Ken Rosenthal just tweeted out that the Astros have claimed outfielder Eric Thames, who had been designated for assignment on September 1, from the Orioles.
Thames, 26, was the Blue Jays' 7th Round draft pick in the 2008 draft. He hasn't played in the majors in 2013, hitting .232/.273/.399 in 86 games (290 PAs) for the Blue Jays and Mariners in 2012. His best year in the Majors was his rookie year, 2011, when in 95 games he hit .262/.313/.456
Thames was hitting .295/.382/.479 in 56 games for Triple-A Tacoma when he was traded to Baltimore on June 30. For Triple-A Norfolk, Thames hit .252/.315/.356 in 149 PAs, and .216/.286/.318 in 24 August games for the Tides.
Thames has a career .754 OPS against RHP (.821 OPS in the minors this year) and a .634 OPS against LHP, so there are platoons in his future with the Astros. This will provide some outfield depth as the Astros try to just get through the end of the season with beating hearts.
UPDATE: Hector Ambriz has been designated for assignment to make room for Thames.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
