I totally missed this from last night, but the Astros have traded Fernando Martinez to the Yankees for pitcher Charles Basford.
Who is this Charles Basford? Well, he's a 22-year old 6'2" 210lb RHP, drafted in the 37th Round of the 2012 draft out of Samford University.
In 18 games last season, all in relief, Basford in 24.1IP allowed 33H/14ER, 22K:8BB for Staten Island in the New York-Penn League, for a 5.18 ERA/1.69 WHIP. In his final six games of 2012, he allowed 5H/0Er, 7K:0BB in 9.2IP. And in such a short season, reliever numbers can get skewed pretty easily.
In one appearance in Staten Island's young season in 2013, Basford threw 2IP, 4H/1ER, 1K:0BB.
Martinez was a roll of the dice, anyway, for the Astros. Add his non-production (.709 OPS in 52 games/165 PAs for Houston) to the possible Biogenesis "scandal," and this really just clears up some room in the outfield for OKC. George Springer perhaps?
Update: Jon Heyman just put up a post about how suspensions are "likely" in the Biogenesis deal.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
