The Astros upgraded their rotation in a major way Wednesday.
Houston, which had been pursuing a starter for almost all of July, missed out on most of its reported targets but landed Zack Greinke in a deal with the Diamondbacks just before the deadline.
Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said he was surprised the team acquired the 35-year-old right-hander.
“I can't believe we just added Zack Greinke to this rotation and this team, was probably my first thought,” Luhnow said, via Houston station Fox 26. “I wasn’t sure it was going to happen. Throughout the afternoon there were times I thought it was dead and times I thought it was 50/50. At no point did I think it was over 50/50.
“When it all came together we just looked at each other in the room and said ‘Is this really happening?’ We just kind of had to pinch ourselves. Pretty amazing, pretty special moment."
Jeff Luhnow on his thoughts when he realized Zack Greinke was coming to the #Astros : "I can't believe we just added Zack Greinke..When it all came together we just looked at each other in the room and said is this really happening?" pic.twitter.com/BHz91vbeeF
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) July 31, 2019
Greinke holds a 10-4 record with a 2.87 ERA in 22 starts so far this season. The six-time All-Star is under contract through the 2021 season after signing a massive six-year, $206.5 million deal with Arizona in December 2015.
The Diamondbacks will send $24 million to Houston as part of the deal, The Athletic reported, covering a significant chunk of the approximately $73 million remaining on the pitcher's contract.
"I think it's a reflection of (Astros owner) Jim Crane's commitment to winning and not just bringing one championship, but multiple championships to the city of Houston,” Luhnow said. “We’ve put ourselves in a good position to that. Obviously, the players have to go out and perform, we have to have a little bit of luck. … But, we’re in a really good spot right now.”
Jeff Luhnow on the #Astros financial commitment in landing Zack Greinke: "I think it's a reflection of Jim Crane's commitment to winning and not just bringing one championship, but multiple championships to the city of Houston." pic.twitter.com/o1eUFBOzIJ
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) July 31, 2019
Houston entered play Wednesday leading the American League West with a 69-39 record. However, the Astros lacked depth in their rotation behind Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole and Wade Miley.
With Zack Greinke, the @astros now have 3 of the top 5 MLB leaders in WHIP (Verlander 1st, Greinke 2nd, Cole 5th).
— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) July 31, 2019
The last time a team finished with 3 of the top 5 leaders in WHIP in a season was the 1925 Reds (Dolf Luque, Pete Donohue, Eppa Rixey).#TakeItBack
"You just don't know when you're going to assemble a group this talented again,” Luhnow said. “So, you have to take advantage of it. … We are definitely going for it this year.”
The Astros also added right-handers Aaron Sanchez and Joe Biagini in a trade with the Blue Jays.