I don't know a thing about those guys -- I'm sure Keith Law or someone will soon have a breakdown of the talent heading to Baltimore that is better than anything I can piece together at the moment -- but I have to wonder why the Astros are interested in a shortstop over 30 with declining range and declining power. Sure, their cupboard is pretty bare and Tejada will be some kind of an improvement, but Houston should be in tear-down mode, and I can't imagine that Tejada will be around the next time they contend. The same is true for Baltimore, of course. We'll see what the haul looks like soon, but losing Tejada and his salary is something a team in the Orioles' place in the success cycle needs to be thinking about, so good for them for doing the right thing.
In the meantime, allow me to openly and baselessly speculate that the Orioles unloaded him today because they were tipped off that Tejada is about to make his world premiere in the Mitchell report, and Angelos doesn't want any part of it.
C'mon, 'tis the season, and you were thinking it too.
UPDATE: MLB Trade Rumors opines that the Astros got fleeced:
That's a fine haul for Baltimore. The Astros pretty much cleaned out their farm system for two years of an average-hitting third baseman. The average NL 3B had an .804 OPS in '07; Tejada was at .799 in the AL. I know some readers think I'm an Astro-hater but that's not the case. I just think they gave up way too much here. Patton was ranked their third best prospect by Baseball America, Costanzo sixth. Scott is a cheap quality regular, and Albers was third on the team's 2007 top prospect list.
If those assessments are correct, Ed Wade ought to be crucified.
2 comments:
I agree, it was alot to give up for Tejada. A few things:
1) He'll play SS leaving Wiggington at 3b
2) The JuiceBox has a very short left field porch to aim at
3) Better lineup (some don't subscribe the the "lineup protection" theory, I know).
4) Maybe there's a bit of rejuvenation boost for playing for a team with a shot at the post season, unlike the O's.
Now, when the Mitchell Report comes out tomorrow with Tejada's name in it (and if it's not in there, the report is 100% bunk), what will Houston think? Do they care after having Caminiti (and Bagwell?)...
I don't know enough about their prospects to know if they overpaid or what. I'll leave that in the more than capable hands of Law and Neyer.
i think houston got the better deal in terms of value, i just don't think it was necessary because they still can't pitch on the days oswalt is resting. they're maybe an 81 win team now, instead of 73.
patton is a decent prospect, but his ceiling is #3 starter. the rest of those guys are not likely to be remembered a year from now. So i don't think the orioles got a lot of talent back, this was just a way to dump tejada's salary while hoping that at least 1 of the 5 guys they got back can give them some value someday.
Houston, if they can add another starter, could possibly contend with this team in 2008. not likely, but ed wade's job is not to rebuild but to win. purpura probably wanted to rebuild and that's why he doesn't work there anymore.
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