Astros aquire Jennings in trade

Originally Posted by ESPN

HOUSTON -- The Astros are getting Jason Jennings instead of Jon Garland to replace Andy Pettitte in their starting rotation.

Five days after a potential trade with the White Sox came apart, Houston acquired Jennings and pitcher Miguel Asencio from the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday for outfielder Willy Taveras and pitchers Taylor Buchholz and Jason Hirsh -- who all would have been sent to the White Sox.

Jennings, who was born in Dallas, was 9-13 with a 3.78 ERA last season for the Rockies. He will make $5.5 million in 2007 and is eligible to become a free agent after next season. He is Colorado's career leader in victories (58) and shutouts (three).

"This trade allows us to add three major league players to the roster as we continue our efforts to build a winner here in Colorado," Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd said.

Jennings becomes Houston's No. 2 starter behind Roy Oswalt, joined in the rotation by Wandy Rodriguez. After winning their first NL pennant in 2005, the Astros are unsure whether seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens will return for a fourth season with his hometown team.

Taveras hit .278 with one home run and 30 RBI this year. He had a 30-game hitting streak that ended Aug. 29.

Buchholz, whose medical reports may have caused the White Sox to back off a trade, was 6-10 with a 5.89 in 19 starts and three relief appearances. He was demoted to Triple-A Round Rock for a spell and made seven starts there.

Hirsh, a 24-year-old prospect who is highly rated, made his major league debut last season and was 3-4 with a 6.04 ERA in nine starts.

Asencio was 1-0 with a 4.70 ERA in three games with the Rockies last season and 8-7 with a 5.03 ERA in 16 starts and 22 relief appearances at Triple-A.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press