HONOLULU -- The New York Mets traded pitcher Mike Scott to the Houston Astros Friday for first baseman-outfielder Danny Heep at the baseball meetings.
Earlier in the day, the Astros signed free-agent outfielder Omar Moreno to a five-year, $3.25 million contract and the Mets cleared the way to bring veteran pitcher Tom Seaver back to New York by agreeing to a trade with the Cincinnati Reds.
Scott, 27, posted a 7-13 record with a 5.14 ERA in 37 games last season. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound right-hander was originally New York's No. 2 selection in the June 1976 free-agent draft after a fine collegiate career at Pepperdine University. He has a 14-27 record in the major leagues with a 4.65 ERA and three saves.
Heep, 24, hit .237 in 85 games with four home runs and 22 RBI for Houston last season but is considered one of the most promising young hitters in baseball. He led the Pacific Coast League in hitting in 1980 with a .343 average at Tucson, Ariz.
'We were reluctant to deal Danny Heep. He was one of the finest minor-league hitters. He is a pure hitter,' said Astros general manager Al Rosen. 'But we were anxious to shore up our pitching. We still don't know about the availability of Joe Sambito, and Dave Smith is still a question mark because of back problems.
'We feel that Scott is just what we need in terms of a strong-armed right-hander. He has been used by the Mets as a starter throughout his career, but we will have a better knowledge of his abilities after observing him during spring training.'
New York general manager Frank Cashen said his club was reluctant to part with Scott, but all their reports on Heep indicated he was a fine hitter.
'He's a pure hitter,' Cashen said. 'We didn't want to give up Scott but the Astros insisted upon including him in the deal.'
