[Joy in Mudville]

The 1972-73 Hot Stove League has opened with a flourish.

Three deals were struck within days of the Joy in Mudville World Series ending.

The California Angels shipped pitcher Andy Messersmith to the Texas Rangers for a first-round draft pick.

Messersmith, 27, is 61-57 with a 3.15 ERA in his career. This past season, the right-hander was 20-21 with a 2.93 ERA.

The JIM champion Houston Astros traded slick-fielding infeld prospect Frank White to Kansas City for the Royals' first-round draft selection. The pick is the seventh overall in the June amateur draft.

White, 22, was the 13th overall pick in last year's draft.

Finally, American League champion Baltimore dealt outfielder Rick Miller to the New York Mets for relief ace Tug McGraw.

Miller, 24, is a career .305 hitter in two seasons. He was the AL runner-up to Oakland's Rennie Stennett for the Rookie of the Year in 1971.

McGraw, 28, gives the Orioles the left-handed reliever they have been sorely lacking. McGraw has 42 career saves with a 1.95 ERA.