Astros aggressive for Miggy

MAILBAG Got a question or comment for Jon? Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

The Astros are trying again to make a trade for Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada, as Baltimore is fielding offers on its two best players (Bedard being the other). But whatever the Astros do, they'll make a better deal than the one they nearly made in the summer of 2006.

At that time, the Astros were talking about sending Roy Oswalt, Morgan Ensberg and Adam Everett to Baltimore for Tejada in a deal that could have breathed life into the moribund Orioles. Baltimore planned to then ship Oswalt to the Rangers for pitchers John Danks and Thomas Diamond and third baseman Hank Blalock. But when Astros owner Drayton McLane got wind that Oswalt would ultimately end up with the cross-state rival Rangers, McLane nixed the trade.

Now, a year and half later, Tejada's stock is down. And the Orioles could be eyeing Houston's just acquired outfielder Michael Bourn plus Everett and others.

The offensively challenged Giants have also looked at Tejada, who is likely to be dealt somewhere eventually.

Angels' big offer for Cabrera was fair

The Angels' offer of young hitter Howie Kendrick, catcher Jeff Mathis and one of two top pitchers -- either Nick Adenhart or Ervin Santana plus a fourth prospect, reported first by SI.com, was plenty and should have been more than enough to get the deal done. But Marlins ownership apparently came back to the Angels and wanted both Adenhart and Santana included with Kendrick and Mathis, an unrealistic expectation considering Cabrera is only two years from free agency and should make $11-to-12 million in arbitration this year.

The Angels have come close to pulling off several blockbusters the past two years, and the other side always seems to get cold feet (the Angels nearly got Tejada two years ago for Ervin Santana and Erick Aybar), and the Angels are mad enough this time that they vow not to improve their offer to the Marlins.

Apparently, it's up to the Marlins as to whether they want to get back in the game.

Around the Majors

• The Reds may make a play for Marlins left-hander Dontrelle Willis. Cincinnati finally has decent prospects to trade -- starting with pitcher Homer Bailey and slugger Joey Votto. Josh Hamilton, last year's feel good story, also should have good value now.

• The Japanese star Kosuke Fukudome could be headed to the Cubs. Fukudome of the Chunichi Dragons is a versatile outfielder whose ability is frequently compared to that of Hideki Matsui. He his .294 with 13 home runs and 48 RBIs in an injury-plagued year after batting .351 with 31 homers and 104 RBIs in 2006.

• The Mets are looking for a right-handed hitting outfielder. Which could mean they'd try to reacquired Xavier Nady from the Pirates.

• Pittsburgh is also accepting bids on Jason Bay. As one Pirates person out it, "Everyone's available.'' Which is the way it should be when a team is rebuilding.

• Congrats to penny-hoarding Kenny Rogers, who accepted the same Tigers deal already negotiated by his former agent Scott Boras -- $8 million plus a lot of incentives -- but saved the commission by OKing it after letting Boras go. Real nice gesture for a player who's made more than $80 million in his career. Perhaps the small savings can go to the poor cameraman who got clocked.

• Everyone's looking for relief, and the Brewers are closing in on a three-year deal for reliever David Riske.

• Milwaukee has made inquiries on third basemen, which means that Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun could be shifted to the outfield.