Astros Send Laureano to Athletics For Pitcher

The Astros cleared a 40-man roster spot shortly before Monday’s deadline, trading outfielder Ramon Lauerano to the Athletics in exchange for righthander Brandon Bailey. Both are prospects yet to make their major league debuts.

In a corresponding move, the A’s outrighted righthander Bobby Wahl to make room on their own 40-man for Laureano.

Athletics acquire:
Ramon Lauerano, OF (Double-A Corpus Christi)
Age: 23

Laureano led the minors with a .426 on-base percentage at high Class A Lancaster in 2016 but slumped to a .227/.298/.369 line at Double-A in 2017 as he seemed to rework his swing in ways that didn’t pay off. Laureano lacks a carrying tool but is average or better at all three outfield positions, is an efficient basestealer (24 for 29 in 2017) and has 20-plus doubles with double-digit homers the last two seasons. Coming into the season, evaluators saw Laureano as a fourth outfielder who could play all three outfield spots, but but he’ll have to rediscover his stroke and on-base ability in his new organization.

Astros acquire:
Brandon Bailey, RHP (high Class A Stockton)

Age: 23
The Athletics drafted Bailey in the sixth round out of Gonzaga in 2016. Bailey ranked among the national leaders in strikeouts his final year of college and struck out 120 in 91 innings between low Class A Beloit and high Class A Stockton in his first full season this year. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound righthander sits in the low 90s and gets up to 94 with his lively fastball that plays up considerably, and he mixes in a slider that flashes plus. Short and stocky with some effort to his delivery, Bailey starts now but projects as a reliever down the road, where his fastball-slider combo and longstanding ability to miss bats fit seamlessly.