Scott Kazmir is headed to the Astros. Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
HOUSTON — The surprising trajectory of the Houston Astros this season rendered a trade deadline acquisition almost inevitable, but that didn’t dissuade Houston general manager Jeff Luhnow from acknowledging what contention has wrought for the franchise as a whole and for him personally.
Up until Thursday, Luhnow executed trades as part of a prolonged rebuild designed to reconstruct the Astros’ depleted farm system. But then came the news that Houston had acquired Athletics left-hander Scott Kazmir, a move that cemented what was abundantly clear: Houston will doggedly pursue its first postseason berth since 2005.
“It’s rewarding, and I think it’s important that the players on the team and the fans of the Astros recognize that (owner) Jim Crane was committed to winning and we see an opportunity here to potentially win the division and go deep in the playoffs and we’re going to take it,” Luhnow said. “Whether it costs money or prospects or in this case both, we’re willing to do that.
“And it’s satisfying. It’s what you want to be doing as a GM.”
Luhnow had made clear in recent weeks the Astros’ willingness to dig into its stockpile of prospects and commit salary to the cause of pursing the postseason. Kazmir, completing a 2-year, $22 million contract, will cost the club roughly $4.4 million the remainder of the season. Kazmir also cost the Astros a pair of low-level yet promising prospects in right-hander Daniel Mengden and catcher Jacob Nottingham. That Houston is in position to both absorb salary and deliver prospects speaks to how far they’ve come and the promise of their successful rebuild.
“You don’t always have the luxury of doing it if your team is not performing and if you don’t have a competitive team you’re not in that position,” Luhnow said. “But we’re in it for the first time since I’ve been here and I hope we’re in it every year from now on.”
