HOUSTON -- Astros general manager Ed Wade announced Sunday morning that two-time Gold Glove Award winner and 2010 NL All-Star selection Michael Bourn was traded to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for center fielder Jordan Schafer, right-hander Juan Abreu and Paul Clemens and left-hander Brett Oberholtzer.
In a corresponding roster move, the Astros have purchased the contract of center fielder Luis Durango from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Durango, 25, will arrive in Houston on Monday for the start of the Astros' three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds at Minute Maid Park.
The 28-year-old Bourn, who currently leads the majors with 39 stolen bases, had the interest level pick up in his services, especially from the Braves, after Houston dealt Hunter Pence to the Philadelphia Phillies Friday night in the midst of their game at Milwaukee.
San Francisco, Cleveland and Cincinnati reportedly touched base with the Astros regarding a potential Bourn trade, but an MLB source told Examiner.com Sunday that the Braves emerged as the front-runner the previous day to acquire his services.
Atlanta reportedly was involved in serious discussions with Wade and the Astros regarding Pence, but once the two-time All-Star right fielder got traded to their biggest divisional rival, general manager Frank Wren focused his efforts on obtaining Bourn.
"We finished the deal this morning involving Michael Bourn," Wade said. "Michael went to the Braves in exchange for four players. As is the case with Pence, this is not the position we want to be in to have to move not only outstanding players, but outstanding people.
"Timing and circumstances dictate you need to build the type of depth in the system that at some point in time will allow us to have sustained success here. We believe in what we have done in taking the Pence, Bourn and Jeff Keppinger deals into consideration.
"To be able to add 10 solid prospects, which we believe we have, certainly helps our cause in regard to getting where we need to be in the long-term."
Wade, who selected Bourn in the fourth round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft while serving as the general manager of the Phillies, stated it was hard to trade the speedy center fielder, especially after watching him develop into a solid big leaguer.
When the Astros hired Wade as the organization's general manager on Sept. 20, 2007, it took him barely over a month to acquire Bourn from Philadelphia via trade, along with Geoff Geary and Michael Costanzo, in exchange for Brad Lidge and Eric Bruntlett.
"It was hard, as was the case with Pence," Wade said. "It's not only the magnitude of the player, but also the quality of the person. In the case of Bourn, this is somebody I have known since we first drafted him out of the University of Houston in Philadelphia. There's a personal connection to Hunter, but this is a kid [Bourn] that we're very fond of and continue to be."
Although it's been difficult for Wade over the last few days, he's looking out for the best interest of the organization over the long-run.
"This job requires us to de-personalize things," Wade said. "It is about what's in the best interest of the organization, and believe it or not, to the fans, as well. I know this has been a tough couple of days for our fans with us to move these players.
"Everybody identifies with them and recognizes the quality and commitment they have made not only to the ballclub, but to the Houston community. We do have to de-personalize it from the standpoint of looking out for the best interest of the franchise.
"At the end of the day, as painful as this is, we think it's in the best interest to get to where we want to get and to be able to sustain that."
Schafer, 24, will join the Astros on Monday, but will start his tenure in Houston on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured finger.
The left-handed hitting center fielder has split the regular season between Triple-A Gwinnett and Atlanta, hitting .240 with a homer, seven RBI and 15 steals in 52 games for the Braves.
Schafer, who was selected by the Braves in the third round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, began the regular season at Gwinnett, where he hit .256 (42-for-164) with a homer, 21 RBI and six stolen bases in 42 games before getting called up in May.
"Jordan Schafer is a 24-year-old center fielder currently on the disabled list, but we expect him to come off it pretty soon," Wade said. "He'll figure into our outfield mix. We really like him as a prospect. He has already got big league experience. He'll join us tomorrow on the disabled list. Our medical people will get a chance to look at him, but he's about 10 days away from being activated.
"Once he's activated, he'll be getting a chance to play here, but it's Millsie's [manager Brad Mills] call in how he wants to use him on the field."
Abreu, 26, posted a 4-2 record with a 2.25 ERA and one save over 48 innings in 41 relief appearances while yielding just a .193 batting average to opposing hitters for Gwinnett this season.
He signed with the Kansas City Royals as a non-drafted free agent in 2003 and eventually inked a major league contract with Atlanta before 2010.
"Juan Abreu is a little bit older at 26 and throws up to 98 to 99 mph," Wade said. "We see him as a power arm that has a power fastball, power breaking ball. He is somebody that should factor into the competition for a bullpen spot, no later than next Spring Training."
Clemens, 23, went 6-5 with a 3.73 ERA and 93 strikeouts over 108 2/3 innings in 20 starts for Double-A Mississippi this season.
He was a 2011 Southern League All-Star and is currently in his fourth year as a professional ballplayer after being picked by the Braves in the seventh round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft.
"Paul's a Double-A starter and is 23-year-old," Wade said. "He was a Southern League All-Star and projects as a top to middle-of-the-rotation starter."
Oberholtzer, 22, entered 2011 rated as the Braves' No. 9 prospect, according to Baseball America, and posted a 9-9 record with a 3.74 ERA over 127 2/3 innings in 21 starts for Mississippi.
He was an eighth-round pick by Atlanta in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft.
"Brett Oberholtzer is pitching in Double-A right now and was a Southern League All-Star," Wade said. "Our guys profile him as a middle-of-the-rotation starting pitcher. He's left-handed and we're very excited to get him. When you get two starting pitchers [Clemens and Oberholtzer] at Double-A and close to the big leagues, it makes sense, along with getting the center fielder."
Bourn departs Houston hitting .303 with a homer, 32 RBI, 26 doubles, seven triples and 39 stolen bases in 105 games this season.
He hit .271 with 11 homers, 134 RBI, 88 doubles, 29 triples and 197 stolen bases over his four seasons (2008-11) with the Astros.
Bourn ranks seventh on the franchise's all-time stolen base list.
With the Astros trading Pence and Bourn, Wade understands the level of concern across the board, yet his focus revolves around the long-term, which includes building a consistent playoff contender through proper scouting and solid player development.
Overall, the Astros have acquired a total of 10 prospects in return as the result of the Pence, Bourn and Keppinger (San Francisco) trades.
"I would be disappointed if our fans didn't feel passionate about the players we have had here over the last couple of years," Wade said. "The guys we traded have given us everything we have asked them to do. They went out there and put their best foot forward to represent the organization. I can understand the level of concern and the disbelief that may exist out there.
"It's clearly understood. These are not things we do easily. We have got to do things that point us in the right direction so we're not going through the types of seasons that we are going through right now and what we have gone through in the past."
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