Frank Franklin II/Associated Press
Two summers ago, the Houston Astros traded for a right-handed pitcher born in 1983 who had once won the American League Cy Young Award. That pitcher, Justin Verlander, carried the Astros to the World Series, which they won for the first time.
The Astros made that deal in August, after Verlander had gotten through waivers. With no waiver trading period this year, the Astros had to act by Wednesday’s deadline to improve a team that is running away with the A.L. West. They turned to 2017 for inspiration, sending four prospects to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Zack Greinke and cash.