Astros acquire right-hander Jennings from Rockies

HOUSTON -- The Astros are getting Jason Jennings instead of Jon Garland to replace Andy Pettitte in their starting rotation.

Five days after a potential trade with the White Sox came apart, Houston acquired Jennings and pitcher Miguel Asencio from the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday for outfielder Willy Taveras and pitchers Taylor Buchholz and Jason Hirsh -- who all would have been sent to the White Sox.

"This gives us a solid No. 2 starter and some depth in the bullpen," Astros general manager Tim Purpura said. "It's an exciting day for us."

It was also somewhat of a homecoming for the 28-year-old Jennings, who was born in Mesquite Texas, just outside Dallas, and pitched for Baylor University.

He's spent his entire five-year professional career with the Rockies, and last season was 9-13 with a 3.78 ERA. He will make $5.5 million in 2007 and is eligible to become a free agent after next season. He is Colorado's career leader in victories (58) and shutouts (three).

Sure Jason Jennings was 9-13 last season, but his 3.78 ERA is noteworthy. (Getty Images)

Jennings was the NL Rookie of the Year in 2002 after he had a career-high 16 wins with a 4.52 ERA.

That was Jennings' only winning season in the majors. Still, Purpura said the Astros have been watching Jennings and were impressed by his record last season.

Jennings becomes Houston's No. 2 starter behind Roy Oswalt, joined in the rotation by Wandy Rodriguez. After winning their first NL pennant in 2005, the Astros are unsure whether seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens will return for a fourth season with his hometown team.

"This was a trade we would have made whether Jason was in the last year of his contract or not," Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd said. "Any time you get back three major league-ready players, it's very difficult to do in this environment, and this is the kind of baseball deal we will always have to make. Whether he had three years and 'X' amount of money left on his contract or he was entering his final year, we would have made this trade."

Taveras hit .278 with one home run and 30 RBI this year. He had a 30-game hitting streak that ended Aug. 29.

Buchholz, whose medical reports may have caused the White Sox to back off a trade, was 6-10 with a 5.89 in 19 starts and three relief appearances. He was demoted to Triple-A Round Rock for a spell and made seven starts there.

Hirsh, a 24-year-old prospect who is highly rated, made his major league debut last season and was 3-4 with a 6.04 ERA in nine starts.