In an attempt to rebuild and get younger, the Orioles traded shortstop Miguel Tejada to the Houston Astros for five players on Wednesday.
The former American League Most Valuable Player was dealt for outfielder Luke Scott, pitchers Matt Albers, Troy Patton and Dennis Sarfate, and third baseman Michael Costanzo.
It marks the first major trade for Orioles president Andy MacPhail, who has received numerous inquiries about the team?s top talent, including second baseman Brian Roberts.
“I don?t think it?s ever easy to trade away a player of Miguel?s stature,” MacPhail said. “It clearly signifies change. I think if you?re serious about change, you have to make a change.”
Tejada, 31, won the 2002 American League MVP with Oakland before signing a six-year contract with the Orioles in Dec. 2003. With the trade, the Orioles saved about $26 million in payroll during the final two years of Tejada?s contract.
The clubs did not discuss potential ramifications if any of the six players is mentioned in George Mitchell?s steroids report.
“Tejada is a baseball player,” Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. “He played hard, and I?m sure he?ll help out the Houston ball club.”
Tejada hit .311 with 102 home runs and 429 RBIs in 619 games with the Orioles.
Third baseman Melvin Mora, 35, who is the longest tenured Oriole, said he understands “baseball is a business.”
“I know we?re going to miss Miggy, but like I said, I don?t think Andy MacPhail is trying to lose, either,” Mora said. “He?s trying to win with good, young players.”
MacPhail is confident in the group he acquired, which could include the Orioles? left fielder ? Scott ? and two members ? Patton and Albers ? of the starting rotation this season.
“It?s a team effort,” MacPhail said. “You can?t rely on the same two or three guys all the time. You have to have different type of heroes every day. Acquiring five players in exchange for one ? nobody is certain how they will evolve, but when you get five, you play the percentages, quite honestly.”
Scott, 29, is a left-handed hitting left fielder, who batted .255 with 18 home runs and 64 RBIs in 132 games with Houston last season.
Mora, who knows Scott from their days in winter ball, said: “He?s a guy you want to have on your team. He cancrush the ball out to right field.”
The right-handed Albers, 24, and the left-handed Patton, 22, provide the Orioles with two young starting pitchers to help a rotation that was one of baseball?s worst last season.
Patton was named the Astros third-best prospect by Baseball America after going 10-8 with a 3.51 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A, and Albers is a year removed from being named Double-A Texas League Pitcher of the Year.
“The direction that we?re going is with pitching,” Trembley said. “I don?t think you can ever have enough good young pitching. We feel we took a step in that direction.”
NEW TO THE NEST
» Two young starters in LHP Troy Patton (0-2, 3.55 ERA) and RHP Matt Albers (4-11, 5.86 ERA)
» LF Luke Scott, 29, who slugged .547 and hit 18 HRs in 2007.
» 3B Mike Costanzo, 24, who hit .270 with 27 HR and 86 RBIs with Philadelphia?s Double-A affiliate. Traded to Houston for closer Brad Lidge in Nov.
» Hard-throwing RHP Dennis Sarfate, 26, who was 1-0 with a 1.08 ERA in seven games with Houston. Acquired from Milwaukee in September.
