Miguel Tejada to return to Baltimore, pending physical

I don't know how The Sun's Jeff Zrebiec always manages to scoop the reporters who work for the Orioles, but he has done so consistently.  To date, he has a strong track record of confirming breaking Orioles news.

According to Zrebiec, Miguel Tejada is a physical away from returning to the Orioles on a one-year contract.

Tejada, the 2002 AL MVP, came to the Orioles with much fan fare in 2004.  He played 4 seasons with the Orioles before being traded to the Houston Astros in Decemeber 2007.

Tejada was named in the Mitchell Report just after being sent to Houston.  In 2008, smarmy ESPN reporter Jeremy Schapp outed Tejada for having a fake birth certificate and passing as two years younger than he actually is.

And so Miggy, left Baltimore two years ago and returns four years older.  He has seen his reputation tarnished by steroid scandal and his defensive range diminish.

However, as a third basemen, Tejada's decreased range should be less of an issue than it would be at SS.  More importantly, the addition of Tejada should be a great boon to the Orioles lineup.  Miggy hit .313 in 2009 with 14 home runs and 46 doubles.  He can fit into the Orioles lineup as a number 2 or 5 hitter. 

Further, Tejada can start at 3rd and backup Cesar Izturis at shortstop, allowing the club to cut a one-dimensional backup SS like Robert Andino.

During his last stint with the O's, Tejada's work ethic was questioned.  At times, he appeared to jog rather than run down the first base line on routine ground outs.  This is an issue manager Dave Trembley should address. 

However, Tejada's steroid-tainted past should not be a major problem for fans who opened their arms to Gregg Zaun last season.  Zaun, a backup catcher, was also named in the Mitchell Report in 2007.  However, fans and reporters in Baltimore never took issue with Zaun.  Let's hope the same fans and reporters don't get too moralistic with Tejada, who should help anchor an O's lineup with a lot of potential.