KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Astros trimmed their roster to 38 players on Friday, optioning left-handed pitcher Wesley Wright to Triple-A Round Rock and reassigning right-hander Shane Loux and infielder Oswaldo Navarro to Minor League camp.

The moves certainly came as no surprise, even in the case of Wright, who has appeared in 120 games for the Astros in the previous two seasons. He is making the transition to starter from reliever and will be in the starting rotation at Triple-A Round Rock.

"Basically, they want me to command the fastball better and keep the ball down and work ahead of guys," said Wright, who allowed six earned runs in 7 1/3 innings this spring. "I'm eager to see how it plays out. I'm eager to see what the next month is going to hold, and hopefully it all plays out like we think."

Wright, whom the Astros claimed in the Rule 5 Draft in 2007, appeared in 71 games in 2008 and split last year between the Astros and Round Rock. He was 3-4 with a 5.44 ERA in 49 games in Houston and 2-1 with a 3.32 ERA with the Express.

He made eight starts in the Dominican Winter League and was 0-2 with a 4.29 ERA. Wright came to Spring Training knowing his chances of making the club as a starter were pretty slim.

"My thing was to come in and show the new staff what I had in whatever capacity they wanted to see me in," he said. "I really didn't think I was guaranteed anything as a starter. I came in and wanted to open some eyes."

Loux, 30, posted a 2.35 ERA in 7 2/3 innings in seven relief appearances with one save. Navarro, 25, hit .214 (3-for-14) in 11 games.