The Astros skirted the free-agent route and engineered a trade with Tampa Bay to bring right-handed pitcher Austin Pruitt home to Houston in exchange for outfielder Cal Stevenson and pitcher Peyton Battenfield.
The 30-year-old product of the University of Houston began his Major League career when he made his debut for the Rays in 2017. Tampa Bay utilized Pruitt mostly as a relief pitcher while filling in periodically as a starter. Astros GM Jeff Luhnow plans to give him every opportunity to fill one of the open slots at the back end of their rotation.