Porter to Norris: Focus on pitching, ignore rumors

TORONTO -- Astros manager Bo Porter acknowledged Sunday there's still a chance right-handed pitcher Bud Norris could be dealt prior to Wednesday's non-waiver Trade Deadline.

Norris, who's scheduled to pitch Tuesday in Baltimore, is 0-2 with an 8.47 ERA in his last three starts, and Porter spoke to him last week about the importance of worrying about pitching and ignoring any rumors. Porter thinks Norris is in a better frame of mind now.

"I explained this to Bud in several conversations in which we've had as it relates to this whole trade rumor: the best thing you can do is go out and play," Porter said. "I don't have a crystal ball, Bud Norris doesn't have a crystal ball. None of us are psychic. We can't predict what's going to happen. Is there a probability? Yes, because he's a commodity which other people would like to have, but at the same time he's a commodity for us as well.

"Like I said to him, just go out and pitch and don't worry about what the next day is going to bring and whether you're going to be here or someplace else. Let the decision-makers that are making those decisions be able to be allowed to make the decisions, and you control the portion of this that's in your hands, which is your performance."

Relief pitcher Jose Veras could also be moved prior to Wednesday, and Porter acknowledged there's a chance some deals could be made.

"When you have players other teams are interested in, you're bouncing a bunch of things off the wall," Porter said. "Obviously, I'm here on the field with the day to day, so I'm not privileged to all the many conversations in which they're having, but [general manager] Jeff [Luhnow] and I are in communication in relation to the different teams that are interested in our players."