HOUSTON -- The Astros have traded infielder Jonathan Villar to the Milwaukee Brewers for minor league pitcher Cy Sneed.
Villar hit. 284 with seven doubles, two homers and 11 RBIs in 53 games for the Astros last season. The 24-year-old appeared in 198 games for Houston in the last three seasons.
Sneed had a 2.58 ERA in 23 starts and three relief appearances for two Class A teams last season. The 23-year-old right-hander was a third-round pick in the 2014 amateur draft.
Also on Thursday, the Astros released left-hander Luis Cruz and outfielder Robbie Grossman.
Cruz was 7-5 with a 4.27 ERA in 28 games for Triple-A Fresno last season. Grossman spent most of the season at Fresno, but appeared in 24 games for Houston.