Astros: checking in on the prospects traded for Zack Greinke

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After being activated from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, Zack Greinke returned to the bump for the Houston Astros after 16 days away due to health and safety protocol. Jake Odorizzi fell to the 10-day IL in response with right-foot soreness, as the ball club misses out on a six-man rotation once again.

Greinke was limited to 75 pitches on Tuesday, as the right-hander worked through five plus innings, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on five hits and three walks. The hurler punched out only four in the process with some location worries evident that led to three home runs.

The right-hander now sits at a 3.96 ERA as an Astros. Greinke was traded to assist in a World Series push in 2019, but now struggles as he ages. With all of the prospects included in the return making their major-league debuts, has the Greinke trade hurt the Astros’ farm system all that much?

With Zack Greinke back in the rotation, all four of the prospects traded for him have made their major-league debut. Let’s take a look at their careers in Arizona.

Seth Beer

Seth Beer was the final prospect traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks to make his major-league debut, as the outfielder/first baseman was called-up last week. The left-hander was slashing .287/.398/.511 through 362 at-bats this season in Triple-A.

The 24-year-old struck his first career home run in his first career at-bat, while totaling four hits through nine at-bats as of Monday night. The former Clemson Tiger has been the brightest prospect to come out of the Greinke trade as of right now, while having a huge upside with his plus power tool.

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While once a top pitching prospect, J.B. Bukauskas has since graduated from prospect list, as he hasn’t fared nicely in the majors.

J.B. Bukauskas

J.B. Bukauskas was among the Astros’ Top 10 prospects before he departed for Arizona, but the right-hander hasn’t come accustomed to the majors all that smoothly. The right-hander started the ’21 season in Triple-A and has been recalled and optioned multiple times this season.

Bukauskas has suffered from a right-elbow flexor strain this season, while he currently sits on the 7-day IL in Triple-A. In the majors this season, the 24-year-old has posted a 7.79 ERA over 17.1 innings with a concerning 7.3 strikeout per nine innings out of the bullpen.

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Although not solely remembered for being in the Greinke trade, Josh Rojas has quietly had a productive career.

Josh Rojas

When Josh Rojas was traded, the infielder was selected to the 40-man roster right away, as he appeared in 41 major-league games after the trade. The right-hander slashed .217/.312/.312 in that time, averaging a strikeout per game.

Since, Rojas has posted a .249/.330/.379 line, but his ’21 numbers hint to an above average future. With another year of options and a few years of team control ahead of him, the left-hander has slashed .269/.346/.428 this season in 124 games as of Monday. These numbers stand above the league average, while Rojas could be a key utility piece in the Diamondbacks’ rebuild.

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While the only prospect to make his debut with the Astros, Corbin Martin’s career has not gone as planned.

Corbin Martin

After making his debut with the Astros on Mother’s Day in 2019, Corbin Martin only started four more games for the Astros. The right-hander climbed to 5.59 ERA, as he hit a home run funk that he still hasn’t shaken off. Martin allowed eight long balls over five starts with the Astros in 2019, as he has allowed five homers in five games (three starts) in 2021.

This season, the right-hander sits at a 10.69 ERA through 16 innings (five games, three starts). Tommy John surgery in 2019 held Martin out for all of the ’20 season, as his return to the mound didn’t work out in 2021. The right-hander is now on the 7-day IL in Triple-A, where his ERA sits at 5.93 over 27.1 innings this year.

Next. Bregman is a nominee for Roberto Clemente Award. dark

Martin, Bukauskas and Beer were all among the Top 100 prospects according to MLB Pipeline at one point in their careers, but only Beer is off to a hot start. So I ask you, who has won the trade so far? Probably the Astros, since they won a pennant, as only one prospect has broken out in a small sample size for the Diamondbacks.

After an 9-1 loss on Tuesday, the Michael Brantley-less Astros return to action on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. with Jose Urquidy countering right-hander Kohei Arihara.