"Being that they just traded away Costanza to get Tejada, then I think that you'll have Tejada, Everett, and Wigginton playing those three spots. I know that MT has been playing SS, but there was question about his ability to have move well enough to still play there. I also don't know if Wiggington can play SS, but if he can't, and MT can't play there anymore, and/or is better at 3B, then you still have the problem of having to keep Everett's bat in the lineup
Second, burke will have a small role on the team this year, being they just signed Matsui.
I wish they'd have given up Micheal Borne in the deal, instead they included Luke scott. But I think that Costanza was a bigger prospect, so that's probably why he was in it. Now, you'll have Lee, Bourne, and Pence in LF, C, and RF.
Ausmus will still catch a good bit this year, likely the final of his career, but J.R. Towles will get groomed and get plenty of needed experience as well.
They traded away three pitchers in this deal, including Albers who was somewhat successful last year, his first year being in a true rotation. going into next year, their starting pitching will be atrocious, except for Oswalt of course, and considering they don't make anymore moves.
I don't really look for them to compete for a WS very much over the next few years unless they make some serious moves on the mound."
Every trade is going to have some risk. First, there is no guarantee the Everetts' leg will heal and still have the range he once did. Everett without the range, is a poor major league player. What you lose in runs saved from Everett, you gain by adding 100 RBI's to the Houston lineup. Tejada only played in 133 games last year do to injury, so he still projects over 20 hrs and 100 rbis.
Baltimore wanted Bourne, Paulino and Patten. They only received one of the prospects that they wanted. The Astros gave up Patton, projects to be a #3, Scott who is a average major league player at 29 yrs old, Safratte which they claimed on waivers and Albers that had 5.63 ERA in the majors and 4.50 ERS in the minors, and Costanza a prospect that made close to 30 errors and 123 SO's in AA ball last year. So, who did Baltimore get besides Patton?
The only way this deal turns bad, is if Tejada is injured or is on Mitchells report. The Astros now can at least compete in a very weak Central Division. They will still need help with another starting arm, but the bats will be good.
BTW, the Astros tried to trade Everett and Burke and had no takers. What does that tell you about their value to other clubs?