After the 1994 season, the Padres traded Brocail, Derek Bell, Ricky Gutiérrez, Pedro Martínez, Phil Plantier, and Craig Shipley to the Houston Astros for Ken Caminiti, Andújar Cedeño, Steve Finley, Roberto Petagine, and Brian Williams. After the 1996 season, the Astros traded Brocail, Brian Hunter, Todd Jones, Orlando Miller, and cash to the Detroit Tigers for Brad Ausmus, José Lima, Trever Miller, C. J. Nitkowski, and Daryle Ward. After the 2000 season, the Tigers traded Brocail, Ausmus, and Nelson Cruz to the Astros for Roger Cedeño, Chris Holt, and Mitch Meluskey.