Miguel Tejada Back to the Birds!
News broke over the weekend via MLBTradeRumors.com, that twice former Oriole, Miguel Tejada, was in conversation to potentially rejoin the Birds! As Roch Kubatko tweeted, Tejada will sign tomorrow (a minor league contract), and report to Sarasota for workouts. This took many, including myself, by surprise. I knew Mark Reynolds was struggling defensively and offensively, but who would have guessed.
While Tejada is in the twilight of his career at 37 years old, Dan Duquette must have seen something in him to think he can still contribute at the major league level. As mentioned previously, this will be Tejada’s third stint with the team. He left the Oakland Athletics and signed via free agency with the Orioles to a 6 year $72 million contract after 2003. He had a career year in 2004, his first with the Orioles, leading all of baseball with 150 RBIs while hitting 34 home runs. The Orioles traded him in 2007 to the Astros and news broke quickly after about performance enhancing drugs in The Mitchell Report.
Tejada found his way back to Baltimore in 2010, signing a 1 year contract for $6 million. Late that year, he was traded to the San Diego Padres. He last played in 2011, with the San Francisco Giant, appearing in 91 games. His full career stats can be found here. Tejada had big power for the SS position, coming up around the same time as A-Rod, Nomar, and Jeter. At this point, he may still have some power left, but he is far from the player we first saw in 2004. I feel like he and Reynolds may split time, and he could fill in at shortstop if Hardy needs rest. With that said, he has to be promoted first. Tejada is remembered as a former Oriole, who has had controversy in his career (steroids, false age). Let’s see what he has left!!
Feel free to comment, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Should he be welcomed back with open arms? Do we need him? Keep it here for more updates on this story!
