Per his agents at Primetime Sports Group, the Mets have signed IF Ruben Tejada to a minors deal. The contract comes with a $750K major league salary, and there aren’t any opt-out chances, Jon Heyman of MLB Network tweets.
Tejada, 29, spent his first nine professional seasons with the Mets organization, debuting at the tender age of 20 midway through the 2010 season. The Panamanian quickly established himself as a solid shortstop option for New York, posting 1.5 fWAR or better three times from 2011-15 despite never accruing more than 501 plate appearances in a single season.
Tejada’s Mets tenure came to an abrupt halt, though, when a vicious Chase Utley takeout slide in Game 2 of the 2015 NLDS fractured his right fibula, ending his season on impact. He’s never quite been the same since: in 77 appearances over two seasons with the Cardinals, Giants, and Orioles, the slick fielder’s slashed just .207/.275/.268 in 202 plate appearances. Tejada appeared last season for AAA-Norfolk in the Baltimore organization, slashing a meager .230/.291/.298 in 392 plate appearances.
The Mets, who may always have a soft spot for the fan favorite, also have one in back of regular shortstop Amed Rosario, who’s one of just two 40-man players (along with Luis Guillorme) capable of handling the position on a regular basis. Tejada will offer surefire depth, and may indeed seize the utility role if the Mets can again figure out his wayward swing.
I’m okay with this I always liked tejada
I’m sure BVW can sleep better
I’m ok with it too, but they have a ton of infielders.
After all these years of refreshing MLBTR, one of my players is actually on the site.
It may be the very beginning, but this is super exciting to read.
“one of my players”…?
Yeah, we started an agency a few weeks ago.
I just wanted to do analytics, and then the whole thing got out of control in a hurry.
You are prime time sports group?
It’s not just me; I’m really just the analytics guy.
Our lead agent is a vet, and he handles all the negotiations.
Side note: you handle is hilarious.
Don’t know if this is a joke (can you blame me danthethriller?) but if you are not trolling, that would be really cool.
I always liked Tejeda even though Im a Yankee fan. I wish your agency, nothing but success.
X – I agree; one of the best trolls if it is trolling. “It’s not just me; I’m really just the analytics guy.”
It’s 100% accurate and a very surreal experience experience for a unhealthily-obsessed baseball fan lol. I’m just really happy that he’s happy with his landing spot. Thank you for the kind words!
Also, thanks for keeping the comments here lively and weathering the continuous torrent of abuse.
It’s true, but, in highlight, that does make me sound a lot like “The Fugitive” lol.
Some things don’t add up here. You’ve been refreshing the website for years hoping for one of your players to be signed, but yet you say the agency was started a couple weeks ago?
I’ve been refreshing it for years, because I have an unhealthy obsession with baseball lol.
What’s weird is that it’s now kind of inappropriate for me to express my fandom of my team, in any way that reveals my association with our agency.
It’s definitely a uniquely limiting situation.
Jay-Z is Yankee fan; his agency, has Met guys. Keep doing your thing, and living the dream 😉
Thank you and no comment lol.
Who is next? Jose Reyes?
He’s the new “Jose Reyes” for the Mets. Once Tejada’s career is over, Wilmer Flores will fill the void of retread Mets infielders playing past their years.
Aaron Heilman
Hey Ruben-you are right about their tendency to sign over the hill players. Just be prepared for the squeaky Metsie fans that will make believe and bellyache.
Yes Wagon Wheel must have taken orders from Mutt and Jeff to sign him
And there is dummy showing that he can’t add anything to the conversation. Yet the dummy keeps giving the Metsies his money for upper deck tickets at Chitifield.
He tells people that he enjoys the solitude of watching games as close to 757 max jets that are taking off as possible,
That slide was Game 2, not Game 5.
Also, Utley did nothing wrong unless you believe he intentionally injured Tejada.. It’s not like he did this in a meaningless game or a blowout, it was in a postseason game where his tea, was down one. Also, that slide was not illegal at the time, and he was trying to break up a double play so the tying run could score.
Oh come on…
“…unless you believe he intentionally injured Tejada…”
I do!
He intentionally engaged in behavior that had a high chance of injury. The injury doesn’t have to be intended, what matters is that the reckless act itself was intentional.
And roll block slides were already against MLB rules. MLB just has a lot of rules they don’t enforce (like pitch delays; and coaches-in-the-box).
1) It says Game 2 not Game 5
2) It was a late slide. That’s the very definition of a dirty slide.
It said Game 5 when the article was first published
3) Use the “reply” button. It’s to the Left of “flag”
I watched the highlights of the WS a couple of weeks ago and I forgot how many really nice plays W Flores made at SS!!
We let this cheater still play?
I always liked Ruben. Hes a class act and that play on him in the NLDS by Chase Utley we will always remember that. His defense was always superb but the problem with Ruben is he just could never hit enough. We even tried to work him as a speed guy at the top of the lineup and he just couldn’t do it but on the defense end hes a great player. He can play 2B, SS, and 3B. He is a nice piece to stash in Triple A encase of injury.. Welcome back Tejada!!!