The Houston Astros acquired pitcher Randy Wolf from San Diego on Tuesday in exchange for minor leaguer Chad Reinee.
Wolf, an NL All-Star in 2003, is 6-10 with a 4.74 ERA in 21 starts for the Padres this season. The 31-year-old is in his 10th season and will play for his fourth team. He previously played for Philadelphia (1999-2006) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (2007) before joining the Padres this season. The left-handed Wolf will start for the Astros in Milwaukee on Sunday, general manager Ed Wade said.
Wolf had Tommy John surgery in 2005 and missed the second half of the 2007 season with pain in his throwing shoulder. His 21 starts this season were tied for the major-league lead and Wade has been assured by athletic trainers that Wolf is healthy.
Wolf has lost six of his last seven starts. He gave up four runs on eight hits in Saturday’s 6-5 loss in St. Louis, his third straight road loss.
Reineke, a right-hander, is 5-9 with a 4.41 ERA in 19 starts for Triple-A Round Rock this season. He was originally selected by the Astros in the 13th round of the 2004 draft and he is 28-32 with a 3.72 ERA in five minor league seasons in the Houston system. He has yet to pitch in a major league game.
Wolf will become a free agent after this season. Wade said Wolf could earn up to $3.5 million this season with performance bonuses and the Astros may look to re-sign him for 2009.