Tejada on the block?
The Washington Post is reporting that the Baltimore Orioles may be interested in trading Miguel Tejada if the team doesn’t improve it’s standing in the AL East in the next few weeks (it won’t).
BALTIMORE, June 22 — Though it was reported in several Los Angeles area newspapers that the Angels could have an interest in Baltimore Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada, the two teams have not had any talks recently, according to an Orioles source. That may change, however, if the Orioles continue to slide in the standings.
The source did not deny the team would listen to offers for the superstar shortstop if Baltimore plays poorly in the weeks leading up to the July 31 trade deadline.
If the Orioles put Tejada on the trading block, there likely would be no shortage of suitors. The Angels, who have been looking for a power bat, seem like a perfect fit since they have a surplus of young talent in their minor league system. The Tigers or White Sox could also be possibilities.
Tejada, who entered Thursday’s game hitting .321 with 16 home runs, is not expected to come cheap. . . .
The Angels have got to be the scariest last place team in baseball. Can you picture them in 2007 with Tejada and Vladimir Guerero knocking in runs, Chone Figgins setting the table, Colon and Jered Weaver leading the rotation and K-Rod closing out games? They’d have some big-time names and be a real threat to make a worst-to-first run.
On the other hand, if the White Sox or Tigers end up with Tejada, they’d be pretty good RIGHT NOW.
June 24th, 2006 at 11:58 am
I don’t understand why the Orioles would do this. If they were looking to slash payroll or get younger to rebuild, why did they give a 34 year-old Melvin Mora a three year, $25 million extention a month ago? Trading away Javy Lopez, Kevin Millar, or Jeff Conine makes far more sense. Between Tejada and Brian Roberts, their middle infield situation should be set for the next few years. With Jay Gibbons (if healthy), Nick Markakis, and Corey Patterson, their OF isn’t that bad. With Ramon Hernandez behind the plate, they’ll have a good backstop for three more years. What they need is a power bat at first or DH and an ace pitcher. Obviously, these things aren’t easy to get and they’ll need to spend to get it. Trading away their best player is not the way to go about it.
Unless the whole MLB steroid investigation is forcing the ownership’s hand to get rid of any evidence… Remember that Raffy Palmeiro blamed Tejada for the positive drug test last year… Let poor conspiracy theories fly.
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