Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays Complete J.A. Happ Trade: Prospect Kevin Comer

The Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays finalized the J.A. Happ trade today, the Jays sending right-handed pitching prospect Kevin Comer over to the Astros.

Comer wasn't eligible at the time the trade was made: he was drafted in 2011 and didn't sign until right before the deadline last August. A player can't be traded until one year after he's signed, so the Jays and Astros had to wait to finish the deal until today. He's a very interesting prospect and hardly a throw-in.

Comer was selected in the supplemental first round last June, 57^th overall, out of high school in Tabernacle, New Jersey. It took $1,650,000 to keep him from attending college at Vanderbilt.. A 6-3, 205 pound right-hander, he has a 3.95 ERA with a 29/8 K/BB in 43 innings for Bluefield in the Appalachian League this year, with a 1.78 GO/AO.

A cold-weather high school guy, he throws in the upper-80s currently, but scouts believe he will throw harder in time. His curveball and changeup have promise, and he's done a good job throwing strikes and keeping the ball down in his pro debut. He needs development time, but Comer has upside and this looks like an astute pickup to me for Houston.