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ATLANTA – A difficult situation turned into a blessing for Astros third baseman Morgan Ensberg, who was traded to the San Diego Padres for a player to be named or cash considerations two days after he was designated for assignment. Ultimately Ensberg was the only Astros traded as the non-waiver trade deadline elapsed at 3 p.m.

After entertaining offers for Mark Loretta and Mike Lamb and hearing plenty of interest in relievers Chad Qualls and Brad Lidge, the Ensberg trade was the only one the Astros made.

“The players that we talked about getting back from other teams were not close to what we valued for our players,” general manager Tim Purpura said via phone from Houston. “It made no sense to give away our players.”

Ensberg, a native of the Los Angeles area, actually has a home in the San Diego area, where he spends much of his winter when he’s not at home in Houston.

“I think it was absolutely the best scenario,” he said. “This season was very turbulent. It was difficult. I wish I had done better, but once everything kind of went down you feel down and then you have this blessing. It really is a blessing from God. I’m certain of it.”

Ensberg, 31, and his wife Christi were already planning on flying to San Diego today with their one-year-old twins, Beckett and Chase.

“I’m shocked,” said Ensberg, who hit .232 (52-for-224) with eight home runs and 31 RBIs this year. “My wife and I are so happy we get a chance to get back there. I really was just speechless when Tim (Purpura) told me I was going out there. I can’t wait to go have Mexican food.”

Other teams also coveted Qualls and Lidge.

“We certainly would have liked to be more active,” Purpura said. “At the end, there was no trade other than Ensberg. We were not just going to move one of our good relievers for just prospects that were years away.”