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FINALLY! The O's Get Tejada!

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1686370

Sunday, December 14, 2003

Quote:

ESPN.com news services
NEW ORLEANS -- Trying to keep afloat in baseball's best division, the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday signed free agent shortstop Miguel Tejada.

ESPN.com's Peter Gammons reports that Tejada has agreed to a six-year $72 million contract with the Orioles.

"Miguel continues the tradition of great Orioles shortstops. The cornerstone of the Orioles through the years has been our shortstops, and he certainly fits in that mold," Orioles vice president Mike Flanagan told the Associated Press.

The Orioles still have more money to spend, and they have shown interest in free agents Vladimir Guerrero, Ivan Rodriguez and Javy Lopez.

"We have other players that are big players that we want to add to the club," executive vice president Jim Beattie said. "This is a signal - one of the things we can do to show players that the Orioles are ready to contend, hopefully quickly."

Tejada, 27, earned AL MVP honors in 2002 when he hit .308 with 34 home runs and 131 RBIs in 2002 to help the A's win 103 games and the AL West. But last year he slumped to a .278 average with 27 homers and 106 RBIs, striking out 65 times and drawing 53 walks.

"How many chances do you get to add an MVP-caliber player to your club who wants to be there for a long time?" new Orioles manager Lee Mazzilli said.

The Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers had also expressed interest in Tejada. But Baltimore saw him as a key to improving its lot in the AL East, where it has finished next-to-last for six consecutive years, trailing the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays.

Boston and New York have each made major moves this winter, and the Blue Jays have made several smaller moves to improve their pitching.

"You can't play dumb to the surroundings of what's going on around you," Mazzilli said. "But we have to think about our team."

The Orioles finished with just 71 wins in 2003 and were 30 games behind the AL East Division champion New York Yankees and 24 games in back of the wild card winning Boston Red Sox -- another division rival. With Toronto and Tampa Bay also addressing key needs this offseason, Baltimore was in danger of falling to the bottom of baseball's deepest division.

Tejada made $5 million last season and $3.65 million in 2002.

Information from SportsTicker and the Associated Press was used in this report.

great pickup...he should help, but they have a long way to go before they contend in that division.

I think if they actually pick up Javy lopez or Vlad Guierro they could be serios contenders soon

Baseball finally returns to Baltimore! :D

Go O's!

There is a rumer going around the Orioles boards that Vlad and I-Rod could be confirmed as signed by later tonight, as well.

Son of a... Man, AL East is going to be one tough division next season. Great signing for Baltimore.

My Jays have done a great job this offseason, but with the pissing contest between the Red Sox and Yankees, and the Orioles throwing money around like confetti, it's going to be tough enough to finish third in the division. I can only hope that if the Orioles get Guerrero and Rodriquez too, they just don't gel as a team. Hey, a fan can dream, can't he? :)

Could be worse, I could be a Devil Rays fan. :D

Quote:

Originally posted by Baldrick
Son of a... Man, AL East is going to be one tough division next season. Great signing for Baltimore.

My Jays have done a great job this offseason, but with the pissing contest between the Red Sox and Yankees, and the Orioles throwing money around like confetti, it's going to be tough enough to finish third in the division. I can only hope that if the Orioles get Guerrero and Rodriquez too, they just don't gel as a team. Hey, a fan can dream, can't he? :)

Could be worse, I could be a Devil Rays fan. :D

Hey, they have a good young core with Baldelli and Huff, plus Tino and Jose Cruz Jr. signing there now. They keep on going they could be where the Yankees fans turn when their team collapses in two years :D

ESPNews is reporting that Ivan Rodrigez has agreed to a contract.

This is Winter 1994 all over again...

Tejeda good player - not a great player. Orioles are overpaying Tejada at 72/6. Is he really worth 12 million a year? Lets look at the numbers...

Tejada has NEVER has an OPS higher than .862. He hardly walks, but doesn't strikeout much either. He's a terrible fielder as well. He was second in the AL in errors made last year. #1 was a rookie!

He might make the Orioles better, but Tejada is definitely overrated.

I'm just glad that this move could help my Cardinals now that the O's may move Brian Roberts or Jerry Hairston. Way to go Orioles, jsut throw that money around. I guess they have to overpay to get someone decent to come to Baltimore.

I wish my team made some moves 8(

Quote:

Originally posted by forseti-6
Tejeda good player - not a great player. Orioles are overpaying Tejada at 72/6. Is he really worth 12 million a year? Lets look at the numbers...

Tejada has NEVER has an OPS higher than .862. He hardly walks, but doesn't strikeout much either. He's a terrible fielder as well. He was second in the AL in errors made last year. #1 was a rookie!

He might make the Orioles better, but Tejada is definitely overrated.

Let me open with what other good shortstops were on the market?

End of story.

I heard a nickname for the AL East, the ATM East, which seems appropriate. Baltimore, the Yanks and BoSox are certainly spending money. Keep an eye out for Toronto who is having a quiet, bu t good offseason as well.

Tampa Bay is spending/trading as well.

Quote:

Originally posted by AL9045
Let me open with what other good shortstops were on the market?

End of story.

But then again I don't think the Orioles were necessarily looking for a shortstop, they are just looking for some name players and some offense. They very well could have stayed with Brian Roberts at ss and he could have done a good job, but the opportunity to acquire a player like Tejada with his high profile name and offensive production was just too much to pass up. When they eventually sign Vlad and/or PudgeJavy on the other hand, I think you get everything; defense, offense, name.

thats GREAT for the orioles... Tejeda is a HUGE addition to the team... If they pick up someone else like Vlad or Pudge (which is seeming more like a reality) then this team gets ALOT better....

i still think that there pitching needs to improve

Im sorry, but as it stands.. the AL East is too much of a stack on the Yanks and Bosox, that the other teams are actually only vying for 3rd place...

also, Tejada is overrated...

And i was thinking.. what kind of player would want to stay in Oakland?... They always have a decent team with great pitching, but they're never quite there. They are always missing a few parts to their team, and by the time they get that piece, they have lost another piece.. Giambi left, Tejada left, Chavez'll most likely leave next season, and the TRIO cant stay together forever... This is ALL because the A's ownership refuses to spend ANY money on their team.. never signing a high-profile FA, nor going for a trade during the season stretch to go for that play-off winning team... tis sad

Now all we have to do is sign Guerrero and Pudge, but I'm not holding my breath.

http://www.signvlad.com

Ah, Mets' fans :D

Bless their little hearts...they think they have a shot when their management can't even make a decent offer.

Quote:

Originally posted by djtestudo
http://www.signvlad.com

Ah, Mets' fans :D

Bless their little hearts...they think they have a shot when their management can't even make a decent offer.

thats funny

I figured I'd help them out, I signed their petition as Oriole Guerrero.

Quote:

Originally posted by crewsor
I figured I'd help them out, I signed their petition as Oriole Guerrero.

Actually, despite me being a Yankee fan, I'd rather have Baltimore sign Vlad instead of the Mets. I'm a big Vlad fan, and would like to see him put up big numbers in a hitter's park like Camden Yards. I'm sure Vlad would hate Shea.

Yeah, 320 to right field. He could practically bunt them out.