Astros trade for Miguel Tejada

by Jeff Sackmann on Dec 12, 2007 1:33 PM CST in Transactions

We only had to suffer through two (or more?) years of trade rumors before it finally happened. The odd thing is that neither Ty Wigginton or Adam Everett was involved in the trade, so one of those guys will have to go to make room for Tejada.

Here is who was involved, including a couple of notable names:

LHP Troy Patton, OF Luke Scott, RHP Matt Albers, RHP Dennis Sarfate and 3B Michael Costanzo.

Patton was a top prospect at this time last year, and is still a viable long-term option. Sarfate, of course, was a Brewer until recently. Scott got some talk here as a possible acquisition to play left. I don't know enough about the Orioles to guess how they'll use him, or if they'd consider flipping him. If I were Doug Melvin, I'd write that off, because the Orioles seem like an awfully hard team to deal with.

So...Gagne to the Brewers, Fukudome to the Cubs, Tejada to the Astros. It's a big week in the Central without any clear winner, though the Reds are certainly making noises about deals (Bedard, Haren) that would put them on that list, too.

Tweet Comment 23 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Interesting

Considering Dennis Sarfate's one appearance against the Brewers (2 perfect innings, 5 Ks), I'm glad he's out of the Central.
As for the Reds, I can't imagine why they haven't struck a deal yet. What could possibly keep two of the most promising young starters in the game from wanting to pitch for a team managed by Dusty Baker? I'm at a loss.

C. Magruder scored, R. Weeks to second on balk

by alkaseitzer on Dec 12, 2007 2:09 PM CST reply actions

won't tejada go to 3rd base?

everett is too good.

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Dec 12, 2007 2:12 PM CST reply actions

makes sense, but...

the Astros seem to be pretty heavily invested in Wigginton. And with the trade for Michael Bourn, that moves Pence to a corner, so the all the other corner spots are taken by Pence, Lee, and Berkman. I personally wouldn't give a hoot about pushing Ty Wigginton out of a job, but I don't think that's how the Stros see things.

Weird, but not weird.

by Jeff Sackmann on Dec 12, 2007 2:25 PM CST up reply actions

heavily invested?

hm. guess we'll find out tomorrow. i thought wigginton was simply brought in so the team could pull the plug on the ensberg experiment.

honestly, i won't be all that surprised to see wigginton simply not offered arbitration.

if they go berkman, matsui, everett, tejada across the infield, they've got blum, burke, loretta, and wiggington as backups.

i think you gotta hold onto loretta, who can play all four infield positions... (did he accept arbitration?) and i can't really see them calling it quits on chris burke yet, especially since he can play if/of. Although he does already have over 1,000 ABs.

i guess if it comes down to blum or wigginton they probably hang onto ty.

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Dec 12, 2007 3:47 PM CST up reply actions

looks like

blum is signed for '08 and burke is still a slave player.

i think ty's out.

i'd put the odds at 3:2 he is non-tendered... can he play OF?

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Dec 12, 2007 3:52 PM CST up reply actions

i don't know WHY they like wigginton so...

but I remember talk of locking him up long term.

regardless, Astros just DFA'd Everett. Dumb, but I guess that's what you do when you sign Tejada.

I wonder if Everett wants to try playing third :). I'm only half-kidding.

Weird, but not weird.

by Jeff Sackmann on Dec 12, 2007 9:41 PM CST up reply actions

wow!

tejeda might be a downgrade from everett. hard to believe but the NL Central just got stupider.

astros need pitching, so what do they do? trade pitching and defense (essentially) for offense.

jaw dropping move.

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Dec 13, 2007 9:01 AM CST up reply actions

ty wiggington threw me a baseball once...

so i like him ...and you should see his abs!!!

Jamie is a Softball Champion!

by Jamie in LA on Dec 12, 2007 5:02 PM CST up reply actions

Hochuli-esque?

Ryan Braun is the Ed Hochuli of Third Basemen. Prince is now Chubber Lang

by hyattff2003 on Dec 12, 2007 5:08 PM CST up reply actions

Get creppy!

by MunichBrats on Dec 12, 2007 8:08 PM CST up reply actions

great deal

...for the Orioles. Tejada is still a good player, but not an all-star anymore. The Astros gave up the farm to bring him in, but I don't see Tejada doing anything for the Astros. They still have no pitching after Oswalt...

This just doesn't make too much sense...

Oh yeah, they did sign Kaz Matsui though. That should be a big help...not.

Come check out BrewersNation, a new Brewers blog that keeps you up to date on ALL Brewers news and rumors. http://sportsnationjb.blogspot.com/

by jimmyb1799 on Dec 12, 2007 2:18 PM CST reply actions

The Astros

are dumb. Glad to have them in the division.

On the other hand, I really like Fukudome, and wish he wasn't a Cub.

Will this prompt Melvin to make a big move, especially with the Reds heavily pursuing Haren or Bedard?

"Cover your flesh." - Bill Haverchuck

by baumann on Dec 12, 2007 2:21 PM CST reply actions

I don't know

I doubt he'll be pressured into anything, since the Cubs aren't ahead of the Brewers even with Fukudome. I'm sure he'll still make a deal using one of the excess starters on the team but I doubt all this news will speed up that process.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Dec 12, 2007 2:30 PM CST up reply actions

Exactly

Outside of Oswalt, do they have any pitchers remaining? The Brewers hit them all (and Oswalt) hard last season.

by nmc on Dec 12, 2007 3:38 PM CST up reply actions

more interestingly...

do they have anyone in the farm system now? Patton and Constanzo were their #3 and #6 prospects, respectively. The remainder of their top 5 is not exactly world beaters, and will be with the big club this year. They really don't have impact guys, or depth.

Ryan Braun is the Ed Hochuli of Third Basemen. Prince is now Chubber Lang

by hyattff2003 on Dec 12, 2007 4:28 PM CST up reply actions

it depends

on what you consider a "big move." I think that the Hank Blalock trade has been in the works for about a week now, but I think that would have happened regardless of the Tejada, Fukudome, or the chance of a Bedard deal.

Melvin has never been pushed into deals before (minus perhaps the Gagne move), and I see him being patient until he gets what he wants.

Come check out BrewersNation, a new Brewers blog that keeps you up to date on ALL Brewers news and rumors. http://sportsnationjb.blogspot.com/

by jimmyb1799 on Dec 12, 2007 5:21 PM CST up reply actions

I don't think this will prompt Melvin

This move makes the Astros offense better but it doesn't launch them into contention. The NL A's didn't just come knocking on our doorstep because they got Tejada.

by MunichBrats on Dec 12, 2007 8:10 PM CST up reply actions

agreed

the astros coundn't even make it past our front gate, let alone our doorstep.

by SunglassesAtNight on Dec 12, 2007 8:15 PM CST up reply actions

Lineup

I got to thinking what their lineup will be like...

01 Pence
02 Matsui
03 Berkman
04 Lee
05 Tejada
06 Wiggi
07 Mysterious outfielder
08 Ausmus

That's a whole lot of free swingers in that lineup .. perhaps we should send Yost a memo to have the pitchers throw it low and outside all the time against Houston. Lee is due to regress, Berkman should bounce back a bit, hopefully Pence doesn't go into a sophomore slump, otherwise runs could be hard to come by if their collective power drops.

by nmc on Dec 12, 2007 8:32 PM CST up reply actions

astros

I don't think Ausmus is going to be back I think they are going to start JR Towles at catcher and then Michael Bourn in center and move Pence to right.

by Trent Durrington on Dec 12, 2007 9:35 PM CST up reply actions

Ausmus will be back as a backup, I think

and yes, Bourn in CF, and Bourn/Matsui will likely bat 1/2, moving Pence down to a "run-producing" spot.

Weird, but not weird.

by Jeff Sackmann on Dec 12, 2007 9:39 PM CST up reply actions

Gagne's going to put back on

all the weight he just lost when he EATS TEJADA AND FUKUDOME ALIVE!!!

You heard it here first: Prince Fielder will hit more homeruns than Eric Gagne's ERA x 100.

by stevie ray Braun on Dec 12, 2007 8:32 PM CST up reply actions

Coolest name ever.

Although it's probably pronounced different, Co-sucky F*(k-you-dome's a pretty cool name. As my bro pointed out, though, he'll probably get injured and not be worth the $12 mil. Must be nice to have that kind of money to spend each year. Imagine what Melvin could do with that kind of flexibility...

by kgaul on Dec 12, 2007 9:08 PM CST reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

NL Central Standings

	PCT	STRK
Chicago Bleed Cubbie Blue	.000	Lost 0
Cincinnati Red Reporter	.000	Lost 0
Houston The Crawfish Boxes	.000	Lost 0
Milwaukee Brew Crew Ball	.000	Lost 0
Pittsburgh Bucs Dugout	.000	Lost 0
St. Louis Viva El Birdos	.000	Lost 0