1998 Houston Astros

Trades and Transactions

Franchise Encyclopedia: 1997 / 1999

102-60, Finished 1st in NL Central (Schedule and Results)
View League Standings and Leaders

Manager: Larry Dierker (102-60)
Scored 874 runs, Allowed 620 runs. Pythagorean W-L: 106-56

Ballparks: Astrodome · Attendance: 2,458,451 (8th of 16)
Park Factors  Over 100 favors batters, under 100 favors pitchers.
  multi-year: Batting - 98, Pitching - 97 · one-year: Batting - 101, Pitching - 99

BaseballAmerica.com: Franchise Executives
News & Views: ThinkFactory
BR Bullpen: Find or enter more info for this team (what's this?)

Transactions listed are from November 1 of previous year to April 1 of the following year.

October 7, 1997

Donne Wall selected by the Cincinnati Reds off waivers.

October 8, 1997

Released Tommy Greene.

October 14, 1997

Randy Knorr granted Free Agency.

October 15, 1997

Todd Haney granted Free Agency.

Josias Manzanillo granted Free Agency.

J.R. Phillips granted Free Agency.

October 17, 1997

Melvin Mora granted Free Agency.

Bronswell Patrick granted Free Agency.

Ken Ramos granted Free Agency.

October 27, 1997

Luis Rivera granted Free Agency.

October 28, 1997

Luis Gonzalez granted Free Agency.

Thomas Howard granted Free Agency.

Darryl Kile granted Free Agency.

October 30, 1997

Tony Pena granted Free Agency.

November 3, 1997

Bill Spiers granted Free Agency.

November 11, 1997

Traded a player to be named later, Manuel Barrios and Oscar Henriquez to the Florida Marlins. Received Moises Alou. The Houston Astros sent Mark Johnson (December 16, 1997) to the Florida Marlins to complete the trade.

November 18, 1997

Bobby Abreu selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as the 6th pick in the 1997 expansion draft.

Tom Martin selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks as the 29th pick in the 1997 expansion draft.

Russ Springer selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks as the 61st pick in the 1997 expansion draft.

November 24, 1997

Signed Dave Clark as a free agent.

November 25, 1997

Signed Bill Spiers as a free agent.

November 26, 1997

Signed Doug Henry as a free agent.

Signed J.R. Phillips as a free agent.

December 9, 1997

Signed Jack Howell as a free agent.

December 10, 1997

Signed Marc Ronan as a free agent.

December 21, 1997

Sean Berry granted Free Agency.

Chuck Carr granted Free Agency.

December 22, 1997

Signed Rob Butler as a free agent.

Signed Bob Scanlan as a free agent.

Traded John Hudek to the New York Mets. Received Carl Everett.

December 29, 1997

Signed Roberto Rivera as a free agent.

January 9, 1998

Signed Reggie Harris as a free agent.

Signed Pete Schourek as a free agent.

January 13, 1998

Signed Sean Berry as a free agent.

January 14, 1998

Traded James Mouton to the San Diego Padres. Received Sean Bergman.

February 5, 1998

Signed Luis Rivera as a free agent.

March 31, 1998

Signed Kevin Hodges as a free agent.

April 6, 1998 (Standings)

Signed David West as a free agent.

May 4, 1998 (Standings)

Signed Joe Slusarski as a free agent.

May 12, 1998 (Standings)

Signed Pete Incaviglia as a free agent.

June 2, 1998 (Standings)

Drafted Brad Lidge in the 1st round (17th pick) of the 1998 amateur draft. Player signed July 2, 1998.

Drafted Dave Matranga in the 6th round of the 1998 amateur draft. Player signed June 12, 1998.

Drafted John Buck in the 7th round of the 1998 amateur draft. Player signed June 11, 1998.

Drafted Morgan Ensberg in the 9th round of the 1998 amateur draft. Player signed June 18, 1998.

Drafted Keith Ginter in the 10th round of the 1998 amateur draft. Player signed June 7, 1998.

Drafted Colin Porter in the 17th round of the 1998 amateur draft. Player signed June 4, 1998.

June 3, 1998 (Standings)

Sold Luis Rivera to the Kansas City Royals.

June 18, 1998 (Standings)

Traded David West to the Boston Red Sox. Received Mike Blais (minors).

July 4, 1998 (Standings)

Traded Ramon Castro to the Florida Marlins. Received Scott Makarewicz (minors) and Jay Powell.

July 31, 1998 (Standings)

Traded a player to be named later, Freddy Garcia and Carlos Guillen to the Seattle Mariners. Received Randy Johnson. The Houston Astros sent John Halama (October 1, 1998) to the Seattle Mariners to complete the trade.

August 6, 1998 (Standings)

Sold Pete Schourek to the Boston Red Sox.

October 15, 1998 (Standings)

Rob Butler granted Free Agency.

Ray Montgomery granted Free Agency.

J.R. Phillips granted Free Agency.

Bob Scanlan granted Free Agency.

October 16, 1998

Reggie Harris granted Free Agency.

Released Pete Incaviglia.

Roberto Rivera granted Free Agency.

Marc Ronan granted Free Agency.

Joe Slusarski granted Free Agency.

October 23, 1998

Tim Bogar granted Free Agency.

Mike Magnante granted Free Agency.

Signed Marc Ronan as a free agent.

October 26, 1998

Sean Berry granted Free Agency.

October 28, 1998

Randy Johnson granted Free Agency.

November 17, 1998

Signed Ken Caminiti as a free agent.

December 7, 1998

Signed Tim Bogar as a free agent.

December 14, 1998

Drafted Glen Barker from the Detroit Tigers in the 1998 rule 5 draft.

Drafted Wayne Franklin from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1998 rule 5 draft.

December 17, 1998

Signed Joe Slusarski as a free agent.

January 12, 1999

Signed Wandy Rodriguez as an amateur free agent.

January 14, 1999

Traded Brad Ausmus and C.J. Nitkowski to the Detroit Tigers. Received Carlos Villalobos (minors), Mark Persails (minors), Paul Bako, Dean Crow and Brian Powell.

January 15, 1999

Signed Robert Ellis as a free agent.

January 19, 1999

Signed Ryan Thompson as a free agent.

January 21, 1999

Signed Alex Diaz as a free agent.

Signed Randy Knorr as a free agent.

Signed Jeff McCurry as a free agent.

Signed Bob Scanlan as a free agent.

Signed Brian Williams as a free agent.

March 25, 1999

Sent Marc Ronan to the Philadelphia Phillies as part of a conditional deal.

March 29, 1999

Released Oscar Robles.

1997 / 1999 Trades and Transactions