HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610)- The Astros added a piece to their bullpen before Tuesday's trade deadline by acquiring left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson from the New York Yankees for minor league pitcher Kelly Austin and international bonus money.
Ferguson is 1-3 with a 5.13 ERA in 42 games this season after being traded to the Yankees from the Los Angeles Dodgers during spring training. He has struck out 26.5 percent of the hitters he's faced, his highest strikeout rate in a full season since 2019.
"We like the arm," Astros manager Joe Espada said. "We've liked the arm for years. It can be really good against lefties and righties. We have seen things in his execution that we can help him with, so I'm excited to get him here and get him with our pitching guys."
"Explosive fastball, really good deception," Astros general manager Dana Brown said. "Wicked slider, throws it from 89 to 91 MPH, and so we're looking forward to him pitching some important innings."
Ferguson has held left-handed hitters to a .196/.356/.283 slash line this season. Righties have compiled an OPS almost 200 points higher.
