Astros trade Rule 5 pick to Baltimore, select Catcher in Minor League phase
Houston selects catcher in the minor league phase of Rule 5 Draft
SAN DIEGO, CA - The Houston Astros completed a trade with Baltimore today, sending right-handed pitcher Jason Garcia, who the Astros selected fourth overall in today's Rule 5 Draft, to the Orioles in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Additionally, three Astros minor leaguers were selected in the Rule 5 Draft: outfielder Delino DeShields (TEX), right-handed pitcher Jandel Gustave (BOS) and left-handed pitcher David Rollins (SEA).
By rule, DeShields, Gustave and Rollins must remain in the Major Leagues for the entire 2015 season or be offered back to the Astros organization.
In the Triple A phase, Houston selected catcher Luis Flores from the Chicago (NL) organization, while outfielder Ariel Ovando was selected by the Cubs.
Flores, 28, split his 2014 season between Triple A Iowa (31g) and Double A Tennessee (36g), combining to hit .253 (49x243) with five home runs, 21 RBI and a .388 on-base percentage. He collected 41 walks, as opposed to 37 strikeouts on the year. Flores was originally a 2008 seventh-round pick by Chicago out of Oklahoma State.