Astros finalize Jed Lowrie trade, acquire minor league pitcher Brendan McCurry

The Astros finalized a trade Wednesday to send Jed Lowrie back to Oakland for minor league right-handed pitcher Brendan McCurry -- Jeff Luhnow announced on Wednesday.

Per the Astros press release about McCurry:

McCurry, 23, had outstanding numbers at two levels in the A's minor league system in 2015. In 50 combined relief appearances at Double A Midland (14g) and Class A Stockton (36g), he posted a 1.86 ERA (13ER/63IP) with 27 saves in 28 chances while tallying 82 strikeouts and 17 walks in his 63.0 innings of work. McCurry allowed just 39 hits for a .175 opponent batting average (0.89 WHIP).

Lowrie, 31, hit .222 (51x230) in 69 games for the Astros in 2015 with nine home runs and 30 RBI. Lowrie's season was derailed as he scored on a play in San Diego in late April -- slamming his hand down on the plate and suffering a torn ligament in his right thumb his hand.

Lowrie never quite found his swing again in 2015 after returning to the Astros roster on July 30, 2015.

The Astros storyline for Jed Lowrie was cut and dry: The Stanford baseball player Jed Lowrie would play for Stanford manager A.J. Hinch at shortstop until Carlos Correa took over then fill in where needed. Lowrie's job was basically to be the veteran on the team for the next three years, but plans in sports have a funny way of not working out.

Lowrie's place in the organization was minimized when Correa came up a year early, and won the 2015 MLB Rookie of the Year. Luis Valbuena took Lowrie's spot in the postseason and the Astros have more first baseman then they know what to do with at the moment to give Jed a start there.

This is now the second time Lowrie has been trade to the Athletics, the previous time  Lowrie and pitcher Fernando Rodriguez to Oakland Athletics for Chris Carter, Brad Peacock and Max Stassi.

Best of luck Jed in Oakland.