Houston Astros, New York Mets make minor deal

The Houston Astros and New York Mets announced a minor trade today, with the Mets acquiring infielders J.D. Davis and Cody Bohanek from Houston in exchange for infielder Luis Santana, outfielder Ross Adolph and catcher Scott Manea.

Davis is the main piece in this deal — the 25 year old has played primarily third base in the majors for the Astros over the past two years, but has slashed just .194/.260/.321. Davis has hit well in AAA, but with no clear path to playing time in the majors, and with the Astros facing a potential 40 man roster crunch, Houston apparently opted to move him on for a package of lower-tier prospects who are a few years away. Davis will presumably get a chance to claim a roster spot with the Mets as a righty corner bench bat.

Given that Davis’s primary position is third base, and given the Rangers don’t really have a viable third base option right now, I’m curious if Texas engaged with Houston at all on Davis.

Bohanek was a 30th round pick in 2017 who plays all the infield positions and looks like an organizational depth guy who could possibly, if things go right and a need arises, be a utility infield option at some point.

Santana is the prize in the deal for Houston. A 19 year old undersized (he’s listed at 5’8”) second baseman, he has hit in a pro, albeit in rookie ball, and gets praise for his hit tool and bat-to-ball skills. The Astros have had success in the recent past with an undersized second baseman with great bat-to-ball skills.

Adolph is a 22 year old outfielder who was a 12th round pick in 2018, and who had a nice debut in the New York Penn League in 2018. Manea is a 23 year old catcher who had a decent year in the Sally League for the Mets. Both are very fringy prospects, if not organizational depth.