The Colorado Rockies and the Houston Astros traded arms in Nashville on Tuesday in a deal that sent RHP Wilton Lopez and a player to be named later or cash to Colorado in exchange for RHPs Alex White and Alex Gillingham.
It was the first trade at the Winter Meetings this year.
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Apparently the Rockies are satisfied in thinking that the right-hander can stay healthy and that his elbow isn’t an issue.
Lopez put up a sub-3.00 ERA in each of the last three seasons for the Astros, collecting 10 saves and a 2.17 ERA in 64 games in 2012, before finishing with a record of 6-3.
The 29-year-old is known for his precision control, which led to 54 strikeouts and just eight walks in 66-1/3 innings last season.
Meanwhile, the 24-year-old White split duty last season with the Rockies and Triple-A Colorado Springs where he was 2-9 with a 5.51 ERA in 23 games for the Rockies. Although he tanked in Colorado, he is an attention-grabbing pickup by Houston.
Gillingham, 23, was 6-8 with a 3.66 ERA in his first full pro season at Class-A.
