Six years after signing the free agent shortstop as a free agent, the Orioles have agreed to sign Miguel Tejada to a one-year, $6M deal. The circumstances are somewhat different since the club brought Tejada in on a $72M deal in 2004 – this time, Tejada will play third base for the Orioles and shouldn’t be expected to carry the team offensively.
Tejada is a 13-year major league veteran, though 2010 will be the first year he’s ever played third base. Whether or not he can handle the position defensively remains to be seen, though it would be hard to argue that he shouldn’t be a major league shortstop anymore after posting a -13.9 UZR in 2009 with the Astros.
Offensively, Baltimore fans may remember Tejada as the guy who knocked in 150 runs in 2004 and hit .330 in 2006. They should do their best to forget that guy, because the 2010 version of Miggy isn’t the same hitter – at least, not in the power and run producing department. He did post a .313 batting average for Houston in 2009, so he hasn’t completely lost his batting stroke.
Aside from his on-field abilities, Tejada comes with some personal baggage. He’s been linked to performance enhancing substances, both in the Mitchell Report and as an allegation from former teammate Rafael Palmeiro (who himself tested positive). He also recently admitted to having falsified his age upon coming to the United States from the Dominican Republic. Despite these issues he’s known as a great teammate, so I don’t see any on-field distractions becoming an issue.
This is a relatively safe move for the Orioles who stand a lot to gain offensively. As I’ve said before, there’s virtually no “bad one-year deal,” so whatever Tejada brings will be a bonus. Heck, if his presence takes some at-bats away from Garrett Atkins, it could be a good deal for that reason alone.
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