To the surprise of all, the Astros have actually improved their team for next  year, theoretically, by acquiring Miguel Tejada from the Orioles for a ton of prospects. 

It's hard to say if this is actually a good trade for the Astros, as they gave up an awful lot, although none of the players they sent to Baltimore were game breakers of any sense.

The Orioles are also still looking to deal their ace, Erik Bedard, and their best middle infielder, Brian Roberts.  It's also likely that they will be dealing the legendary Aubrey Huff, who is currently scorned by Baltimore for having the audacity to call it a "horseshit city" while appearing on my favorite radio show on Sirius.  

Anyway.  The talk around town is that the Orioles were in a hurry to deal Tejada before the Mitchell report came out tomorrow, and that, while Roberts is rumored to be on the report as well, he perhaps is not or else they would be trying harder to trade him - although he is also the favorite of Orioles owner Peter Angelos.  

However, if the Cubs are able to swing a deal for him, look for them to have to surrender one top pitching prospect (Sean Marshall, perhaps), one middle infielder (Fontenot or Theriot), and probably one more hitting prospect and/or mid-level pitching prospect.  Hell, maybe they'll add Matt Murton, who knows.

Today is also a big day in Chicago because it's the day that we'll find out that Mark Prior will no longer be a Cub.  Er, I mean, we'll find out if he's coming back.  Or something.

Anyway, as far as the Astros go, I am still not concerned by them.  They have way too many problems for one hitting middle infielder to fix.