Roster Moves/Transactions

UPDATE: The Astros selected LHP Patrick Schuster with the first pick in the major league portion of the Rule 5 Draft. MLB.com is still reporting that Schuster will go to the San Diego Padres. [SECOND UPDATE: Schuster was, indeed, traded to the Padres for cash.] The Astros passed on the second round so it appears that the Astros will not carry a Rule 5 player on the big league club in 2014. More importantly (to me), the Astros did not lose any players in the major league portion of the draft (such as C Carlos Perez, RHP Jake Buchanan and RHP Andrew Robinson).

In the minor league phase (AAA) of the Rule 5 Draft, the Astros selected OF Ravel Santana of the Yankees organization in the first round. The 21-year old Santana played for the short season A Staten Island Yankees in the New York-Penn League in 2012 and did not play in 2013.

In the second round of the minor league phase (AAA) of the Rule 5 Draft, the Astros selected LHP Carlos Vazquez of the Mets organization. The 22-year old Mexican lefty played in the Mexican League and for the High A St. Lucie Mets in 2013. In five seasons in the minors, he is 22-8 with a 3.20 ERA and a 1.137 WHIP.

In the AA phase of the minor league draft, the Astros selected LHP Blaine Sims from the Atlanta organization. In 2013, Sims played at three levels, going 0-9 with an 8.44 ERA and a 2.044 WHIP.

The only player that the Astros lost was RHP Enderson Franco who went to Tampa Bay in the minor league phase of the draft.

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As has already been widely reported, the Astros traded a player to be named later or cash considerations to San Diego for RHP Anthony Bass and a PTBNL or cash. The 26-year old pitcher was first drafted by the Padres in the 5th round in 2008. He has pitched in 75 games (18 starts) at the major league level over the last three seasons, putting up a 4.08 ERA and a 1.393 WHIP. In 15 starts for the Padres AAA affiliate in 2013, Bass was 4-6 with a 5.45 ERA and a 1.576 WHIP.

As mentioned by MLB Trade Rumors on Wednesday, the two PTBNL in this deal appear to hinge on today's Rule 5 Draft. That appears to be the case based on this late night tweet from Jim Callis.

Late tweeting this? Confirmed #Padres have swapped places w/#Astros in Rule 5 draft later this morning, SD now picks first -- likely a P.
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) December 12, 2013

With the addition of Bass, the Astros 40-man roster now stands at 38 in advance of this morning's Rule 5 Draft.