The time has finally come. Scott Kazmir has been at the epicenter of a whirlwind of trade rumors for what seems like months. On Thursday, the Oakland Athletics traded their second strongest starting pitcher to the Houston Astros in exchange for two prospects playing High-A minor league ball.
Right-handed pitcher Daniel Mengden and catcher Jacob Nottingham (who fans are already endearingly calling “The Sheriff”) are the two new additions to the A’s minor league system.
The fact that the two players the A’s got in return for Kazmir are only in High-A comes as a surprise, as it was widely reported that the A’s were going to be seeking Triple-A talent to fill in the Major League roster next season.