Rockies get reliever Wilton Lopez from Astros in trade
![Houston Astros pitcher Wilton Lopez reacts after getting the final out to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0 at Minute Maid Park.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/05/2012-12-04-wilton-lopez-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=372&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
- Rockies acquire reliever Wilton Lopez from Astros in trade.
- Astros get back right-handers Alex White and Alex Gillingham.
- Lopez had 10 saves and a 2.17 era last season for the Astros.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) β The Houston Astros have traded reliever Wilton Lopez and a player to be named to the Colorado Rockies for right-handers Alex White and Alex Gillingham.
The deal was announced Tuesday night and was the first trade at the winter meetings.
Lopez was 6-3 with 10 saves and a 2.17 ERA in 64 games for the Astros last season. Known for his sharp control, he struck out 54 and walked just eight in 66 1-3 innings. The 29-year-old righty has done well at inducing groundballs and spent the last four seasons with Houston.
The 24-year-old White split last season with the Rockies and Triple-A Colorado Springs. He was 2-9 with a 5.51 ERA in 23 games for the Rockies, including 20 starts. He was the 15th overall pick in the 2009 draft, taken by Cleveland.
The 23-year-old Gillingham was 6-8 with a 3.66 ERA at Class-A Asheville in his first full pro season.