Astros upgrade roster with trades for 1B Mancini, C Vázquez

“Trey has been such an important part of our lives here the last, since I’ve been here, and a big part of Baltimore and a big part of this community,” Hyde said. “And you know it’s hard to see someone like him go, just a close friend to so many people.

“It wasn’t fun, but happy for him and the opportunity he’s going to have, but it’s hard to say goodbye.’

The Astros also needed depth at catcher with Jason Castro, the backup to Martín Maldonado, out with a knee injury and rookie Korey Lee filling in. Maldonado has been credited for aiding the success of Houston’s mostly young pitching staff, but he’s hitting just .173 this season, making Vázquez a significant upgrade offensively.

The 31-year-old Vázquez is hitting .282 with eight homers and 42 RBIs this season. In an eight-year career with the Red Sox, he has batted .262 with 54 homers and 266 RBIs.

Vázquez was in the Red Sox lineup Monday at Houston before being scratched just minutes before the game. Now, he’ll move to the other clubhouse at Minute Maid Park where he’ll try to help the Astros make another deep playoff push.

“This is one that I know hurts in the clubhouse,” Red Sox general manager Chaim Bloom said. “That’s something we don’t take lightly.”

He added that they could make more moves before Tuesday’s deadline.

“I don’t know yet what is to come, but as with anything, we have to be open to what is right for the organization,” he said.

The Astros sent minor league infielder Enmanuel Valdez and outfielder Wilyer Abreu to the Red Sox in the trade.

Mancini, who has been in the lineup at designated hitter 51 times this season, also could fill that role for Houston with Michael Brantley out indefinitely with a shoulder injury.

The 30-year-old Mancini is hitting .268 with 10 homers and 41 RBIs in 92 games this season. He broke into the majors with Baltimore in 2016 and batted .270 with 117 homers and 350 RBIs in 701 games with the Orioles.

“I always said I wanted to see the rebuild through and I feel like, in a lot of ways, I have,” Mancini told reporters in Arlington, Texas, where the Orioles were playing the Rangers on Monday night. “I think things are only going to get better here, and besides when I’m playing against them, I’m always gonna be rooting for these guys in here.”

Mancini missed all of 2020 after being diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer that March. He returned in 2021 and batted .255 with 21 homers, 71 RBIs and a .758 OPS in 147 games.

Houston also received minor league right-hander Jayden Murray from Tampa Bay. The Astros sent Siri to the Rays and minor league right-hander Chayce McDermott to the Orioles.

The 27-year-old Siri made his big league debut last year. He hit .178 with three homers and 10 RBIs in 48 games with Houston this season.

Mancini has a $7.5 million salary this season as part of a contract that includes a $10 million mutual option for 2023 with a $250,000 buyout.

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AP Baseball Writers Ron Blum and Stephen Hawkins and AP Sports Writer Jimmy Golen contributed to this report.

Kristie Rieken, The Associated Press

by Canadian Press

Astros upgrade roster with trades for 1B Mancini, C Vázquez

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