Some comments on the Justice article and the Pupura discussion:

1. Unless the Astros believe Pence is a can't miss Berkman clone, I would go for the Tejeda trade, assuming that the rumors are right that the O's insist on him. I will buy into Barzilla's argument here. However, Justice is way over the top to suggest that we can give the O's all the prospects they want. I would not give up both Pence and Hirsh. Justice is just being provocative when he claims that a big trade is necessary in order to prove that Pupura can do something, anything. I doubt Justice really believes that. Think about it...if Justice stated the case for a trade without the hyperbole, it would be the same old column he has written before and no one would read it.

2. Justice makes a good point when he says the salesman in McLane makes him more willing to expand the payroll at mid-season when it can juice the fan enthusiasm. I think that explains why McLane is a lot more willing to approve trades at mid-season than he is to approve big signings in the off-season. From Pupura's perspective, that may be a good reason to do a trade now for a hitter under contract, rather than wait until the off-season.

3. Justice says that Drayton told Pupura and Garner during their meeting to "get creative." I like the thought. I hope they can. It could mean looking at different trade targets or thinking about multi-team trades.

4. I don't agree with Justice's idea that the Astros have to trade for a big name like Soriano, Tejeda, or A-Rod, Abreu, no matter what. However, I do think there is good reason for Pupura to stay involved with trade discussions for all those players, and more. You never know how things will turn out at the trade deadline, and it is possible that a big name could fall in your lap for a bargain. There is so much bluffing and posturing at this time of year, that sometimes teams which absolutely have to trade somebody ending up holding the bag when the other teams go elsewhere and make their deals at the deadline. The Cubs and the Cardinals have gotten tremendous bargains that way in the past.

5. I think the Huff trade is a good trade. I think he will hit well for the Astros, but no matter how he hits the remainder of the year, I think it was a good gamble. If they like his performance, I hope the Astros try to re-sign him. But I think this trade was a bargain, because the price tag for Huff in the past has usually been very steep. The Astros clearly believed Zobrist's ML future would be at 2b, which is blocked by Burke. Analyses I've seen from outside of the Astros project Zobrist as a future utility infielder in the majors. Maybe he will start at SS for Tampa Bay, but this also could be like losing Keith Ginter. Most evaluations have Talbot projected as a reliever or bottom of the rotation starter if he makes it in the MLs. With the number of good young pitchers in the Astros' organization, at some point the team will have trouble protecting everybody who has ML potential on its 40 man roster. For all we know, this trade may keep the Astros from losing someone decent through the Rule 5 draft next year.