Scott Kazmir is on the move.
The Oakland Athletics traded the veteran left-hander to the Houston Astros Thursday afternoon in exchange for a pair of minor-leaguers, pitcher Daniel Mengden and catcher Jacob Nottingham.
“Scott Kazmir is one of the best pitchers in the American League and strengthens our rotation,” Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said in a release. “His addition gives the Astros a better chance of reaching and succeeding in the postseason. It has been a while since the Astros have been relevant late in the summer and winning now is a priority.”
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Kazmir, 31, is 5-5 with a 2.38 ERA, 101 strikeouts, 35 walks, and seven home runs allowed in 109.2 innings this season. He was originally scheduled to pitch Thursday afternoon against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Because he was traded mid-season, Kazmir will not be subject to a qualifying offer when he becomes a free agent at the end of the 2015 season.
Mengden, a fourth-round pick by the Astros in 2014 out of Texas A&M, has a 3.46 ERA with 84 strikeouts and 26 walks in 88.1 innings of work in Class A this season.
Nottingham, 20, is hitting .326 with 10 home runs and 46 RBI in 230 at-bats this season in 76 games at Class A this season. He was a sixth-round selection by the Astros in 2013.
The Blue Jays reportedly showed interest in Kazmir, but could not reach a deal with Oakland.
