Rockies trade Dexter Fowler to Astros for Brandon Barnes, Jordan Lyles

The Colorado Rockies finally came through on a long-rumored trade, shipping Dexter Fowler to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Homer Bailey.

Wait, no. No, they didn't. Instead, they shipped Fowler to the Houston Astros for Jordan Lyles and Brandon Barnes, the Rockies announced on Tuesday. The Astros will also receive a player to be named later in the deal.

One couldn't help but think Fowler was on the chopping block when Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd made disparaging remarks about the 27-year-old center fielder in a recent interview with 850 KOA's Dave Krieger. Most Rockies fans and analysts alike hoped Colorado would at least be able to make a move that would help the team.

This just doesn't qualify.

Even if the Rockies plan to use the money freed up by dealing Fowler on a free-agent signing, it's hard to imagine they couldn't have received more value. In exchange for Fowler and his career .365 on-base percentage, the Rockies get a 27-year-old outfielder with a .233/.282/.330 batting line and a fledgling 22-year-old starting pitcher with a 5.35 ERA in three big-league seasons.

Lyles has similar peripherals to Tyler Chatwood but has yet to figure out how to put it all together. Chances don't seem great that he'll be able to do that while pitching half of his games at Coors Field.

Whatever the Rockies have up their sleeve, it better be good because this trade looks absolutely awful on paper, and I can't think of a single person who would disagree.

More to come.