The Baltimore Orioles slugger had been rumored to be on the move after meetings were held with Orioles management and front office this week. The Baltimore Sun reports that a multi-player deal has been made between with the Houston Astros (???) and the Baltimore Orioles. We thought people demanded trades to contenders and not…the Astros. Ever. Maybe with Nolan Ryan. But besides that, we’d say never.

In return for the four-time All-Star, the Orioles will get outfielder Luke Scott, pitchers Matt Albers, Troy Patton and Dennis Sarfate, and third baseman Michael Costanzo.

That’s a lot of “who the hell?” up in the mix, but the Astros seem confident since they’ve obtained such a big gun. The Orioles on the other hand, are likely to struggle.

While never verbalizing that the team is in a rebuilding phase, MacPhail has made it clear that his goal is to alter the roster, making it younger and cheaper in some areas, while trying to upgrade Orioles’ scouting and player development.

Baltimore also took a lifetime supply of Big Red Cola in addition to the aforementioned athletes. Let the Baltimore-ian misery begin.

O’s trade Tejada to Astros [Baltimore Sun]
Image [MLB]