Source: #Astros get Osuna from #BlueJays.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 30, 2018
Ken Giles going from #Astros to #BlueJays in Osuna deal, source says.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 30, 2018
Giles' underlying numbers suggest he's been much better than his ERA indicates. He's striking out 9.1 per nine, walking 0.9 per nine, and allowing 0.6 homers per nine.
— Blue Jays Nation (@thejaysnation) July 30, 2018
OFFICIAL: We've acquired RHP Ken Giles, minor league RHP Hector Perez and minor league RHP David Paulino from the @Astros in exchange for RHP Roberto Osuna. pic.twitter.com/JG98oa0cXj
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 30, 2018
Since landing a modest $45,000 bonus at the relatively advanced age of 18 out of the Dominican Republic in 2014, Perez has emerged as one of the best arms in the Astros system. He came straight to the United States for his 2015 pro debut and earned rapid promotions in each of his first three pro seasons. His control lapsed last year but he still recorded a 3.44 ERA at two Class A stops because he was able to overpower hitters.Perez can blow his fastball by hitters, ranging from 93-99 mph with two-seamers with nice sink and four-seamers with explosive riding life. He also can produce wipeout breaking stuff when he’s on, though there are times when he can’t find the strike zone with his slider or curveball. He uses a splitter as a changeup, and it likewise can elicit swings and misses or avoid the plate.Opponents struggle to make solid contact against Perez, who has four pitches that can grade as plus or better but lose effectiveness when he can’t tame them. He’s athletic enough to figure out control and command, but his delivery has timing issues that have prevented him from ever throwing consistent strikes. His walk rate jumped from 4.5 per nine innings in his first two seasons to 6.5 in his third, a sign that he’s more likely to become a late-inning reliever than a frontline starter. – MLB Pipeline
Houston has made a habit out of plucking big league arms out of Rookie ball in trades, with Francis Martes, Joe Musgrove and Paulino all examples. Paulino needed Tommy John surgery when the Astros asked for him as part of a Jose Veras deal with the Tigers in mid-2013, but they still were attracted to his quick arm and tall body. He has one of the highest ceilings in the system, but he’s also its most frustrating prospect because he totaled just 246 1/3 innings in his first eight pro seasons and drew an 80-game suspension last July after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.Paulino has the raw ingredients to become a successful starting pitcher. His fastball has gone from the mid-80s when he signed for $75,000 to 91-95 mph now, peaking at 98, with a lot of downhill plane generated by his 6-foot-7 frame. He has a power breaking ball that he can turn into a curveball (which can be a hammer at times) or a harder, though less consistent, slider, and his changeup also has its moments as a plus pitch.Paulino fills the strike zone too, though big leaguers have taken advantage of the fact that his command isn’t as sharp as his control. His velocity was down in 2017, though that likely was related to the bone spurs he had removed from his elbow in September. He had his elbow reconstructed in 2014 and had tendinitis in the joint in 2016, and he has yet to show any evidence of durability. – MLB Pipeline
Astros are in town the last home series of the season: September 24-26. #BlueJays
— Jordan Davidson (@jordangeville) July 30, 2018