The Mets have placed shortstop Ruben Tejada on waivers, ESPNNewYork.com’s Adam Rubin reports. He had agreed to a $3MM deal to avoid arbitration, and New York will remain responsible for one-sixth of that amount ($500K) if he is not claimed (or whatever portion of it he does not earn over the course of the season).
Tejada, 26, has settled in as a slightly below-average hitter and is capable of playing up the middle defensively. Though he’s generally graded out as an average defender at short, both UZR and DRS pegged him as a net negative there last season.
For a player that looks like a solid utility option, there’s been quite a bit of intrigue in recent months. Tejada suffered a broken leg due to a controversial take-out slide by Chase Utley during the post-season. He seemed a plausible non-tender candidate, but was offered a contract by the Mets. Then, he was awarded an extra day of service time to move up his free-agent timeline by one year (he’ll be eligible after this season).
Since that time, Tejada has seen his name enter the rumor mill, particularly with the Cardinals losing Jhonny Peralta for the first half of the year. Per Rubin, the Mets feel satisfied with their middle infield situation after adding Asdrubal Cabrera and Neil Walker over the winter, with Wilmer Flores set to see plenty of action around the diamond.
Interesting. If he’s claimed, does the new team take on the $3M salary? And, if he passes through waivers, does he go to the Mets minor league system, and at what salary? Baseball can be a tough business.
Depends on the type of waivers. My guess is that this would be outright? If that’s the case, an unclaimed Tejada could either play in the mets minor league system at the aforementioned 500k salary or elect free agency and thus give up that money. I’m not 100% on this so if I’m wrong I’m sorry.
My guess is that this would be outright waivers, in which case, Tejada would either be able to accept the outright and play in the Mets minor league system at the aforementioned 500k salary or elect free agency, thus giving up that money. I think that’s how outrights work at least
My guess is that it’s outright waivers. If this is the case, Tejada could either play in the Mets minor league system at the aforementioned 500k salary or elect free agency, where he could give up his salary for the 2016 season.
Cardinals claim in 3, 2, 1. Cheaper option that Aybar and an upgrade over current call ups.
Cardinals better job on this one
cardinals don’t need him
Rays are a team that could go after him
I’m sorry to see him go i always thought he would make a good backup infielder
Cardinals will probably sign him even though he has no offensive upside, in which they need desperately.
He’s a down grade from Gyrko, Diaz and Garcia. He’s not worth the 2.5 million the Cardinals would have to pay.
This seems like the Mets are just *giving* Tejada away to the Cardinals. I like it. Diaz is not proven. Tejada is. And he’d make a great bench player. Get it done, Mo.
He’s not much better than Kozma. If they wanted a so so player on the bench they would have kept Pete. I’m so glad Mo doesn’t react so rashly.
I don’t want Gyorko as a starter. He’s better as a utility player filling in at many positions. If Diaz can’t do it, then we need someone like Tejada until Peralta is back. You just don’t want a *starter* brought in to fill in SS until Peralta is back, and then he’s an overpaid, under-utilized player. So Tejada fills in perfectly. He’s defensively-gifted, he can play the position until Peralta is back, and then he’s a good utility player.
He’s not worth it. His defense is not that good actually. Look st his defense stats. Diaz has better defense Gyrko has a better bat and Garcia has a better bat and glove albeit marginally.
I bet he won’t be unemployed for long…
Not that it will happen …. But tel me it wouldn’t be funny if the Dodgers picked him up to give a “blow” to Seager … Thus having him with his new double play buddy, Chase Utley! Chase coukd say “Don’t break a leg” as they trot out onto the field…. Tell me you don’t want to see it!
Gold
Cards don’t really need him, he isn’t any better than Diaz and Garcia, but more depth would be nice. But do they want to pay 3?
The real question is does a NL Central team claim him ahead of them to prevent that?
Why is there no discussion of T.J. Rivera on this team in the wake of a Tejada departure? He has been a consummate pro throughout the Met minor league system. He has hit at every level and can play all four positions on the infield. To me he has proven more than Matt Reynolds yet everyone wants to anoint Reynolds as the place holder, I don’t get it.
Rivera will be a good major leaguer, if not for the Mets he will surely be successful with another team.
For the last few years I’ve cringed when he came up to the plate. This is the first spring he’s actually doing well and we could actually get a little something back in a trade. I don’t mind losing him just wish he went in a trade. My prediction is he goes on like most former mets to be a middle lineup guy like the ginger Justin Turner