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The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired right-handed reliever Wilton Lopez from the Houston Astros in exchange for a package of still to be determined prospects, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports:
#phillies have agreement to acquire reliever wilton lopez from #astros for minor leaguers. finalizing details.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) November 28, 2012
Lopez, 29, has pitched in relief for the Astros the past four seasons, posting a 3.14 ERA and 4.33 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 223⅓ innings. A sinkerballer by trade, the right-hander is a ground-ball and control machine, notching grounders at a 55.9 percent rate and walking just 1.4 batters per nine for his career.
The right-hander will take over the setup role that the Phillies have been looking to fill since signing Jonathan Papelbon and letting Ryan Madson walk at the end of 2011.
The trade is still pending a physical from Lopez, who is in Philadelphia to undergo the series of tests.
