MLB.com reports:
The Astros were gathered in the visiting clubhouse at Progressive Field about three hours before Wednesday’s game against the Indians, minutes before the 4 p.m. ET Trade Deadline hit. They were refreshing their phones and staring at the TVs, eager to find out the latest trade news. Some, like Justin Verlander, tweeted about the anticipation.
Astros manager AJ Hinch, sitting on pins and needles all afternoon, finally got the word from president of baseball operations and general manager Jeff Luhnow that Houston had landed right-hander Zack Greinke and cash in a blockbuster deal with Arizona. His goal was to be the first to share the news with the players before they saw it on social media, which meant making a quick dash to the clubhouse.
News was trickling out, but Hinch turned off the TVs and announced a move that entrenches Houston as MLB's World Series favorite.
“There was some hooting and hollering,” said right-hander Gerrit Cole, who is a friend of Greinke. “It was like 4:08, I think, is when it broke and AJ came in with a [huge] smile. We were very excited.”
The Astros pulled off four trades on Wednesday, none bigger than the Deadline-busting deal to acquire the six-time All-Star and former American League Cy Young Award winner Greinke, who will join Verlander, Cole and Wade Miley atop Houston’s built-for-October rotation.
“Incredible day for the organization and our team,” Hinch said. “The energy in our room after a thing like that happens is palpable. You know that what you have in front of you is one of the greatest opportunities to keep the winning ways alive.”
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