Yahoo Sports Astros acquire center fielder Carlos Gomez from Brewers
Nearly a day after the alleged condition of his hips scuttled a trade to the New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Carlos Gomez – along with starting pitcher Mike Fiers – was traded to the Houston Astros on Thursday.
The aggressively rebuilding Brewers and hyper-motivated Astros proved to be the match the Brewers and Mets were not. Actually, that they were for a while before they were not.
In less than a full day, Gomez, the highly athletic and in-your-face center fielder, was told he’d been traded to the Mets, told the deal fell apart because of a condition in his hips only the Mets seemed able to see, and then told he was wanted in a pennant race in Houston.
When the Astros were satisfied with Gomez’s medicals, he’d have to say good-bye to his Brewers teammates. Again.
CBS Sports was first to report the Astros had acquired the two players.
The Brewers, who would have added pitcher Zack Wheeler and infielder Wilmer Flores from the Mets, are to receive four minor leaguers from the Astros – outfielders Brett Phillips and Domingo Santana, left-hander Josh Hader and right-hander Adrian Houser. The Astros will receive an international bonus slot, as well, worth $287,500.
Gomez, 29, is under contract through 2016. His salary next season is $9 million. An All-Star in 2013 and 2014, when he bloomed into a slick defender who could also hit for power, Gomez has not produced as well in 2015. He has struggled particularly in the second half, batting .189 over the past two weeks.
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Gomez likely will become Houston’s everyday center fielder, in place of Jake Marisnick. He told reporters in Milwaukee he has no concern over the condition of his hips.
Fiers, 30, is 5-9 with a 3.89 ERA in 21 starts for the Brewers. He is controllable through 2019.
The Astros acquired lefty Scott Kazmir from the Oakland A’s only a week ago. Fiers would fit in the back of the rotation, behind Dallas Keuchel, Collin McHugh, rookie Lance McCullers and Kazmir, and alongside veteran Scott Feldman.
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