Phillies Trade Closer Ken Giles To Houston

According to baseball cliche, good pitching will always outdo good hitting. Both the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros are attempting to put that wisdom to the test.

The Phillies are sending closer Ken Giles west to an Astros team in need of bullpen support. Last year, Houston’s relievers averaged a league-worst 91.1 mph on their fastballs; Giles’ heater can clock in at over 98 mph. He also has back-to-back seasons with ERAs under 2.00 and has 151 strikeouts in 115major league innings.

In return, Philadelphia had one desire: “Pitching. And more pitching,” an executive told ESPN.

In return, Houston sent them pitchers Vincent Velasquez and Brett Oberholtzer, in addition to a third significant prospect and a fourth player.

The other players are reportedly going to the Phillies are minor league outfielder Derek Fisher and right-handed pitching prospect Thomas Eshelman, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Based on the Phillies’ recent struggles, they are using this opportunity to build for the future. Meanwhile in Texas, the Astros will hope that bullpen reinforcements will help them make it over the postseason hump.

Photo: Ken Giles #53 of the Philadelphia Phillies delivers a pitch in the ninth inning against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on September 29, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 4-3. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)

Article by Joe Kozlowski