Ken Rosenthal just reported that the Astros have finalized a deal for Norris. L.J. Hoes appears to be the centerpiece, although there is another piece coming.
Hoes is a 23 year old outfielder hitting .304/.405/.403 in AAA. MLB.com rated him as the 7th best prospect in the Orioles system. Baseball America had him 6th and Sickels 8th. He is a Grossman type player, with a great batting eye but limited power.
UPDATE: The other piece coming the Astros way is Josh Hader. Hader is rated as the Orioles 5th best prospect by MLB.com, so maybe Hoes is the not the centerpiece after all. Hader is a 19 year old lefty, and currently has a 2.65 ERA and a 8.36 K/9. in High A. ]
It appears the Astros are also getting the Orioles 2014 competitive balance round pick. The Orioles have the 2nd competitive balance pick. The competitive balance picks fall between the first and second rounds. This will be pick #33, so essentially a first rounder.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
