http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2256260
Quote:
Miguel Tejada doesn't want a trade after all.
Three days after telling The Associated Press that he wanted "a change of scenery," the Baltimore Orioles' All-Star shortstop backed off those comments during a phone interview Sunday with Comcast SportsNet.
"I never said I wanted to be traded," Tejada told SportsNet. "I said I want to see a better team. I don't want to keep losing like we have the past two years."
Tejada signed a $72 million, six-year contract with the Orioles before the 2004 season. He hit .304 with 26 home runs and 98 RBI this year, but Baltimore finished 21 games behind the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in the AL East. In his first season as an Oriole, Tejada set career highs in batting average (.311) and RBI (150) and tied his career high in homers (34).
"I've been with the Orioles for two years and things haven't gone in the direction that we were expecting, so I think the best thing will be a change of scenery," Tejada told the AP during a telephone interview in his native Dominican Republic on Thursday.
"I've done many things with this team and I haven't seen results, and the other teams are getting stronger while the Orioles have not made any signings to strengthen the club," Tejada told AP.
But Tejada, the 2002 AL MVP while with Oakland, said Sunday that he's just frustrated with the team's struggles, especially with pitching.
"Look at the division we're in," he told SportsNet. "It's not easy to win without pitching. I'm not saying I don't like the team or the city. If they trade me, I don't want people to think I just want to go to a winning team. I just want the organization to do something, go get pitching. If they don't, they're telling me they don't want to win.
"I don't want to take anything away from the pitchers we have. But we need more. We need an ace. I think they've got to make some moves. That's why I'm upset. I hope the fans won't be mad at me. But I think me speaking up might actually help the team get better," he said.
The Orioles hired Leo Mazzone, the esteemed pitching coach who had six Cy Young Award winners and nine 20-game winners during a 15½-year run with the Braves, in October. However, they haven't gone after veteran pitching to balance a young rotation. Last season's rotation featured five pitchers under the age of 30 -- Erik Bedard, who finished the season 6-8; Daniel Cabrera (10-13); Bruce Chen (13-10); Rodrigo Lopez (15-12); and Sidney Ponson, who was released in September after posting a 7-11 record.
SportsNet reported that Orioles officials spoke to Tejada on Friday night after speaking with the shortstop's representatives, Diego Bentz and Fernando Cuza.
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Maybe if you knew the situation a little better, such as being familiar with Peter Angelos and the Oriole's franchise, you wouldn't be so distraught.
Here are a few things to consider:
-Like Kutulu mentioned, Tejada's salary is slightly under par compared to his production and credentials (MVP with Oakland prior to coming to Baltimore)
-To answer your question: "Think that has anything to do with the fact the O'S maybe bogged down financially because of your fucking greedy ass????????"
The Oriole's made a huge offer to sign Vlad the same year they inked Tejada, but Vlad didn't want to come to Baltimore, so they have $ to spend. The Oriole's made an offer to Delgado last year, but he didn't want to come to Baltimore, so they have $ to spend. The O's were close to trading for Burnett this past year, knowing they would have to ink him to an extension, so they have $ to spend.
Yet with money to spend, they let BJ Ryan go and let Burnett sign with the Blue Jays. I don't entirely blame them, Ryan and Burnett were overpaid. However, it is not like the O's are a hot spot for free agents, in contrast, they have been turned down by free agents and even Phil Nevin rejected a trade to the Orioles.
Peter Angelos, their owner, has received a sweet deal from MLB because of the presence of the Nationals in D.C. Angelos got a very favorable and package from MLB. Here is an excerpt on that package.
"The sides were reportedly on the verge of an agreement last week in which MLB would agree to guarantee that the Orioles would sell for no less than $360 million. The tentative agreement also called for the Orioles to receive 60 percent of the revenue from a partnership in a regional sports network with the Washington franchise.
The third leg of the proposal, which may have become a sticking point, is Angelos’ desire that MLB make up any decrease in the Orioles' revenue caused by the Washington franchise. Angelos wants those guarantees to cover the Orioles' annual lease payments to the state of Maryland, which owns the Camden Yards facility, according to sources. MLB apparently wants the revenue guarantee to approximate the average of the three years prior to the arrival of the Washington team."
So the Oriole's have money to spend, don't automatically cry foul and side with the franchise. Tejada's main point is completely true, they desperately need pitching and the Oriole's have not made any moves in the last two years to address this. I go to school two blocks away from Camden yards, I attended several games last year, I am a big fan of the O's. So I am not just playing the devil's advocate. I truly support the points Tejada made, and as the best player on the team, I am glad he went public with these issues.
I know your gripe is more along the lines of Tejada complaining about not winning, but in mentioning that the Oriole's are bogged down financially because of him, you are mistaken.