Hunter Pence Trade: Helps Phillies, Is High Risk, High Reward for Astros

Houston Astros GM Ed Wade was said to have been seeking a huge package for Hunter Pence.

In talks with the Philadelphia Phillies, Dominic Brown’s name kept popping up. Brown was supposed to be the gem of the trade for Houston if Pence were dealt to Philadelphia.

Instead, Houston got the Phillies' top pitching prospect, Jared Cosart, and top hitting prospect, Jonathon Singleton. Both are playing in Single-A ball according to ESPN’s Jayson Stark.

Josh Zeid, a 25-year-old right-handed pitcher currently in Double-A is also included in the deal.

A fourth player is to be named later.

While both Cosart and Singleton are highly touted prospects, they are also both still very young and have not played above Single-A ball.

This means that for Houston this trade is one that can pay off in two to three years.

Or it will be looked back upon as one of the worse trades in Astros history.

If neither of these players turn out to be anything, Ed Wade will be the man in Houston known for trading away the heart and soul of the team for nothing.

But if the trade does work out, he will be known as the GM that brought over the talent that got the Astros back to the playoffs and winning division titles.

So, this was a necessary risk. Could you really expect to get more than two top prospects for Pence at any other time?

Probably not. Pence is not getting younger, and the Astros are not anywhere close to being a contender.

But they are closer now.

So, it was now or never for Wade and company.

For Philadelphia this trade is fantastic. They got to keep Dominic Brown and fill the void in RF they never filled after Jayson Werth left in free agency.

Also, they get to control Hunter Pence, who is still only 28 years old, for another two years.

It is perfect for the Phillies.

They are not mortgaging their future on this trade because Pence will be a fixture in their lineup for years to come. They are not getting some over-priced veteran talent.

And Philadelphia fans will love to watch Pence play.

He is a hard-nosed, blue-collar player. You will see him run into walls, jump fences, hop into crowds, etc., all of which fans of Philadelphia love to see.

He has done it in Houston for years, and it was a joy to watch. But it is time for him to show what he can do in a pennant race.

Houston fans should expect to see a heavy dose of Jason Bourgeois in RF. He is a fun talent. He has already shown what he can do in his limited action, but with Pence out of the picture, he will have more chances to play.