The Astros have dealt 26-year old righty closer Mark Melancon to the Boston Red Sox for 27-year old switch-hitting shortstop Jed Lowrie and 25-year old righty starting pitcher Kyle Weiland. Melancon pitched in 71 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 8-4 with 20 saves, a 2.78 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. He pitched in 91 games (0 starts) in his two years with the Astros and he was 8-4 with 20 saves, a 2.78 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Jed Lowrie will take over as the Astros’ starting shortstop in 2012. He played in 88 games for the Red Sox last year and he was 78 for 309 (.252 avg, .685 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 6 homers, 36 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 256 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 204 of 808 (.252 avg, .732 OPS) with 110 runs scored, 19 homers, 117 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Kyle Weiland pitched in 7 games (5 starts) for the Red Sox last year in heavy pressure situations late in the season and he was 0-3 with a 7.66 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP. He looked very nervous in the pressure cooker of a playoff race. He also pitched in 24 games (all starts) in AAA-ball for the Red Sox last year and he was 8-10 with a 3.58 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Weiland will get a shot to win a job in the Astros’ starting rotation next spring. I like this deal for the Astros.

The Astros have acquired 22-year old switch-hitting 2B/SS Marwin Gonzalez from the Red Sox for 25-year old righty starter/reliever Marco Duarte and cash. Gonzalez played in 124 games in AA+AAA-ball for the Cubs last year and he was 119 of 413 (.288 avg, .742 OPS) with 53 runs scored, 4 homers, 39 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. He has now played in 510 games in his first six years in the minors and he is 465 of 1,800 (.258 avg, .657 OPS) with 192 runs scored, 15 homers, 202 RBIs and 47 stolen bases. Gonzalez will likely make the Astros’ roster next spring as they won’t want to give him back to the Cubs. Marco Duarte was taken in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft, so the Astros won’t miss him.

The Astros have selected 25-year old righty reliever Rhiner Cruz from the Detroit Tigers in the Rule 5 Draft today. Cruz pitched in 44 games (0 starts) in A+AA-ball last year for the Tigers and he was 5-3 with 7 saves, a 3.89 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. He has now pitched in 215 games (1 start) in his first seven years in the minors and he is 14-16 with 43 saves, a 3.44 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. Cruz has whiffed 320 batters in his first 340 innings in the minors, but he has also walked 209 batters. Cruz has a good arm but he will need to tighten up his control a bit to excel. Cruz will have a really good shot of winning a job in the Astros’ bullpen next spring because they won’t want to give him back to the Tigers.

The Astros have signed 27-year old righty swinging shortstop Diory Hernandez to a minor league deal. Hernandez played in 22 games for the Braves last year and he was 7 for 33 (.212 avg, .545 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 1 homer and 4 RBIs. He also played in 79 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 55 for 273 (.201 avg, .537 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 5 homers, 26 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Hernandez has now played in 75 games in parts of three years in the majors and he is 20 for 127 (.157 avg, .455 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 3 homers and 11 RBIs. Add Hernandez to the host of minor league free agents who will try to make the Astros out of spring training.