[Joy in Mudville]

Things often come in threes.

If that old saying is true, then Friday's late-afternoon trade may be yet another indication of future events.

On the eve of the amateur draft Montreal, Washington and Houston hooked up on a three-way trade.

The Expos sent pitcher Burt Hooton to Washington. The Senators then traded a 1972 first-round pick along with a possible conditional pick to the Astros. Houston dealt first baseman Bob Watson to Montreal.

Hooton, 21, was Montreal's top pick in last year's amateur draft. The No. 5 overall selection was recently chosen as a Class-A All-Star. He was rated the 24th best overall prospect by Baseball America.

Watson, 25, was batting just .236 with no homers and 17 RBIs for the Astros. His playing time has fallen off significantly with the emergence of John Mayberry in Houston. Watson, however, hit .307 with nine homers and 42 RBIs in 1970.


If the traded draft pick turns out to be lower than No. 11 overall, then Washington has agreed to give Houston its second-round pick next summer as well.