Miguel Tejada Traded to the Houston Astros

After yet another pitiful season in Baltimore, today the Orioles traded 2002 AL MVP Miguel Tejada to the Houston Astros for five players. The five players are Luke Scott, Matt Albers, Troy Patton, Dennis Sarfate and Michael Constanzo.

Tejada hit .281 with 18 homers and 81 RBI's last season in 133 games. He was much maligned both by the fans and media for showing up to the ball park late and appearing to having it on cruise control much of the season. He also was a piece of the steroid saga as Rafael Palmiero has claimed that Tejada gave him pills that were allegedly vitamins but ended being laced with a performance enhancing drug.

It is still a bit undecided in Houston exactly where Tejada will play. Third base is a possibility but Minute Maid park is a hitters ball park with some nice dimensions down both lines for Tejada to put up some decent numbers.

Luke Scott at this point is the best on the bunch that the Orioles got in return as he played right field for the Astros last year putting up decent numbers and driving in 64 RBI's. The others are unproven and yet to be tested on the Major League level but like most trades of this nature, it will be a few years before we see how this works out in the wash.

To me, it appears the Orioles are in rebuilding mode, which they have been since the days of Albert Belle and Cal Ripken while the Astros appear to be gearing up for a run for the pennant with this trade and the signing of Kaz Matsui earlier this year. Pitching will be the key in Houston playing in the launching pad they call home while Baltimore is in the toughest division in baseball with the seemingly endless trail on money in New York and Boston along with a decent team in Toronto. It appears another 60+ win season is on the horizon if they are lucky.

The bright side is that there is some decent talent on the team with Jay Gibbons, Nick Markakis, Brian Roberts and Melvin Mora. Pitching again is the issue in Baltimore with the very disappointing Daniel Cabrera heading the list.