Houston Astros Acquire Dexter Fowler From Colorado Rockies

The Houston Astros have acquired outfielder Dexter Fowler from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for outfielder Brandon Barnes and right-hander Jordan Lyles.  The Astros will also receive a player to be named later.

Fowler hit .263 with 18 doubles, 42 RBI and 19 stolen bases in 119 games last season. Fowler, a switch-hitter who primarily plays center field, hit .300 in 2012.

Houston GM Jeff Luhnow of Fowler . “One of our goals this offseason was to bring in an outfielder who can spark our offense, Dexter is an exciting player who can help with the bat, with his legs and with his glove.”

For his part, “I’m very excited about going to the Astros, but this is bittersweet because the Rockies drafted me and I’m thankful that they drafted me and I could get my career started,” Fowler said in a conference call. “I look at this like a new beginning.”  Fowler had been mentioned in trade talks for several weeks as the Rockies continue their search for pitching.

He is scheduled to earn $7.35 million in 2014 and will remain under team control through 2015 as an arbitration eligible player.

Barnes, hit .240 with eight home runs and 41 RBI as a rookie last season. Barnes was originally a sixth-round pick by Houston in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft.

Finding room in a crowded Rockies outfield may be an issue for Barnes one that includes Michael Cuddyer, Corey Dickerson, Charlie Blackmon and Carlos Gonzalez.

The 23-year-old Lyles was 7-9 with one save and a 5.59 ERA in 27 games — 25 starts — in 2013. Lyles was a supplemental first-round pick by the Astros in 2008. Taking on Lyles is a bit of a gamble for Colorado  who has mostly struggled over three big-league seasons.