Astros Ship Pudge Back Home to Rangers

Like the scene at the end of any "raised it from a baby" animal movie, the time came for the Astros to put Pudge Rodriguez back where he belongs: in a Texas Rangers uniform. With the Rangers leading the AL Wild Card race, and the Astros floundering, plus the Rangers' loss of catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia to the disabled list with an excess of letters, the stars were aligned for a trade sending Pudge back to the city where he made his name.

In return, the Astros will receive two minor league players, who haven't been officially named yet but are speculated to include Matt Nevarez, a 22-year old closer currently in A-ball Spokane. If the Astros can bolster the already-strong lower rungs of their minor league affiliates, the benefits (though they would be slow in coming to the big leagues) would be drastic.

The only real question that remains is who takes over behind the plate for the Astros for the rest of this ugly season. Humberto Quintero is a solid defensive catcher, but his offensive contributions make Pudge look like, well, Pudge in his prime. J.R. Towles might get another look after his disastrous 2008 turn with the Astros; he's currently hitting .287 at Round Rock.

Smart move by Ed Wade to get some parts for tomorrow since today definitely sucks. Too bad Tejada and Valverde couldn't have been turned into some A-list prospects at the trade deadline.
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photo: flickr user sulla55