The Houston Astros have acquired Scott Kazmir from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Jacob Nottingham and Daniel Mengden.

Kazmir, who is scheduled to become a free agent after the season, was supposed to start for the Athletics on Thursday.

"Scott Kazmir is one of the best pitchers in the American League and strengthens our rotation," Jeff Luhnow said in a release. "His addition gives the Astros a better chance of reaching and succeeding in the postseason. It has been a while since the Astros have been relevant late in the summer and winning now is a priority."

Nottingham, 20 is a catcher. He was a sixth-round pick by the Astros out of Redlands, Cal., High School in the 2013 MLB first-year player draft. In 168 professional games, he's a .280 hitter with an .816 OPS.

Mengden, a 22 right-hander, was drafted in the fourth round by Houston out of Texas A&M in 2014. He has 101 strikeouts in 99 1/3 professional innings pitched.