The Houston Astros have added pitching depth.
The Astros acquired Mike Burrows as part of a three-team trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays, General Manager Dana Brown announced on Friday.
The Astros sent outfielder Jacob Melton and pitcher Anderson Brito to Tampa Bay. The Pirates received infielder Brandon Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum, and pitcher Mason Montgomery from Rays, while the Astros received Burrows from the Pirates.
The 26-year-old Burrows was used primarily as a starter for the Pirates in 2025. In 23 appearances (19 starts), the rookie went 2-4 with a 3.94 ERA with 97 strikeouts to 31 walks in 96.0 innings of work.
Burrows began the season at Triple-A Indianapolis before being recalled by the Pirates on May 21. He would remain with the big club for the rest of the season.
Among National League rookies, his 3.94 ERA ranked third, and his 9.09 strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched ratio ranked second (min. 90 IP). Additionally, Burrows finished the 2025 season strong, posting a 2.22 ERA in his final eight appearances (five starts) with 28 strikeouts in 28.0 innings.
The Pirates selected Burrows in the 11th round of the 2018 MLB Amateur Draft out of Waterbury High School in Connecticut. In 78 career minor league appearances (73 starts), he has posted a 3.58 ERA with 332 strikeouts in 291.1 innings pitched for a 10.3 strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched ratio.
Melton, 25, made his Major League debut for the Astros in 2025, appearing in 32 games overall (22 starts). Brito, 21, posted a 3.28 ERA in 12 starts at High A Asheville this season (49.1 IP, 36 H, 28 BB, 65 SO). He also made four appearances for Scottsdale in the Arizona Fall League (2-0, 4.76 ERA, 11.1 IP, 6 H, 7 BB, 22 SO).
