Itinerant Oliver moves on to Houston

By Jim Callis
July 22, 2004

As the July 31 for deals without waivers approached, trade activity began to heat up on Thursday. Well, not exactly. But there was one transaction, as the Marlins sent Darren Oliver to the Astros for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

A 33-year-old lefthander, Oliver joins his sixth major league team and fifth in the last four seasons. After signing a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Marlins as a free agent, he opened the year in the Florida rotation but pitched his way into the bullpen by late May. He doesn't have an out pitch and tops out in the high 80s with his fastball, and his main attribute is his good command. In 18 games (eight starts) this year, Oliver is 2-3, 6.44. He has a 33-17 strikeout-walk ratio in 59 innings, while opponents have hit .319 with 13 homers against him. The Astros probably will use him in middle relief, a role in which he has posted a 3.32 ERA in 2004. For his career, Oliver owns an 86-79, 5.08 record.

Update: The Astros completed the deal by sending cash considerations to the Marlins.