Outfielder Carlos Gomez brought someone to tears, and it wasn’t fans in Milwaukee. It was New York Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores who thought he and pitcher Zack Wheeler would be going to Milwaukee to for Gomez, a former product of ex-Mets general manager Omar Minaya. That trade fell apart due to apparent concern over a lingering hip injury Gomez was said to be struggling with. Gomez’s agent Scott Boras denied reports of any hip ailment.
That apparent injury did not stop the Houston Astros from going out and acquiring the two-time All-Star outfielder Gomez along with starting pitcher Mike Fiers.
FULL TRADE:
OF Carlos Gomez RHP Mike Fiers & Intl Slot 76->HOU
LHP Josh Hader RHP Adrian Houser & OFs Brett Phillips/Domingo Santana->MIL
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 30, 2015
Welcome to the #Astros, @C_Gomez27 and @Fiers64! #HTownPride pic.twitter.com/wtKvcnDx6g
— Houston Astros (@astros) July 31, 2015
Gomez brings something to the Astros that they’ve been missing, a speed threat outside of Jose Altuve, and a power bat that hits for a respectable average.
This season, Gomez has played in 74 games and recorded 8 home runs, 43 RBIs and is batting .262 while getting on base at a .328 clip.
Fiers is a versatile pitcher and can act as a a starter or reliever in a crowded Houston pitching staff. He’s logged 118 innings and has struck out 121 batters in that time. This season, he owns a 3.89 ERA and 9.2 K/9 ratio.
In return, the Brewers receive four prospects from Houston. The best prospect is outfielder Brett Phillips, ranked as Houston’s second best prospect and number 39 overall by Baseball America. Phillips is enjoying quite the season between A+ and AA batting .320 with a .377 OBP, 16 home runs, 71 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases in just 97 games.
The other prospects are outfielder Domingo Santana, and pitchers Josh Hader and Adrian Houser.
Main Photo:
PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 20: Carlos Gomez #27 of the Milwaukee Brewers bats against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning of their game on September 20, 2014 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Brewers defeated the Pirates 1-0. (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images)