HOUSTON, June 24 (UPI) -- Houston acquired center fielder Carlos Beltran from Kansas City Thursday in a three-team deal that saw closer Octavio Dotel end up with Oakland.
Kansas City landed three prospects.
Beltran, who is hitting .278 with 15 homers and 51 RBI, heads to Houston. The Astros sent Dotel and catching prospect John Buck to Kansas City, which shipped Dotel to Oakland for minor league pitcher Mike Wood and third baseman Mark Teahan.
A career .287 hitter with 123 homers, 516 RBI and 164 stolen bases in parts of six seasons, Beltran forces the Astros to juggle their defensive lineup. He is expected to start in center with Craig Biggio moving back to second base and Jeff Kent sliding over to third.
"This is huge for this organization and I can't think of another in-season trade that rivals this one since we acquired Randy Johnson," Astros General Manager Gerry Hunsicker said.
