BOSTON -- The Houston Astros traded switch-hitting outfielder Carl Everett to the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, cutting his multimillion dollar salary from their payroll and getting two minor leaguers in return.

	C. Everett

The Red Sox gave up shortstop prospect Adam Everett, who was expendable because they already have Nomar Garciaparra, and left-handed pitcher Greg Miller. Before the trade, Boston signed Adam Everett to a two-year contract with a $725,000 signing bonus.

Carl Everett made $2.5 million last year, is eligible for a big raise in arbitration next year and can be a free agent after the season.

"We had some preliminary talks but we never got very far down the road," Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker said. "I had a sense of where that might end up and with our payroll situation, we felt it would be in our best interest to make a deal."

The trade, which had been discussed for several days at the winter meetings, was delayed because the Red Sox wanted permission to talk to Carl Everett about a long-term contract.

Boston general manager Dan Duquette said he made the trade without talking to Everett because other teams were willing to make a deal with Houston unconditionally.

"We were willing to take the chance," Duquette said. "Hopefully we'll be able to come to an agreement where he'll be able to be a long-term contributor."

ESPN.com analysis

The Red Sox had one of the weakest-hitting outfields in the major leagues, and Carl Everett will be a huge improvement over the offensively challenged Darren Lewis in center field. Everett will become a free agent after 2000, so it could be a short-term fix for the Sox. Shortstop prospect Adam Everett draws good reviews for his glove, but he hit just .263 at Double-A. He does have a little pop in his but probably needs a year at Triple-A; he should replace Ricky Gutierrez in 2001. Pitcher Greg Miller is a good prospect -- at age 20, he fanned 146 in 136.2 innings at Class A. The big question for Houston is who will play center field? They have plenty of outfield options -- Derek Bell, Moises Alou, Lance Berkman and Daryle Ward. Richard Hidalgo is the only legitimate center fielder on the team, but his health status in unknown after a serious knee injury. Still, the Astros probably wouldn't have made the trade without a backup plan and one must assume Hidalgo will be ready to play. Look for an outfield of Hidalgo in center, Berkman in right and Ward in left if they can trade Alou and find somebody to take Derek Bell off their hands.

Everett, who hit .325 with 25 home runs and 108 RBI for Houston last season, could fill a power-hitting void the Red Sox have had since Mo Vaughn left for free agency before last season. Last year's outfield of Troy O'Leary, Darren Lewis and Trot Nixon hit 45 home runs combined -- 28 of them by O'Leary.

"We're acquiring a center fielder who can play in the middle of the diamond and also hit in the middle of our lineup," Duquette said. "The offensive production of our outfield from was one thing we felt that we needed to improve on from last year."

Adam Everett, no relation, was the 12th pick in the first round of the 1998 amateur draft. The Red Sox consider him a top prospect, but he wasn't going anywhere with Garciaparra in front of him.

Duquette had said the team's primary need is pitching, but "Adam Everett alone was not going to bring us a front line starting pitcher."

The trade leaves Lewis' status in doubt. The former Gold Glove-winner helped solidify Boston's outfield since he was acquired as the Red Sox made the playoffs in both of his seasons with the team.

"Darren Lewis is a solid professional. We'll have to see how his role changes," Duquette said. "I would rather have more players than not enough, particularly in December. And Jimy Williams does a nice job keeping his team sharp and getting everybody ready to play."

The Astros expect left fielder Moises Alou to recover from knee surgery that kept him out all of last season. Barring further trades, they also have Richard Hidalgo, also returning from surgery, Derek Bell, Glen Barker and Daryle Ward in the outfield.

"We're trying to keep our nucleus but we have to make room for our talent coming up from the minor leagues," Hunsicker said.