8:12pm: The teams announced the deal, which also sends an undisclosed amount of international bonus money to the Giants.
7:51pm: The Giants and Astros are in agreement on a trade that’ll send swingman Kai-Wei Teng to the Astros for catching prospect Jancel Villarroel, reports Chandler Rome of The Athletic. San Francisco needed to create a 40-man roster spot in order to finalize their two-year deal with Harrison Bader. It appears a Teng trade will be that corresponding move. Houston designated J.P. France for assignment to open a roster spot.
Teng, a Taiwanese-born righty, has made 12 MLB appearances over the past two seasons. They haven’t gone well, as he has been tagged for 7.30 earned runs per nine across 40 2/3 innings. Teng has managed a solid 23.7% strikeout rate but has been plagued by a lack of command. He has walked nearly 13% of opponents and plunked eight more (4.1%). That’s far too many free passes around which to work even with decent swing-and-miss stuff.
The 27-year-old has shown a similar approach in the minors, though he’s coming off a much better season in Triple-A. He worked mostly in a relief role and managed a 3.63 ERA behind a fantastic 37.1% strikeout percentage across 57 innings. Teng trimmed his walk rate to 9.2% at the level last season, but he has walked at least 10% of opponents at every other stop since he was in Low-A.
Teng throws five pitches and sits in the 93 MPH range with his four-seam fastball and sinker. A mid-80s sweeper is his preferred secondary pitch and got good results in a small sample of big league work. Teng has a couple minor league options remaining and can work as rotation depth or in long relief. The Astros evidently preferred his higher swing-and-miss ceiling to France after the latter has battled shoulder issues for a couple seasons.
San Francisco has a deeper rotation mix than Houston does. Teng, whom they non-tendered after the ’24 season before re-signing to a minor league deal, was a candidate to again be designated for assignment. It’s a nice bit of business to acquire a prospect for a pure depth arm. Villorroel, a 5’8″ backstop out of Venezuela, ranked as Houston’s 20th-best prospect at Baseball America. That comes with a caveat that the Astros’ system is as thin as any in the league.
The 20-year-old Villarroel is coming off a solid .259/.351/.388 line with eight homers in 100 games in A-ball. He walked at a 10.4% rate while striking out roughly 18% of the time. He also stole 20 bases in 27 attempts, though he’s unlikely to be a huge threat on the bases as he climbs the minor league ladder. Baseball America credits him with advanced pure hitting ability and plus arm strength, though his strike zone discipline and finer defensive skills are works in progress. He’s a development flier who appears to project as a future backup.
aww man – so long partner 🥺🇹🇼
bummer – the guy has some skill
I’m happy they got anything back for him.
Looked to be heading down DFA lane.
Had a good strike out per 9, but that’s about it. Didn’t see him consistent enough to make the rotation any time soon.
Some random guy selling burgers and fries has some skill too — doesn’t make him a viable major league pitcher.
Dude, I could hit 90 on the carnival speed gun back in the day. Secret was to back way up so you could pick up more speed. Never flipped burgers, never pitched anywhere. So you’re right.
You didn’t hit 90 on a real gun bro. Zero chance, but humerus post.
Cool story bro. Bet you’re ok with ICE too.
I put it in all my beverages, so ya.
Not the forum to bring up the other one. Try your bait elsewhere.
The four foot tall stuffed bear would argue, but he can’t talk.
1..2 innings, 4, hits, 4 walks, 7 runs. Giants lose 11-1.
Puzzling from an Astros perspective. We just lost a catcher; why are we trading a prospect for a starter with a massive ERA, requiring us to send France down. Hopefully they have some advance stats that explain
A 21 year old in A ball? He wasnt playing for the Astros this year.
Teng has electric stuff, why did we trade Brito and Melton for Burrows? Because the Astros liked his stuff. Really excited to see what we can do with Teng.
You will LOVE Burrows.
Teng was pretty frustrated last year and made note that he was having trouble shifting between roles between the rotation and the pen. I wouldn’t be surprised if with some consistency he had better results
Giants DFA Teng and then resigned him after going unclaimed.
He can be a serviceable pitcher, throws lots of junk. A new team might be able to unlock something and get a good pitcher
This is clearly not enough for Villarroel. Astros will hopefully get another piece but I’m not too sad because Astros can unlock lots of potential and he is kinda redundant in Astros farm.
We got your other piece waiting for you at Will Call!
Actually got some international bonus pool dollars coming too, so SFG gets the extra piece.
“Clearly”?
This won’t help but the fact the Giants got value for Teng is a minor miracle.
Makes me think the Giants might get a lot for Birdsong if he looks good in the spring. Like Brendan Donovan in a package including Koss and Maui Ahuna; including Level would become an overpay.
Tang was the pitchers equivalent of a three true outcomes batter. He either struck you out, walked you, or gave up a bomb
Nah. He’d bean you too !
Hopefully Teng will make the most of his opportunity with the Astros
Teng has electric stuff. Dana Brown trades for guys he likes, and he likes Teng. Crane said he was investing in the Asian market, this helps show it. Really think this will pay off big dividends and unlock a ton of potential. Guessing he has a long leash.
Astros have lots of catching depth
The real prize is Janek
I don’t think that Villarroel will stick. I really think that the catching condrum in the future is Janek and Mitchell as the two most likely prospects to stick. I could also see Will Bush do it but Villarroel likely isn’t.
Teng has electric stuff. Dana Brown trades for guys he likes, and he likes Teng. Crane said he was investing in the Asian market, this helps show it. Really think this will pay off big dividends and unlock a ton of potential. Guessing he has a long leash.
Why are you copying my comment?
Kai Wei Teng joining the Astros?
Oh baby, Houston just got themselves a whole situation.
He walked into that clubhouse like, “Who ordered the pitching upgrade?”
And the Astros said, “We did, sweetie go ahead and clock in.”
Teng’s out here throwing pitches with the same energy as a Black auntie side‑eye:
sharp, precise, and guaranteed to make somebody rethink their life choices.
Hitters are gonna be stepping into the box like, “Lord… give me strength,”
and Teng’s on the mound like, “Mmmhmm, swing if you want to.”
Houston fans are already acting brand new, talking about,
“That’s OUR man now,”
while Teng’s just trying to figure out which BBQ spot is worth his time.
If this moment had a vibe, it would be:
“I didn’t come to play, I came to collect.
Nice rap. But why did you copy my comment. To mock me?
Why did you copy my comment. To mock me?
Lol wild ride (your message that is) 😂
This makes no sense. Just hours ago the Astros were complaining they have no depth at catcher to the tune that they are mulling over signing Christian Vasquez and now they deal a catching prospect and DFA a proven MLB pitcher for a “proven failed” pitcher…. make it make sense!🤪
Villarroel is at Ashville (A+). That does not seem like someone that can help in 2026. The reason we have to get a backup catcher is because NONE of our catching prospects are ready. You are the one being 🤪 here.
OMG it’s a stopgap do you not understand?
The catcher take you made is valid, although he may have been on the fasttrack this year if he performed well and Salazar remains on the plateau. But this guy in essence at the cost of JP France makes no sense
Taiwan raising star
International bonus pool to the Giants? Shouldn’t it be the other way around. Astros clearly not confident in Villarroel.
Always “undisclosed” amounts on these IBP deals. I wonder why ?
Giants have a soft spot for Venezuelan catchers.
That’s one Wei to improve improve a team. Did the trade include Tang drink mix?
Teng got a mountain of an opportunity last year. A really really really long leash. Obviously the long look didn’t impress. Never mind. Good luck to him.
I think Tidwell outshined him. Once he came onboard Teng got his last shot.
I for one, was not impressed.
He was an ok long relief type… seemed to get through 1 rotation without too much trouble, but the adjustments came quick after that.
It was a struggle.
“Oh. They are rolling Teng out again…..”
Would have preferred a full year of Tang over 5 minutes of Houser, FIP 3.81 for both last year for what it’s worth.
Giants told Kai-Wei to hit the highway.
Look at you, going the extra mile to look up the pronunciation. Get that rhyme right !
Teng sure makes a mean orange-drink…
Teng will be rolling along and then hit two guys, walk two more and look like he wants to crawl into a hole in the mound. Maybe he’ll figure it out (has a pretty good pitch mix) but he is really raw.
Flat out stupid letting JP France go. Unless he’s not recovering well, I don’t see how you can say good bye to France with Lame McCullers on the roster.