Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
December 08, 2005
Tejada Wants Out

Miguel Tejada is upset with the direction of the Baltimore Orioles and wants to be traded.

"I've been with the Orioles for two years and things haven't gone in the direction that we were expecting, so I think the best thing will be a change of scenery," Tejada told The Associated Press during a telephone interview in his native Dominican Republic.

Well, that's the risk of signing a six-year contract. The team you sign with might stink. And while a deal with Boston might be fun to think about for Red Sox fans, do you really think the Orioles will trade a star of that magnitude to another team in their division? More likely, Baltimore could send him to the Cubs, the team that lost out on Furcal.

Of course, if I were running the Orioles, I'd be doing everything possible to make Miguel happy. Players like Tejada are difficult to replace.


Posted by David Pinto at 10:14 PM | Players | TrackBack (0)
Comments

While I'd love to see the Cubs get him, doesn't Man Ram for Miggy make perfect sense?

Posted by: Chuck at December 8, 2005 10:34 PM

You say that's the risk of a six-year contract. I say Tejada shouldn't complain because he's making $72 million during those six years. He could have signed with the A's, a perennially competitive team, but for less money. Instead, he chose the perennially crappy team. No pity here.

Posted by: Benjamin Kabak at December 8, 2005 10:45 PM

What about the direction the Orioles were heading in two years ago made Tejada think it was a good idea to sign there? The Orioles are a bit on the directionless side - well, duh, it's not like that's a new thing. It was true five years ago, it was true when Tejada signed, and it's true now.

Posted by: David Dean at December 8, 2005 11:02 PM

I'm sure you'll hear a bunch of "Tejada to Boston for Manny" rumors in the next couple months. And you know why? Because it makes sense, not because it'll happen.

Posted by: mattymatty at December 8, 2005 11:31 PM

I don't quite understand what Miggy is upset about. I would guess it's purely based on the amount of money and transaction the other AL East teams are throwing around, especially Toronto, this winter.

I second the question, what's so different now compares to two years ago? Is throwing money at the likes of Tejeda, Lopez, Sosa, Pamerio and Ponson the right direction? Is holding on to emergent young pitching studs, and not signing 30yo+ no.3/4 starters like Loiaza, the wrong direction? Maybe Miggy is upset to see the market appear to be bullish again, and his $12mil per isn't looking as good as before, except I don't want to believe that, because I still like him for what he did with the A's.

Posted by: wilson at December 8, 2005 11:38 PM

not enough money?

Posted by: colin at December 9, 2005 01:51 AM

Certainly can't be the hiring of the best pitching coach in the majors. Nor the signing of Ramon Hernandez to forcing Javy Lopez's pitiful D to no longer matter.

Posted by: Adam B. at December 9, 2005 02:44 AM

I'm hearing rumors about Tejada and Ramon Hernadnez absolutely hating each other from their days in Oakland and that perhaps this signing is the last straw for Tejada.

Does anybody know anything about a possible fued between Tejada and Hernandez?

Posted by: tito landrum at December 9, 2005 03:04 AM

Here is food for thought? How about Pete Angelos sells the O's to a group led by Cal Ripken? I know...a dream world world, but that is the O's and Miguel's only salvation.

Posted by: tallguy at December 9, 2005 07:14 AM

If someone making $72 million dollars needs salvation, heaven help the rest of us.

Posted by: JC at December 9, 2005 09:10 AM

A feud between Hernandez and Tejada would explain a lot. I would have thought that signing someone who is possibly the best free agent catcher would be a step in the right direction.

Posted by: Will at December 9, 2005 09:58 AM

If Miggy thought for even a second 2 years ago when he signed that the O's were ever going to seriously compete in a division with Boston and NYY, then he may be retarded.

Be that as it may, this news brings back the tiniest sliver of optimism for this Cubs fan. Based on a life's worth of empirical evidence, I know in my heart that the Cubs won't trade for him, but the slim chance brings with it the hope of a Christmas miracle.

All I have in my stocking right now is a Spanish-French consolation prize and 3 lumps of coal named Eyre, Howry, and Mabry. Merry effing Christmas!

Posted by: Doug Dascenzo at December 9, 2005 10:21 AM

There is nothing better than an athlete leaving a winning club to sign with a losing club because they gave him more money and then bitching about all the losing.

At least Glavine didn't complain about how bad the Mets were after he left Atlanta. He wanted money more than winning, so he's happy. Tejada should be happy too.

Posted by: Hippster at December 9, 2005 10:42 AM

I believe that a Manny for Miggy straight-up deal would make more sense than any other situation. Problem being that Manny probably wouldn't do it and Angelos DEFINITELY wouldn't do it no matter HOW much it helps his club. Although there is that side of the equation of Manny wanting to be anonymous...

Posted by: El Jefe at December 9, 2005 11:50 AM

Though anything could happen, I can't imagine the Sox trading Manny to a team in its own division (or the Orioles doing the same with Tejada).

In fact, I think they'd prefer to never face him and trade him to the NL. The dude can hit, after all. Having him hit 20+ games a year against you is a seriously bad idea.

Posted by: steve at December 9, 2005 12:37 PM

it must a post steriod roid? he could have signed with any other team 2 yrs ago

Posted by: colin at December 9, 2005 12:45 PM

This kind of complaining really makes me angry. Tejada knew who he was signing with when he accepted their mountain of money, he knew it was a franchise that hadn't sniffed success in years, and he knew what division they played in. There's risk in signing a guaranteed long-term contract on both sides, and this is supposed to be part of the risk that the player accepts when he signs. Furthermore, if winning had been such a big deal to him at the time he signed, he could have had some "right to demand a trade" clause written into the deal; it could have even been something creative that was tied to the team's record. Just accepting the biggest offer from a bad team and then demanding a trade because you're not winning seems to be unfair to the team. You've maximized your pay AND screwed the team that paid you by forcing them to make a potentially uneven trade. Other teams now know that the O's are desperate to trade Tejada, and will adjust their trade offers accordingly. Basically my point is that it's immature stunts like this that make people think that professional athletes are a bunch of spoiled children. Way to go, Miguel. I used to think you were a stand-up guy.

Posted by: JeffW at December 9, 2005 12:46 PM

the athletics didn't want to sign tejada because they hasd to pick between him and chavez, so no he didn't turn down the a's they told him that they wouldn't resign him, which is why he doesn't get booed when he returns like giambi does.

Posted by: jonathand at December 9, 2005 02:30 PM

us astros fans wouldn't mind seeing miggy play for us - remember he won the HR derby here!!!!


we could trade him for zeke astacio and adam everett straight up. cheap for the Os and we get a bat we need. and miggys a decent glove.

he ain't goin to no cubs when they have a great SS like neifi perez who i personally hope gets a 10 year extension

Posted by: lisa gray at December 9, 2005 09:23 PM

orioles could always sign NOMAH

Posted by: colin at December 10, 2005 11:37 AM

Oh poor Miggy. 72 mil isnt enough huh? hahaha I am a hardcore O's fan and although Miggy should shut up and play ("There's no crying in baseball") I and many like me feel his pain. Angelos has ruined this ballclub on many different fronts. He has gone through GM's, Managers, Coaches and players. He has agreed to some bad signing and vetoed many good ones. I know it is his money but for the love of God Pete find someone you can trust.
On the field I like our infield : C; Hernandez 1:Lopez 2: Roberts SS: Miggy? 3:Mora.

Thats not bad. Its a nice core to build on. We have some young pithcing coming up but we do need to sign a Millwood and another starter to go with Leo.

Posted by: John Peters at December 10, 2005 11:07 PM

maybe cal can come back and play some SS.

Posted by: colin at December 11, 2005 12:16 AM
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