By Andrew Hendriks

Canadian Baseball Network

TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros have come together once again, this time exchanging infielder Aledmys Diaz for right-handed pitcher Trent Thornton.

Thornton, 24, has posted an overall ERA of 4.23 across 88 minor league appearances dating back to his professional debut with the NYPL Tri-City Valley Cats as a 21-year-old in 2015. 78 of those appearances have been starts.

A fifth-round draft pick of the Astros back in 2015, the Pittsburgh native owns a WHIP of 1.255 supported by a K/9 of 8.0 through 446 1/3 innings of work for his career.

Diaz departs after slashing .262/.303/.453 with a career-high 18 home runs over 452 plate appearances with the Blue Jays in 2018.

His exit likely spells more reps at short for Lourdes Gurriel Jr., though Troy Tulowitzki will also look to reestablish himself as an option for the Blue Jays when camp opens next February.

Saturday's deal marks the third transaction between the two clubs since the front office tandem of Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins took over for Paul Beeston and Alex Anthopoulos ahead of the 2017 campaign.

Thornton also represents the fifth pitcher lifted from Houston's system during that stretch, joining Lupe Chavez, Hector Perez, David Paulino, and Ken Giles, respectively.

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