Astros wanted Xander Bogaerts from Red Sox for Bud Norris in 2013

The Astros have an online database for statistics, video, and access to conversations with other front office types around the league. The contents of this database have leaked online, according to Deadspin, and what was found inside pertains to the Red Sox. Well, the 2013 Red Sox, anyway, as the Astros tried to unload starting pitcher Bud Norris on Boston before the trade deadline in exchange for Xander Bogaerts, among others.

You can find the full transcripts here, but allow us to grab the Sox-related content for you. On July 24, Astros' general manager Jeff Luhnow texted Sox GM Ben Cherington to say that one of Xander Bogaerts, Allen Webster, Jackie Bradley Jr., or Garin Cecchini would need to be included in a Bud Norris deal just to "get in the conversation." Cherington countered with one of Ryan Lavarnway or Deven Marrero, which the Astros said no to on the same day -- not a shock, given the huge drop-off in prospect quality between those two groups: As good as Marrero's future could be, he wasn't exactly lighting up High-A ball at the time, and Lavarnway was a catcher Boston was avoiding using even when they had a need for help behind the plate thanks to injuries.

Polite and measured as ever (we assume, anyway, these quotes come from transcripts of texts written by someone who can't spell "Bogaerts" correctly), Cherington then told Luhnow that "right now they don't think they would consider those names" but that the Sox would let the Astros know if something changed.

Nothing changed: On July 29, Cherington texted Luhnow to say that those players were indeed off limits, but that they "thought they had enough depth to still make an appealing package." Luhnow then proceeded to inquire about both of Henry Owens and Matt Barnes for Norris instead. While there is no reply listed here, the fact Bud Norris became a Baltimore Orioles pitcher and the Red Sox moved on to Jake Peavy for a low-level arm and Jose Iglesias tells you all you need to know about how that conversation ended.

The Red Sox got to keep all of the players the Astros asked about, and managed to stick to their initial plan of dealing from their shortstop depth in order to acquire starting pitching help at the deadline. You can't fault the Astros for shooting high given Norris still had team control and was in the middle of a solid season at the time, but credit the Sox for not dealing prospects just because they had a bunch of them during Cherington's first deadline with a competitive team.