Padres Deal Wolf

HOUSTON (Ticker) --The Houston Astros added a veteran arm to their rotation Tuesday, acquiring lefthander Randy Wolf from the San Diego Padres for minor league righthander Chad Reineke.

Wolf, 31, is 6-10 with a 4.74 ERA in 21 starts for the Padres this season. The 10-year veteran should bolster an inconsistent rotation which currently is without injured ace Roy Oswalt, who is sidelined with a hip injury. The move to pick up Wolf perhaps signals that the struggling Astros consider themselves postseason contenders in the National League. Mired in fifth place in the NL Central Division, Houston enters Tuesday's contest vs. Pittsburgh with a 46-53 record.

In Oswalt's absence, the Astros' rotation includes Wandy Rodriguez, Brandon Backe, Brian Moehler and Runelvys Hernandez. Wolf has been scheduled to start for the Astros on Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers. "Randy is an experienced starter and a great competitor," Astros general manager Ed Wade said. "We tried to sign him as a free agent during the offseason, but the chance for him to pitch close to home prevailed."

Wolf owns a career record of 84-76 with a 4.30 ERA in 233 career games, including 229 starts, with San Diego, Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was a National League All-Star in 2003, a season in which he went a career-best 16-10. "I've known Randy since the day he signed his first professional contract," Wade said. "I can say without hesitation that he brings every quality that you'd want in a member of your team, both on and off the field."

Reineke, 26, is 5-9 with a 4.41 ERA in 20 games -19 starts - for Class AAA Round Rock this season. He is 28-32 over five minor league seasons in Houston's organization with a 3.72 ERA in 149 career appearances.