Braves trade Evan Gattis to Astros

— -- The Houston Astros have acquired slugger Evan Gattis in a trade with the Atlanta Braves.

The rebuilding Braves received three minor league prospects -- right-hander Mike Foltynewicz, third baseman Rio Ruiz and right-hander Andrew Thurman -- in the trade, which also sent right-handed minor leaguer James Hoyt to Houston.

Gattis passed a physical Wednesday to complete the deal, which the Braves announced in a news release later in the evening.

Gattis, 28, has 43 home runs in just 213 career games with the Braves. He burst onto the scene as a relative unknown in 2013 and became one of the most popular players among Atlanta's fan base.

The right-handed Gattis, who has played catcher, first base and left field, will join an emerging Astros lineup that already features All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve, promising outfielder George Springer and slugger Chris Carter, who had 37 homers last season.

The deal marks the latest in a busy offseason for the Braves, who wished Gattis well after also trading away star outfielders Jason Heyward and Justin Upton following a disappointing 79-83 season.