Mas Tejada

by The Cheat on Dec 30, 2005 12:23 AM CST in White Sox News

The ire of Miguel Tejada is hotter than ever. The Baltimore Orioles' star shortstop reiterated his request to play elsewhere in 2006, backing away from recent comments that seemed to indicate a change of heart.

"Next year I want to be somewhere where they want to win," he said in an interview Thursday night before playing in a Winter League game.

Somebody should inform Tejada that the team from up north finished 4th last year, and even though St. Louis and Houston's off-seasons have left a lot to be desired, the baby bears have about the same chance of winning the division as do the Brewers.

Dave Van Dyck writes that the Sox are still interested.

If the Orioles trade Tejada, they would need a shortstop, and the White Sox would be willing to part with Juan Uribe as part of a deal. They also might be willing to trade Jose Contreras, who might have been baseball's best pitcher the last two months last season. Would GM Ken Williams really break up his world championship lineup? In a heartbeat. After adding Jim Thome this winter, Williams would turn around a lineup that was very average last season.

The problem for the White Sox is money. Their payroll already is projected at $95 million, which is $20 million more than last season.

Still, to add someone of Tejada's quality to a team already capable of winning again would intrigue Williams, who adores big-name players.

The names don't come any bigger than Miguel Tejada.

I don't think the payroll would be an issue at all. Contreras and Uribe are due to make combined figure of about $12M -- Though the Yankees are still on the hook for around $2M of Contreras' salary -- while Tejada makes exactly $12M in '06. That's about as close to a wash in terms of salary as you can get.

Tweet Comment 10 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Just cant see it....

The Sox fan in me just cant see the Sox getting Jim Thome, Javier Vazquez, and Miguel Tejada all in one off-season. O ya, and coming of a World Series crown. Who the hell are we??

Podsednik-Gooch-Tejada-Kong-Thome-Dye-Crede-Pierz-Anderson.

Mark
Freddy
Jon
Javier
Brandon

Too good to be true.....

by Tony82087 on Dec 30, 2005 1:14 AM CST reply actions

"I don't think the payroll..."

This is what frustrates me when reading "insiders" like Van Dyke. YOU can do the math, I can do the math, but he can't? Sheesh...

Speaking of Tejada:

Do you think he could be talked into playing 3B? Or that Uribe could handle that? Cuz I'm thinking maybe Kenny GM would rather package Crede with the Count instead of Uribe, and avoid dealing with Boras down the road.

It should be called Bill Veeck Park!

by Chiburb on Dec 30, 2005 7:25 AM CST reply actions

Interesting thinking...

But the Orioles would push for Uribe as they'd have a gap to fill at SS. Melvin Mora is playing third for them now so they don't have much of a hole there.

AIM: BrentBrookhouse

by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 30, 2005 8:09 AM CST up reply actions

But is a Contreras/Uribe package

enough to beat the BoSox offer of Ramirez/Clement or the Cubs offer of Prior & addtl sCrUBS?

I would think the Red Sox have the best chance, unless the O's don't want to take on that additional payroll - and considering their inactivity on the free agent market this year is the major cause of Tejada's ire, that may be the case.

My God, imagine this team with Tejada, Konerko, and Thome in the heart of the order. [homer simpson] aaarrgghhhhh [/homer simpson]

by chrome on Dec 30, 2005 10:25 AM CST reply actions

Is the ChiSox offer better? Simply put...

AIM: BrentBrookhouse

by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 30, 2005 11:26 AM CST up reply actions

Or maybe "yes"?

Does Baltimore want to face Tejada 19 times next year? I'd guess Boston wouldn't care about playing Manny for that many games, but suspect Baltimore would want Miggy out of the division.

It should be called Bill Veeck Park!

by Chiburb on Dec 30, 2005 11:41 AM CST up reply actions

well...

this subject (having to face him 18 times) was discussed on Mike & Mike this morning. And the general feeling among baseball people is that if you are sure you are the better team you will trade in-division.

I think to Baltimore they have to see the deal as a way for them to get better and Boston would be willing to make the deal because Baltimore is probably the 3rd biggest threat to them in the division (behind New York and Toronto).

Baltimore is in a situation where they almost HAVE to move him and they'd be stupid to not get the best deal they could possibly get...even if it means dealing in-division.

AIM: BrentBrookhouse

by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 30, 2005 12:15 PM CST up reply actions

Not saying it's likely

but if for some reason the Red Sox offer falls through, its possible.

by chrome on Dec 30, 2005 11:44 AM CST up reply actions

By the same token

why would Baltimore want to trade one curmudgoen for another? There should also at least be some consideration about Manny's disposition once he settles in there. Will he whine any less than Tejada? Probably not. So what's the hurry to make that trade if you're Baltimore, especially since it adds to your payroll?

With Contreras and Uribe the O's get guys that are all-out, all the time, and it's more of a wash financially. Plus Contreras is #2 pitcher rather than the #4 they get with Clement. That's gonna smell delicious to Peter Angelos.

It does sound too god to be true, but hell we deserve it don't we?!

Turning the Chicago Baseball Tide - One Championship at a Time

by WestSideSoxFan on Dec 30, 2005 3:27 PM CST reply actions

Patience could be the key...

What I like about KW's position in this is that the Sox don't have the urgency to do something, anything to soothe/inspire their fan bases, like the small bears and the red stockings do. As a Sox fan, I'd be more than content to go into 2006 with the team as it stands right now, and like our chances to repeat.

That being said, I'd LOVE to go into 2006 with Tejada wearing white sox. Since we have the advantage of not being desperate, we may be able to swoop in an get Tejada as a sort of desperate last resort type of thing for Baltimore, if Tejada keeps up his trade rumblings and the other deals can't be made to work - "Well, we don't want to move Tejeda in the division, and the Cubs just seem weird and indecisive about everything, so I guess we'll take the offer from the White Sox." That would be grand.

Also, I would offer Uribe and any one of Contreras/Garland/Vasquez and let the O's take their pick.

by monsterzero on Dec 30, 2005 3:49 PM CST reply actions