The Houston Astros acquired ace Zack Greinke on Wednesday, adding another All-Star to a formidable rotation that included Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole.
The AL West leaders got Greinke in a startling trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks for four minor leaguers. It came right before the deadline to complete deals to have players eligible for the postseason.
“We are just really shocked and ecstatic,” Cole said before Houston played at Cleveland.
Cole said when the players learned of the deal there was “a lot of hooting and hollering at 4:07. We are ecstatic. We’re getting a Hall of Fame pitcher, a craftsman.”
Greinke pitched five innings earlier in the day at Yankee Stadium, giving up two runs to New York. He is 10-4 with a 2.90 ERA this season. The 35-year-old left the ballpark without commenting to reporters.
Houston also acquired catcher Martin Maldonado from the Chicago Cubs for infielder/outfielder Tony Kemp. The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, acquired right-hander Mike Leake from the Seattle Mariners for a minor leaguer.
Other moves:
• The Cleveland Indians traded starter Trevor Bauer to Cincinnati in a three-team deal that includes San Diego. Cleveland acquired slugger Yasiel Puig and left-hander Scott Moss from the Reds and outfielder Franmil Reyes, lefty Logan Allen and infielder Victor Nova from the Padres. San Diego got minor league outfielder Taylor Trammell from the Reds.
• The Detroit Tigers sent Nicholas Castellanos to the Chicago for two minor league pitchers in a deal that gives the Cubs a powerful bat against left-handed pitching.
• The Milwaukee Brewers acquired left-hander Drew Pomeranz and righty Ray Black from the San Francisco Giants for infield prospect Mauricio Dubon. San Francisco also obtained second baseman Scooter Gennett from the Reds for a player to be named. Cincinnati will send cash to the Giants. The Brewers also traded slumping slugger Jesus Aguilar to the Tampa Bay Rays. The Brewers get right-handed reliever Jake Faria, according to multiple reports.
• The Giants traded former closer Mark Melancon to the Atlanta Braves for right-handed reliever Daniel Winkler and a minor league pitcher.
• The L.A. Dodgers acquired infielder Jedd Gyorko, international cap space and cash from the St. Louis Cardinals for pitchers Tony Cingrani and Jeffrey Abreu. In another deal, the Dodgers acquired pitcher Adam Kolarek from the Rays in exchange for minor league outfielder Niko Hulsizer.
• The Washington Nationals traded for three relievers, getting right-hander Daniel Hudson from the Toronto Blue Jays and left-hander Roenis Elias and right-hander Hunter Strickland from the Mariners. Washington sent minor league right-hander Kyle Johnston to Toronto for Hudson, who can become a free agent at the end of the season. The Nationals dealt three pitching prospects to Seattle for Elias and Strickland.
• The playoff-contending Oakland Athletics acquired starter Tanner Roark from the Reds for outfield prospect Jameson Hannah.
• The Texas Rangers acquired right-hander Nate Jones from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for minor league pitchers Joe Jarneski and Ray Castro.
