HOUSTON (Ticker) -- It appears the Boston Red Sox will be the beneficiary of payroll paring by the Houston Astros.

The Houston Chronicle is reporting the Astros have traded outfielder Carl Everett, who is coming off the best season of his career, to the Boston Red Sox for minor league shortstop Adam Everett and minor leaguer to be named.

The teams have not officially announced the reported deal.

Carl Everett, 28, is eligible for arbitration and will likely get a substantial raise after batting .325 with 25 home runs and 108 RBI along with 27 stolen bases last season. He earned $2.4 million in 1999 and likely will at least double that in arbitration. The Astros recently signed star second baseman Craig Biggio to a three-year contract extension worth more than $25 million and are hoping to reach a new deal with pitcher Mike Hampton, who is eligible for free agency after 2000.

With a close eye on the payroll, the Astros needed to deal either Moises Alou, who will enter the fourth year of a five-year, $25 million contract, or Everett.

The Red Sox have long been seeking a run-producing center fielder. Last season, they failed in an attempt to land free agent Bernie Williams, who re-signed with the New York Yankees. Darren Lewis and Damon Buford played center field for the Red Sox in 1999, but both struggled offensively.

The switch-hitting Everett would be a natural fit for the Red Sox and also provides speed near the top of the order. If the trade is completed, Boston would likely try to sign Everett, who is eligible for arbitration after the 2000 season, to a multi-year deal.

Adam Everett, 22, a first-round pick of the Red Sox in 1998, is regarded as an outstanding defensive prospect. However, with All-Star Nomar Garciaparra manning the position for the Red Sox, Adam Everett is better off playing with another organization.

Houston appears to be a good spot for him since the Astros recently refused to offer arbitration to shortstop Ricky Gutierrez. Tim Bogar is expected to start at shortstop for the Astros in 2000.

Adam Everett batted .263 with 10 home runs at Double A Trenton last season.