Padres make trade with Astros

The San Diego Padres made a trade with the Houston Astros on Wednesday.

San Diego sent pitching prospect Jose Oyervidez to Houston for a player to be named later. The Padres are believed to have a list of at least five players to choose from within the Astros minor leagues.

The rules of a player to be named later trade are the transaction must close within six months and the player must change leagues. Since Houston is in the same league, the player must come from the minor leagues.

Oyervidez has a career 14-30 minor league record with a 3.94 ERA over 124 games, including 61 starts. In 404 innings, he allowed 354 hits, walked 208 and struck out 393.

He missed most of the 2007 season after having surgery on his throwing arm and was in extended spring training awaiting his fate. The Padres had considered sending him to Mexico before finding a trade market for him.

According to sources, the Los Angeles Angels were also interested in acquiring the services of Oyervidez.

General manager Ed Wade was a professional scout for the Padres the two previous seasons before accepting the job in Houston.