Astros acquire right-hander Villarreal from Atlanta http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/...ent_id=2301963&vkey=pr_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros announced today that the club has acquired right-handed pitcher Oscar Villarreal from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for outfielder Josh Anderson. The Astros also signed outfielder Yordany Ramirez, formerly of the San Diego organization, to a Major League contract that includes a spot on the 40-man roster. The announcement was made by Astros General Manager Ed Wade. "Oscar Villarreal gives us another experienced, durable arm for the bullpen," said Wade. "He has the ability to pitch late in a game, throw multiple innings and pitch back-to-back days. We gave up a good, young prospect in Josh Anderson, but with the additions of Michael Bourn and Yordany Ramirez, along with our earlier waiver claim of Reggie Abercrombie, we had the outfield depth to make this move." "Yordany Ramirez ranks as one of the top defensive outfielders at the higher minor league levels, and we think that he will continue to make significant progress with the bat. Felix Francisco, our recently hired Director of Latin American Scouting, originally signed Yordany while working for the San Diego Padres, and he thinks that Yordany will develop into a front-line big league player. There were several teams pursuing Ramirez, and we thought enough of his ability to sign him to a Major League contract." Villarreal, who turns 26 on November 22, was 2-2 with one save and a 4.24 ERA (36ER/76.1IP) in 51 games for Atlanta in 2007. The right-hander has appeared in 223 career Major League games and owns a 23-12 record with one save and a 3.71 career ERA (123ER/298.1IP). He has pitched the last two seasons for the Braves (2006-07) after three big league seasons with Arizona (2003-05). Villarreal was acquired by the Braves in December of 2005 along with right-hander Lance Cormier in exchange for catcher Johnny Estrada. He was originally signed by Arizona as a non-drafted free agent on Nov. 6, 1998. During his rookie season of 2003, Villarreal pitched in a National League rookie-record 86 games and finished 10-7 with a 2.57 ERA (28ER/98IP). His 86 appearances in 2003 also set the Major League record for the most in one season by a pitcher from Mexico, eclipsing the previous mark of 84 set by Enrique Romo of Pittsburgh in 1979. Anderson, 25, hit .358 (24x67) with three doubles and 11 runs batted in during 21 games with the Astros in 2007. He played in 132 games at Triple A Round Rock, hitting .273 (140x513) with two home runs, 43 RBI, and 40 stolen bases. Anderson was selected by Houston in the fourth round of the June 2003 draft. The 23-year-old Ramirez is a native of Boca Chica, DR and hit .269 (77x286) with four home runs, 43 RBI, and 22 stolen bases for Class A Lake Elsinore of the San Diego organization in 2007. He also played in 30 games for Triple A Portland this season, hitting .315 (40x127) with four home runs, 18 RBI, and six stolen bases. Ramirez is currently playing for Licey in the Dominican Winter League, hitting .344 (11x32) with five RBI in 12 games. In Baseball America's 2007 Best Tools Survey, Ramirez was tabbed as being the Best Defensive Outfielder and the player with the Best Outfield Arm in the San Diego organization. He was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent on Apr. 23, 2001.
Good trade. Josh Anderson is nothing but a 4th outfielder. His minor league stats are more telling than his September run he had. Oscar is a solid 7th innings guy.
Looks like a good trade to me. We traded a player who really didn't have a place on the team for a pretty good bullpen arm. I'll take that. It will interesting to see what happens with Ramirez.
That's a pretty good deal. Turned a September hot streak from a guy who was unlikely to make the club again into a good reliever. Can't argue about that. Then signed another young OF prospect with speed to burn. I have nothing but good things to say about Ed Wade to this point.
Who is this guy Yordany Ramirez?? Class A to triple A to guaranteed spot on major league roster, at 23, sounds like a serious prospect, right?
very nice deal. figured luke scott would have been in a deal like this instead of anderson. so have the braves announced if Anderson will be the starting CF?
His stats isn't very good except for his short stint in AAA last year. Also, he was playing in the PCL, so you have to take his offensive improvements with a grain of salt. I doubt he will be anything more than a 5th outfielder/pinch runner at the major league level. http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/R/Yordany-Ramirez.shtml
Last year between A and AAA, he hit .283 with 8 homers, 61 RBI and a .714 OPS. He's still only 23, has good speed (28 steals last season) and plus defense. I'm intrigued.
If you look at the braves roster at MLB.com there is a video highlight of a start that Villareal had for the Braves. According to it he 'throws as high as 96 mph'. The video shows a few nice sinkers with horizontal tailing action away from lefties and a decent slider with a small but late break. All of the highlight pitches are low in the zone. Not sure if he can throw consistently, of course. And he throws from slightly below three quarters.
dont get too excited about yordany. no plate discipline and he has pretty much no track record of success. raw tools is what he's all about. lets see if he can polish his skills
I think, especially in the NL Central, it's little, cost-effective, moves like this that will really do us a lot of good. I would look to trade Luke Scott for a middle of the rotation starter, pick up another reliever, and sign one of Castillo, Matsui or Iguchi for 2nd base, and be set.
<~~~Braves Fan Oscar is going to have those nights where he is so solid you begin to wonder if he could close out games for you. Then other nights, I dont think he could get his grandmother out. Not a bad trade for just Anderson.
As a Braves fan, I'm extremely disappointed by this trade. I've been saying it for awhile, but Anderson is a nobody. Speedy guys who can't get on base and have no pop are utterly worthless. Villarreal is no star, but he's only 25 and is an average reliever who can start in a pinch. Astros win this deal in a big way.
