The Following is a Press Release from the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball. The team announced a trade with the Houston Astros to reacquire Jed Lowrie.
A’s acquire IF Jed Lowrie from Houston for RHP Brendan McCurry
The Oakland A’s acquired infielder Jed Lowrie from the Houston Astros for minor league right-handed pitcher Brendan McCurry, the club announced today. A corresponding 40-man roster move will be announced later.
Lowrie batted .222 with nine home runs and 30 RBI in 69 games with Houston last year. He missed three months of the season with a torn ligament in his right thumb but returned July 30 and hit .194 with five home runs and 20 RBI over his final 51 games. The 31-year-old switch hitter started 45 games at third base and 16 at shortstop. Lowrie spent two seasons with the A’s from 2013-14 and batted .290 with 21 home runs and 125 RBI in 290 games. He signed a three-year contract with Houston following the 2014 season and is a .257 career hitter in 712 games in eight seasons.
McCurry led the A’s farm system with 27 saves last year, tallying 21 and a 1.94 ERA in 36 relief appearances with Single-A Stockton and six with a 1.62 ERA in 14 outings with Double-A Midland. He struck out 82 while walking 17 in 63.0 innings. The 23-year-old right-hander is 3-3 with 29 saves and a 1.37 ERA in 67 career appearances in two professional seasons. McCurry was originally selected by the A’s in the 22nd round the 2014 draft.
————–
The Astros Press Release follows.
Astros Acquire McCurry from A’s in Exchange for Lowrie
Right-handed reliever posted 1.86 ERA with 27 saves in 2015
HOUSTON, TX – The Houston Astros have acquired minor league right-handed pitcher Brendan McCurry from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for infielder Jed Lowrie. The announcement was made by Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow.
McCurry, 23, had outstanding numbers at two levels in the A’s minor league system in 2015. In 50 combined relief appearances at Double A Midland (14g) and Class A Stockton (36g), he posted a 1.86 ERA (13ER/63IP) with 27 saves in 28 chances while tallying 82 strikeouts and 17 walks in his 63.0 innings of work. McCurry allowed just 39 hits for a .175 opponent batting average (0.89 WHIP).
In his two career minor league seasons combined, McCurry has a 1.37 ERA in 67 relief appearances (14ER/91.2IP) with 29 saves in 30 chances, 20 walks and 119 strikeouts. McCurry was selected by Oakland in the 23rd round of the 2014 MLB First Year Player Draft after starring at Oklahoma State University.
Lowrie, 31, hit .222 (51×230) in 69 games for the Astros in 2015 with nine home runs and 30 RBI. He saw limited action due to a lengthy stint on the Disabled List after suffering a torn ligament in his right thumb. Lowrie, who was signed by the Astros as a free agent prior to last season, made 47 starts at third base and 17 starts at shortstop for Houston. He has appeared in 712 games in his Major League career, which includes stints in Boston (2008-11), Houston (2012, 2015) and Oakland (2013-14).
Main Photo: HOUSTON, TX – JULY 29: Jed Lowrie #8 of the Oakland Athletics throws to first base to retire Marwin Gonzalez #9 of the Houston Astros in the seventh inning at Minute Maid Park on July 29, 2014 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
