The Colorado Rockies have announced they have traded longtime Rockies infielder Clint Barmes to the Houston Astros for RHP Felipe Paulino.
Considering Barmes was unlikely to receive a contract offer from Colorado and would become a free agent, any trade is surprising.
Paulino will be entering his first year of arbitration -- the main reason Houston was willing to give him up in trade -- and has an uninspiring major league history so far. He appeared in 19 games last season for Houston, starting 14 of them, and finished the season with a 5.11 ERA. At this point in his career, he is nothing more than emergency pitching depth for Colorado and can be used as a spot starter in case of injury.