Hoes still getting acclimated to new club

HOUSTON -- Astros outfielder L.J. Hoes, acquired from the Orioles a week ago in the Bud Norris trade, had never stepped foot in Houston prior to Monday's series opener against the Red Sox. Needless to say, the trade has thrown his life upside down off the field.

"There's a lot going on, just like still trying to get out of my lease [in Baltimore] with my apartment I had and paying rent," he said. "The Orioles are supposed to reimburse me for that. I'm also trying to get all my stuff from over there, getting my car shipped out here. I have to sign new papers with my new team. There's a lot that goes into being traded. It has its ups and downs, but the ups outweigh the down."

Hoes said he'll probably spend the rest of the season in a hotel in Houston, which makes sense considering the amount of time he'll spend on the road with the club. He said his future plans depend on how the rest of the season goes.

"I don't know what the outlook is for next year, but I'll maybe try to find a place here and stay," he said. "Just have to go out there and not worry about all that stuff and get on the field."

Hoes, who grew up in Bowie, Md., as an Orioles fan, has taken notice of how oppressively hot it can get in Houston in the summer.

"I enjoy the hot weather," he said. "It may be a tad too hot, but it's better than the cold."