Tejada Could Still Be Dealt By April

We thought the Miguel Tejada rumors had died down.  He seemed fairly content, and said all the right things.  However, Daily Herald columnist Barry Rozner has reignited the Miggy hot stove talk.

In Washington DC to cover the White Sox ceremony, Rozner ran into all sorts of DC media types.  According to Rozner:

"They’re hearing the Orioles would love to move the unhappy Tejada out of Baltimore before the season even begins."

He adds that he expects Tejada to be moved before the season starts or right before the July trading deadline.  As a refresher, MLBTradeRumors has reported that the Red Sox, Cubs, White Sox, and Astros have all been involved in talks for Tejada this offseason.

New Red Sox shortstop Alex Gonzalez can still be cut by March 15th, in which case Boston would owe him $500,000.  The Cubs seem quite likely to give Ronny Cedeno his shot, though he'd probably be part of any package for Tejada.

The White Sox have previously offered Juan Uribe, Jose Contreras, and a prospect for Tejada, but the clubs could not agree on the last prospect.  Recent word is that the team plans to wait until after the World Baseball Classic before trading Contreras.  Houston has some top-notch pitching prospects in the fold, so look for them to re-enter the fray once the Clemens saga is resolved.   

Comments

[diehardcubbiefan]

For some reason, i have a feeling Tejada may be traded. But i expect him to be traded by midseason IF the orioles blow off this season (which is more likely). I expect Tejada to get more and more frustrated as the Orioles lose...lose...lose.

[Andy Cabiness]

Give the O's whatever prospect they want if they'll agree to take Crede instead of Uribe. Then play Tejada at 3B where he'll be less of a defensive liability.

[RumorMonger]

That would be smooth, Andy, but then I'd imagine the prospect would become Brandon McCarthy.

[Darin]

Richard Justice (Houston Chronicle) wrote today that the 'Stros offered Lidge, Willy Tavaras and Adam Everett for Tejada and were shot down. I don't blame the O's because Everett and Tavaras can't come close to replacing Tejada batting opposite handed. but it does give a bit of gauge on what the O's are looking for.

[RumorMonger]

You got a link to that one?

[Andy Cabiness]

I don't count McCarthy as a prospect any more. He's slated to be on the MLB Roster this year. I mean any prospect at AAA or lower.

[Darin]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/justice/3660337.html

[RumorMonger]

You know, I wonder if Baltimore might reconsider that offer at some point.

[JMan]

The might reconsider but I would think their focus would be on getting some starting pitching and a replacement SS.

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

Hey Monger -- what 'Stros pitching prospects are you referring to? KW has said he would only move Contreras for more pitching, and outside of McCarthy the Sox don't have any young starters that are less than two years away. Would Houston include an ML position in that deal, or will the fact that Jose's in his walk year keep Houston from giving up too much? Wow, imagine Houston's rotation with Clemens and Contreras...

[Kyle]

I love how you used Clemens and Contreras' names in the same sentence. If Clemens comes back next year for the astros Contreras would be there #4 starter. I hate how much everyone has trumped up contreras. The guy is a headcase. I watched him suck horribly on the Yankees and a half season of good pitching is not going to convince me that this guy is anything more than a #5 starter

[kuff6]

Weren't there rumors a while back of Phils getting in on Tejada bidding? How about Gold Glove Bobby Abreu plus a pitching propsect (Gavin Floyd? Gio Gonzalez?) for Miggy, then put him at 3B. Of course, maybe Phils need to get some sort of OF'er since they got rid of Michaels.

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

I didn't say he was Clemens, and he would be their #4. I dont' know, I watched him all year last year and he simply wasn't the same guy in the second half. If, as Kyle says, he's a head case that's gonna revert to form, even better: then the Sox can fleece Houston while his value's high. I think he'll be around the same numbers-wise next year (the whole season, not the second half).

[JMan]

Weren't there reports that said Tejada would NOT be willing to switch to 3B?

[Kyle]

I just dont know about Conteras. Supposedly he was the best pitcher in Cuba for a while but up until last year I hadn't seen him able to put it together. He had some good outings but overall he left a lot to be desired. Then all of a sudden in the second half he comes out and dominates opposing teams. I tend to think of this more as an anomoly then the norm but if the White Sox can get some talented prospects in return for him the more power to them. But who amd I to judge maybe he is finally comfortable and will continue pitching like he did last year. That is one story I am looking forward to seeing unfold this upcoming season

[Darin]

I'm not sure the Astros could afford Tejada, unless they get reimbursed for Bagwell. Especially if Clemens returns. Clemens could push the payroll over $100 million.

I think the O's are going to want a starting pitcher and a good bat, so in the Astros case I think the package would have to include Lane and Backe or Hirsh.

[RumorMonger]

I had Hirsh and Patton in mind as the top Astros pitching prospects.

[Ryan]

Since when is Tejada a defensive liability?

[Darin]

Hirsh, Patton and Fernando Nieve are the top prospects I believe. Taylor Buchholz and Carlos Hernandez are also decent enough to be used as trade bait.

[steven]

another smooth move by the geniuses that run the orioles. that have lost all their leverage in a tejada deal at this point. now they have to take a terrible risk. they cant trade tejada now cause the offers wont be as good as they should. however, if he gets really fed up and becomes too much of a problem then his value will drop even further before the trade deadline, which is when they could start receiving good offers again. if they arent in denial about how bad they will be next year then they may realize that they are screwed in this situation and have decided to try and trade him now. im guessing they start the season and hope a ss gets injured or sucks early so they can unload him before the situation gets ugly. personally i think they will finish last in the east with or without tejada. im not sure why they keep refusing to rebuild.

[Ron]

The O's aren't as bad as all of you make it out to be. With Leo Mazzone there and a young pitching staff, along with an already good offense they will finish over .500 in 2006.

[rayoftruth]

True, Mazzone could work his magic on some already decent arms and conjure up a pitching staff in Baltimore. But who do they have in that lineup who's a decent hitter besides Tejada, Mora and Roberts? Losing 2-1 is still losing. If they're smart, they'll hold out for a young power hitter and someone who can play short and Tejada can just suck it up and honor his contract. But since they're the O's, they probably won't.

[RumorMonger]

Plus, Roberts is far from a sure thing after this injury. And Mazzone doesn't have a great record in keeping pitchers healthy, which is Bedard's main problem.

[Ron]

Well I'm not asking for a playoff spot from them, just a .500 winning percentage.

[REM]

What do you O's fans think of Contreras? As a Sox fan I think he will have a very good year.

If he is traded I would like it to be to the Astros for Burke, Hirsh, and Patton.

What would the O's like to see as a package from the Chi Sox for Tejeda?

[st.PETE ROSE]

Leo Mazzone could take any crackhead off the street and turn that person into a 15 game winner
The NL East let out a collective sigh when Mazzzone left for Baltimore...... a sigh that could only be equaled by the departure of Vlad Guerrero, who graciously decided he was through torturing the NL East, when he left for Anaheim.
Mazzone is flat out the best pitching coach in the game.

[RumorMonger]

There's no doubt he's the best, but it doesn't change what I said.

[st.PETE ROSE]

Oh Rumor I wasn't challenging what you said..I was just commenting on how much respect the man deserves.
I'm curious though, doesnt Mazzone believe pitchers should throw every day (off the mound)? Is this one of the points considered when there's talk about his track record for keeping pitchers healthy?
Because there's only so much control a man can have over another, in regards to health.........just genuinely curious...

[Ron]

I don't believe that any of the trades for Tejada are really that good besides the one that the Astros offered. I think they should of took that when they had the chance. Other than that, Tejada stays.

[Darin]

I can't see the Astros giving up Burke in the deal. They are currently going to work him in at SS some and he'll spell Biggio every few days. He'll also get some spot starts in LF and CF. I think the Astros are trying to get him around 300 abs this year. They love this kid and have repeatedly turned down offers for him.

The Astros don't have a great farm system (average at best) so they aren't going to level it by giving up two of their best pitching prospects, especially when in '07 there might not be Pettite and Clemens around. They'll need all the help they can get.

I think the best the Stros would give up would be Adam Everett, Jason Lane, and a choice of Backe or Hirsh (which could work for both teams). The O's don't need Lidge.

[steven]

no denying that mazzone is the man but look who he is working with. also take into consideration how much more hitter friendly camden is. mazzone will help birds down the line but cabrera may be the first and only benefactor of this group. like rumor has said bedards problem is health related and he has some pretty big holes in his game to fix outside of that. mazzone may be able to help benson gain some consistency but i think his ceiling is a lot lower than the hype that has surrounded him the past few years. they also have a more or less unproven bullpen and in the al east that spells disaster.

as far as .500 goes. do you really think the orioles have improved since last year when they didnt even finish .500. i think tampa bay will pick up the 7 games baltimore finished ahead of them last year easy unless the drays trade away a lot at the deadline.

[Andy Kesner]

It will be impossible for the Orioles to get equal value in return in any deal involving Miguel Tejada. Miggy's value goes beyond stats. As a SS, a player like Miguel does not come along all that often, and dealing him would set the franchise back many years. I think the O's HAVE to hold onto Tejada and hope for a start similar to last season. They've gotten rid of the clubhouse cancer in Palmeiro and Sosa, and have to be optimistic with the young arms of Bedard and Cabrera working with Leo Mazzone.

[Kyle]

Leo Mazzone is a very good pitching coach but no one can turn mediocre pitchers into great pitchers in one offseason. I expect only marginal improvement in the Orioles pitching staff this year. Look to 2007 as when you will see guys like Bedard and Cabrera realizing their potential. Cabrera is going to be GOOD I saw him pitch last year and he is nasty. If he could figure out the control thing he could be very good

[diehardcubbiefan]

Also, its too bad they lost BJ Ryan. however, i think BJ Ryan is not a huge loss becuase in my opinion, hes overated, and way overpaid.

[Jeff]

me being from the windy city and being a huge Cubs fan heard that rumor that Tejada would be traded for Mark Prior, apparently the Cubs didnt like that idea so if they are so interested in him what else do they have to offer other than Todd Walker who I hear they are trying to unload

[RumorMonger]

I don't think the O's would trade him to the Cubs without Prior involved.

[Kyle]

I dont know Rumor the Orioles are real leery of past injuries to get Tejada they may want Zambrano or some combination of young prospects

[diehardcubsfan]

kyle is correct, the O's did want Zambrano in the deal, and not Prior. I remember reading that in some article.