Opinion

The Orioles completed a trade, sending Miguel Tejada out West once again.

In case you don't remember, this is the second time the O's have traded the third-baseman. The first time came in December 2007.

The team shipped Tejada to Houston for a whole host of players, including Luke Scott, Mike Costanzo, Troy Patton, Matt Albers, and Dennis Sarfate. Costanzo is the only player who is no longer in the Orioles system.

Let's take a trip back to the late offseason of last year.

Alex Rodriguez, a then 33-year-old New York Yankees slugger sits in front of a microphone, trying desperately to save his legacy.

Recently, Rodriguez has been proven to be a steroid user. Now he tries to clear up the story and apologize as America—no, check that—the entire baseball world watches.

Rodriguez then sat at 553 homers. He seemed like a lock to break the all-time record, given his age and torrid pace. Then this blew up.

It must have been agonizing coming to work and taking the mound every five days as the notable ace on a formidable roster in Houston and realizing misery reducing the reliance and excitement. They are a perfect landing spot for the disgruntled Roy Oswalt, a veteran right-hander who needed a change of scenery and a chance to contend for a championship.

Rebuked in their efforts to obtain Adam Dunn and Prince Fielder, the White Sox have turned to Houston in an effort to bolster the left-handed side of their lineup.

The Astros are definitely willing to part with Berkman, who is having a rough season in Houston.

The 'Stros first baseman is hitting just .245, though he has an impressive .372 OBP. He has drawn 60 walks, but his power totals are down from his career averages.

Throwing Edinson Volquez into the Lions Den has turned out to be a bad move.

He looked fantastic the first time out, but since then has been unrecognizable.

In only 12 innings he has given up 14 hits, 11 earned runs, ten walks and surrendered three long balls. All that pans out to an ERA of 8.25.

Apparently he has been thrown to the wolves much too early after having Tommy John surgery. He performed very well in his rehab assignments at Louisville, but his second and third starts have been horrendous.

Through the first 102 games of the 2010 season, the Mets have gone through just about everything.

They've had their surprises in R.A. Dickey and to a certain extent Angel Pagan. They've gotten a huge lift from rookie first baseman Ike Davis and rookie left-hander Jon Niese.

During the season, the Mets have had two separate eight-game winning streaks to keep them afloat when it seemed things were sinking.

Post hoc ergo propter hoc.

For all of you who don't own a classics degree or obsessively watch The West Wing , this Latin phrase roughly translates to "after it, therefore because of it."

It means one thing follows the other, therefore it was caused by the other. It's a generality, and it's not always true, but it outlines the intricate relationship between baseball transactions.

Casualty weighs heavily on the minds of baseball general managers this time of year. 

The Toronto Blue Jays were widely expected to make a couple moves at the trade deadline this season. Several Jays vets were thought to be in play. But their first move in the last 72 hours before the deadline involved a top prospect, Brett Wallace, instead. An interesting turn of events to say the least - many expected Wallace to come up and play for the Jays at some point this season.

The Mets seem to be shying away from the trade deadline spotlight.

For a team that seemed to be a strong contender in the Cliff Lee sweepstakes only a short while ago, their activity has significantly regressed. And now, with busy teams like the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the Mets are looking even more quiet.

Houston Astros fans should now slide into a deeper depression, as if the one that had already consumed them was not deep enough.

Ed Wade had until Saturday's trade deadline to send the franchise's best player and near leader in career pitching wins elsewhere. Well, according to The Houston Chronicle and Associated Press , he did it Thursday afternoon. Oswalt will head to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for J.A. Happ and two prospects.