A’s ship off Scott Kazmir to Houston

Scott Kazmir is headed to Houston.

The A’s traded the 2014 All-Star Thursday morning for minor league catcher Jacob Nottingham and minor league pitcher Daniel Mengden.

With a 2.38 ERA over 18 starts in 2015, the 31-year-old Kazmir emerged as the top pitcher on the market this season, and was dealt for two players in High-A. Neither Nottingham nor Mengden is ranked in Houston’s top 20 prospects, though their system is very deep.

The A’s will start Drew Pomeranz Thursday in Kazmir’s originally-scheduled spot.

Nottingham began the season at Quad Cities hitting .326 with 10 home runs and 46 RBI in 59 games before being promoted to Lancaster June 29. He hit .324 with four home runs and 14 RBI in 17 games with the JetHawks and is batting a combined .326 with 24 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs and 60 RBI in 76 games.

The 20-year-old right-handed Nottingham was originally selected by Houston in the sixth round of the 2013 draft.

Mengden started 2015 at Single-A Quad Cities, going 4-1 with a 1.16 ERA in eight games, six starts, before heading to Single-A Lancaster May 23. He went 2-1 with a 5.26 ERA in 10 games, eight starts, with the JetHawks. The 22-year-old right-hander was originally selected by Houston in the fourth round of the 2014 draft.

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