Athletics acquire SS Jed Lowrie from Astros for minor-league pitcher
The Oakland Athletics have acquired shortstop Jed Lowrie in a trade with the Houston Astros, the team announced Wednesday.
In exchange for the 31-year-old, Oakland will send minor league pitcher Brendan McCurry to Houston. McCurry, 23, is ranked as the No. 30 prospect in the A’s minor league system by MLB.com.
The move reunites Lowrie with the team he walked away from in free agency before the 2015 season. Lowrie spent the 2013 and '14 seasons with the A’s, playing in 290 games and tallying 300 hits and 125 RBIs. He had his best season in the majors in 2013, hitting .290 with 15 home runs and 75 RBIs.
Lowrie struggled to find the success he had with the Athletics in Houston, playing in just 69 games and hitting .222. He tore a ligament in his right thumb early in the season, forcing him to spend much of it on the disabled list.
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Lowrie did not expect the trade, reports Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.
The eight-year veteran started his major league career with the Boston Red Sox in 2008.
