JENNINGS HEADS TO HOUSTON FOR THREE
The Houston Astros acquired pitchers Jason Jennings and Miguel Asencio from the Colorado Rockies for outfielder Willy Taveras and pitchers Jason Hirsh and Taylor Buchholz.
What does it give the Houston Astros
After losing Andy Pettitte and possibly Roger Clemens to free agency this off-season, the Astros knew they were going to have to rebuild their rotation. The addition of Woody Williams last month was a start and Jennings is an excellent follow-up. Still early in his prime, at 28, the big righty has had solid results in Colorado, which should only translate into even better results away from Colorado's thin air. At the moment, he fits in as the No. 2 or 3 starter in Houston. And in Asencio they got a righty with some promise, having spent 2006 trying to regain his form (mostly in the minors) after missing most of two seasons due to injury. The hard-throwing 26-year-old could compete for a spot in the back of the rotation and if he doesn't make it there he could be used out of the bullpen in 2007.
What does it give the Colorado Rockies
Though the Rockies lost a quality starter in this deal, they gained plenty of what they need. They searched desperately in 2006 to find a center-fielder in their system but here they've finally broken down and got one from the outside in Taveras. He's got the consistent bat and base-stealing speed that will serve them well at the top of the lineup for many years. Hirsh is a gigantic young righty who should fill Jennings' vacancy in the rotation. Over the past two seasons, he's broken through as a major prospect, with tremendous results at Double- and Triple-A. If he can carry that success over to Colorado, which is no small order, he could become their ace in the very near future. Buchholz gives the Rockies yet another promising, young righty. Still just 25, he was a big prospect with the Phillies earlier in the decade and finally made his big-league debut with the Astros this year and had mixed results. Of course, Colorado is the last place any young pitcher wants to go, especially when he's trying to establish himself, but he'll get a shot at carving out a starting role in Denver this spring.
Fantasy impact
