Houston Astros trade for Athletics pitcher Scott Kazmir

The Houston Astros have acquired left-handed pitcher Scott Kazmir from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for two minor leaguers, right-handed pitcher Daniel Mengden and catcher Jacob Nottingham -- as first reported by Ken Rosenthal.

#Athletics trade LHP Scott Kazmir to Houston for RHP Daniel Mengden and C Jacob Nottingham; recall RHP Arnold Leon

— Oakland Athletics (@Athletics) July 23, 2015

Kazmir, 31, is 5-5 with a 2.38 ERA (29ER/109.2IP) and a 1.09 WHIP in 18 starts for the Athletics this season.He has made one start since the All-Star Break, throwing 8.1 innings, and allowing just one run on five hits on Saturday vs. Minnesota.

Kazmir, a Houston-native, who once played just down the road from the Astros for the Sugar Land Skeeters while getting his career back on track. He attended Cy Falls High School before being drafted by the Mets in the first round (15th overall pick) of the 2002 draft. He is an 11-year Major League veteran and a three-time All-Star (2006, 2008, 2014). Kazmir owns a career 96-84 record with a 3.95 ERA (649ER/1480IP) while pitching for Tampa Bay (2004-09), Los Angeles-AL (2009-11), Cleveland (2013) and Oakland (2014-15).

In return for Kazmir, the Astros sent Mengden and Nottingham. Both had been playing for Class A Lancaster after each began the 2015 season at Class A Quad Cities. Mengden was originally a fourth-round selection in the 2014 draft, while Nottingham was originally taken in the sixth round of the 2013 draft.

TCB ranked Nottingham as the team's ninth best prospect and Megden was the 13th best prospect.