Stassi dealt to Astros
After four years in the Oakland Athletics' organization, Yuba City High product Max Stassi is headed south for the winter.
Stassi was part of a five-player deal that sent him, first baseman Chris Carter and right-handed pitcher Brad Peacock to the Houston Astros on Monday.
The headline, however, was that the A's acquired infielder Jed Lowrie and right-hander Fernando Rodriguez.
The 21-year-old Stassi, a former fourth-round draft pick, has spent the past two seasons at the A's Class A-Advanced Stockton affiliate. He played 84 games in 2012, while making multiple DL trips, and batted .268 with 15 home runs and 45 RBIs for the Ports. He was considered the A's top catching prospect.
"I want to thank @Athletics organization for everything they have done for me, extremely excited to start a new chapter with the @astros !!!!" Stassi tweeted Monday evening.
Stassi hopes to land on the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks team in Texas, but he can also end up playing with the Class-A affiliate Lancaster JetHawks in Southern California.
The youngster received a call today from A's assistant general manager David Forst notifying him of the trade.
"It kind of blindsided me," Stassi said.
Since then, everything has changed.
"It's been a whirlwind, it's just been crazy. Guys have talked about (being traded) before and how insane it is. I thought one day it might happen to me. ... The best way to describe it is, it's indescribable, it's a weird feeling."
He'll miss his time with the lower ranks of the A's, but he's also excited for the new opportunity.
"Oakland has guys who have been there for 30, 40 years, and it has a family atmosphere. I'm going to miss that," he said. "It was an honor to be selected and be a part of that organization."
"I'm really happy with joining the Houston Astros, it's a great opportunity," he added. "They have a lot of talented, young players, and I'm excited to be a piece of that puzzle."
Stassi was a four-time A-D All-Area selection, including three Player of the Year nods. He's the only four-time Sacramento Bee All-Metro pick and a two-time All-Metro Player of the Year.
The Oakland and Houston franchises will be playing in the same division for the first time following the Astros' move from the NL Central to the AL West this season.
