Astros Trade Ausmus To Tigers

The Houston Astros traded catcher Brad Ausmus and reliever C.J. Nitkowski back to the Detroit Tigers for five players Thursday.

The two were dealt to Houston in December 1996 as part of a 10-player trade.

In the latest deal, the Astros get pitchers Dean Crow, Mark Persails and Brian Powell, catcher Paul Bako and infielder Carlos Villalobos. Persails and Villalobos were minor leaguers last season.

"This helps us to replace players we've lost in our system due to other trades we have made, especially the Moises Alou and Randy Johnson deals which were each three-for-one," said Houston general manager Gerry Hunsicker.

By dealing Ausmus, the Astros also could be making room for catching prospect Mitch Meluskey, who hit .353 with 41 doubles, 17 home runs and 71 RBI at Triple-A last year.

Meluskey and backup Tony Eusebio are expected to compete for the starting job when spring training begins next month.

"The way I see it, we've got two able bodies coming to camp," Hunsicker said. "The most probable scenario would be we start the season with both catchers splitting time and see where we go."

Ausmus, who hit .269 with 45 RBI last season, played 75 games for Detroit in 1996 before being traded to the Astros.

Nitkowski was 3-3 with a 3.77 ERA and three saves in 43 appearances with the Astros last season.

Bako became Detroit's No. 1 catcher after an April 29 recall from the minors. He started 83 games and hit .272.

Crow pitched 45 2-3 innings over 29 games last year while splitting time between Triple-A and the majors.

Powell started last season at Double-A and was summoned by the Tigers after three months. He finished the season 3-8 with a 6.35 ERA.

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