Houston Astros Make Blockbuster Trade For Starter Zack Greinke

The AL-leading Houston Astros made the biggest splash on MLB's Trade Deadline Day, landing former Cy Young winner Zack Greinke from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Astros sent four prospects to Arizona in exchange for the 35-year-old righthander. After the trade, one of five that Houston made on Wednesday, the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook made the Astros the 2-1 favorite to win the World Series. Entering the day, they had been co-favorites with the Los Angeles Dodgers, at 3-1.

Greinke (10-4), who won the Cy Young award in 2009 while pitching for the Kansas City Royals, is having one of the best seasons of his 16-year career. His ERA of 2.90 is his best since 2015 when he finished second in the NL Cy Young award voting. And his WHIP of 0.95 is second in the majors, behind only new teammate Justin Verlander's 0.81.

The acquisition of the six-time All-Star gives the Astros (69-39), who already own the best record in the AL, a formidable rotation for the postseason. Verlander (14-4, 2.73 ERA) and Gerrit Cole (12-5, 2.94), respectively, would likely start Games 1 and 2 of a playoff series with Greinke slated for a Game 3. Lefthander Wade Miley (9-4, 3.06) would be available for a Game 4.

In exchange for Greinke, Houston sent Arizona three of the team's top five prospects -- pitchers J.B. Bukauskas and Corbin Martin and first baseman/outfielder Seth Beer -- as well as utility player Josh Rojas.

While Houston general manager Jeff Luhnow was busy upgrading the roster (he also added pitchers Aaron Sanchez and Joe Biagini from the Toronto Blue Jays and catcher Martin Maldonado from the Chicago Cubs while shipping out backup catcher Max Stassi), the Astros' biggest rivals for the World Series trophy -- the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers -- failed to make a significant acquisition. The pitching-needy Yankees did not land a starter, and the relief-starved Dodgers, who had inquired about dominant Pittsburgh Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez, added only a situational lefty, Adam Kolarek.

Minutes after news of the trade became public, the official Astros Twitter account tweeted, "How's everybody doing?"