In his office overlooking Minute Maid Park, five hours before Tuesday’s (October 16) Game 3 of the recently completed American League Championship Series, Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow hung up the phone.

Realizing his team had an abundance of international pool money that would only attract MLB penalties, Luhnow closed a deal that would send $500,000 to the Miami Marlins in exchange for two recently-signed teenagers from the Dominican Republic.

What the Marlins Need With 100,000 Fins

The Marlins were said to be hoarding international spending capital in an effort to top what the Baltimore Orioles were also rumored to be luring: The right to sign one or both of top Cuban prospects, Victor Victor Mesa or his brother, Victor Mesa, Jr.

The Marlins actually signed both, Saturday, October 20, with the Houston cash apparently putting Miami over the top.

Each brother, as it turns out, is subject to international spending limitations, and similar to other teams that have made recent deals with Miami, the Washington Nationals and Cincinnati Reds, in particular, the Astros weren’t able to put their existing international pool space to full and complete use.

According to MLB Trade Rumors, by virtue of prior spending penalties imposed under the prior rules regime, the Houston organization was barred from spending more than $400,000 on any given player.

Houston swooped in, then, to take advantage of Miami’s need to replenish a recently gutted stable of talent. In exchange, the Astros get intriguing prospect talent that has flown under the Marlins’ radar.

Fish Fans: Luhnow Pouncing “Should Make You a Bit Nervous”

Houston, thus, will receive a pair of prospects, right-hand hitting outfielder 17-year-old Adonis Giron and 19-year-old lefty Brayan De Paula in the deal.

Luhnow’s ability to pull the trigger on talent other teams overlook, or are incapable of maximizing, in a variety of ways, is rapidly becoming legend if this recent anxious twitch from Fish Stripes is any indication:

“In recent years, the Astros have repeatedly found ways to maximize the ability of players who were overlooked by other teams. The fact that they picked Giron and De Paula—neither of whom received mention on Marlins top prospect lists—should make you a bit nervous.”

Adonis’ Body of Work

Adonis Daniel Giron, 5’10”, 190 lbs, whom Miami signed for $350,000 in 2017, just completed this season with the Dominican Summer League Marlins, slashing .255/.331/.362 in 67 games, while stealing 12 bases in 20 attempts. He banged 11 doubles, three triples, and three homers.

He was born and raised in the coastal capital city of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Brayan De Paula

De Paula, 19, was born in Pedro Brand, DR, 20 miles northwest of Santo Domingo.

He had good results, also in the DSL, with a 2.23 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP in 44.1 innings. He boasted a 9.1 K/9 against a 2.4 BB/9, however, he was older than most of the league’s competition.

Houston may want to keep both countrymen together at the start, despite their two-year age difference. They may start 2019 at the team’s rookie league Gulf Coast League (GCL) Astros. De Paula might even benefit from a stint at Houston’s Class A short season New York-Penn League Tri-City ValleyCats.