Miguel Tejada's four-year tenure with the Orioles, marked by All-Star play, trade demands and a lot more losses than he wanted, ended yesterday when the club dealt him to the Houston Astros for five players.

The move was the strongest sign yet that president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail is seeking a sweeping rebuild after 10 straight losing seasons.

In exchange, the Orioles received outfielder Luke Scott, pitching prospects Troy Patton, Matt Albers and Dennis Sarfate, and power-hitting third base prospect Michael Costanzo.

The Orioles signed Tejada to a $72 million deal before the 2004 season. He played brilliantly that year, driving in 150 runs, almost unheard of for a shortstop, and lending the team a superstar presence it had lacked since Cal Ripken's retirement.

But winning records and fellow free-agent superstars never followed as fans and club executives had hoped, and two years ago, Tejada - who was accused of links to performance-enhancing drugs while with the Orioles - asked to be traded, though he later backed away from the request.