Buried beneath the noise surrounding Bud Norris’ trade to the Orioles was 29-year-old outfielder Justin Maxwell’s being sent to Kansas City on Wednesday for righthanded pitching prospect Kyle Smith, 20. Maxwell hit just .241 with two home runs and eight RBIs for the Astros this season. He was limited to 40 games due to hand and head injuries and has been plagued by injuries during an abbreviated five-year career. Maxwell was a strong presence inside the clubhouse, though, and a close friend of rookie center fielder Brandon Barnes. Maxwell knows the Astros’ record is difficult to accept, but he believes he left an improving club with a positive vision of [...]