The Houston Astros announced today that the club has acquired right-handed pitchers Jason Jennings and Miguel Asencio from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for right-handed pitchers Taylor Buchholz and Jason Hirsh and outfielder Willy Taveras. The announcement was made by General Manager Tim Purpura.

Jennings, 28, was 9-13 with a 3.78 ERA (89ER/212IP) in 32 starts for the Rockies in 2006, including three complete games and two shutouts. His 3.78 ERA last season represented the second-lowest, full-season mark in Colorado franchise history and ranked 12th overall in the National League. Jennings also posted career-high totals in 2006 in innings pitched (212) and strikeouts (142).

From May 29 until end of the 2006 season, Jennings posted a 3.17 ERA (52ER/147.2IP), the second-lowest ERA in the NL during that span and the fourth-lowest in MLB, trailing only Johan Santana (2.44), Roy Oswalt (2.78), and Erik Bedard (2.91).

In 156 career games from 2001-06 (all as a starter), Jennings is 58-56 with a 4.74 ERA (496ER/941IP), including six complete games and three shutouts. He was the 2002 National League Rookie of the Year after finishing 16-8 that season with a 4.52 ERA (93ER/185.1IP). in 32 starts. The former Baylor University standout earned the Golden Spikes Award as the top amateur player in America in 1999 and was named the National Player of the Year in college baseball that season by Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, and USA Today/Baseball Weekly. Jennings also attended Poteet High School in Mesquite, Texas.

“We are excited to add a pitcher of Jason’s caliber to our rotation,” said Purpura. “He solidifies the No. 2 starter position for our ballclub, and we look forward to having him on the mound for us in 2007.”

Asencio, 26, was 1-0 with a 4.70 ERA (4ER/7.2IP) in three games (one start) for Colorado in 2006. In 38 games (16 starts) for Triple A Colorado Springs, he was 8-7 with a 5.03 ERA (62ER/111IP) and one save. In 42 career Major League appearances (30 starts) with Kansas City (2002-03) and the Rockies (2006), Asencio is 7-8 with a 5.12 ERA (102ER/179.1IP).

Buchholz, 25, was 6-10 with a 5.89 ERA (74ER/113IP) in 22 games (19 starts) for Houston in 2006. Originally acquired along with right-handed pitcher Ezequiel Astacio and Brandon Duckworth in the trade that sent Billy Wagner to Philadelphia on Nov. 3, 2003, Buchholz threw one complete-game shutout and struck out 77 while walking 34 in 113 innings in 2006.

Hirsh, 24, was 3-4 with a 6.04 ERA (30ER/44.2IP) in nine starts for the Astros this season. He struck out 29 while walking 22 in 44.2 innings. The 2006 Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year, Hirsh’s 13 wins led the circuit and he finished 13-2 with a 2.10 ERA (32ER/137.1IP).

The 24-year-old Taveras hit .278 (147-529) with one home run, 30 RBI, and 33 stolen bases in 149 games played in 2006. He played in parts of three Major League seasons with the Astros from 2004-06, hitting .284 (319-1122) with four home runs, 59 RBI, and 68 stolen bases in 311 career big league games. Taveras finished second in the 2005 National League Rookie of the Year balloting after hitting .291 (172-592) with three home runs, 29 RBI, and 34 steals that season.