race!
This sets the bar very low…I bet any team would have taken this deal…even the Phillies!