Trade talks involving Norris ongoing

HOUSTON -- With starting pitcher Matt Garza heading to the Rangers from the Cubs, Astros right-hander Bud Norris becomes one of the next biggest prizes on the trade market. The non-waiver Trade Deadline is July 31.

Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said on Monday the team remains in conversations about Norris, but he didn't sound as if a trade was imminent.

"Lot of chatter and no activity on our side right now," he said before the Garza deal was official. "I'm hearing there was a big trade today, and if that's true, that may start a series of different type of talks now that one of the big chips has been moved."

Norris, 28, is 6-9 with a 3.91 ERA in 20 starts this year and has been the Astros' most consistent starting pitcher. Luhnow hasn't been shy about trading veteran players for prospects in the last 18 months, and the fact Norris makes $3 million and is eligible for arbitration again this winter could make a trade more likely.

"There's quite a bit of interest in several of our players," Luhnow said. "A lot of teams are in it. We're getting phone calls from a lot of different teams, and we're fielding them and having conversations. I can't handicap if we're looking as if we're going to get a deal, but I'll be happy either way."