San Francisco Giants: Can Miguel Tejada Help Them Repeat?

Brian Sabean has done it again.

This time he has gone out and filled the San Francisco Giants' only real hole by signing shortstop Miguel Tejada to a one-year deal. 

Tejada, a former MVP, is now 36 and at the tail end of his career. 

So the question is, is Tejada the right man to help the Giants repeat? 

Tejada in 2010

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SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 03: Miguel Tejada #10 of the San Diego Padres stands at home plate after he struck out with two runners on base to end the seventh inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on October 3, 2010 in San Franci

Tejada is no longer an MVP. He is, however, still an above-average shortstop.

Last year he managed a .269 batting average, 15 home runs and 71 RBIs between two different teams. Those numbers still make him an above-average shortstop in the MLB. 

Then throw in the fact that he was an All-Star as recently as 2009, in a season in which he hit .313, and you have to wonder if Tejada could do even better in 2011 playing for a competitive team.

Was There Any Other Choice?

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SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 20: Brian Sabean, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the San Francisco Giants, watches batting practice before Game Four of the NLCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs between the Giants and the Philadelphia Phillies at AT&T P

Brian Sabean is held in high regard as the general manager of the Giants. If he believed Tejada was the best option, then I am inclined to believe that as well.

Yes, there was talk of Derek Jeter coming to the Giants. But, no offense, if you believed them you are a fool.

The Giants would never sign an aging, past-his-prime shortstop to the long-term deal Jeter has been reportedly shopping for. Tejada, at one year and about seven million, is the perfect signing for this team.

36-year-old shortstops deserve one-year deals, not three, four, five or six.

Does Tejada Make This Team Better?

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 02: Miguel Tejada #10, Everth Cabrera #1 and Oscar Salazar #14 of the San Diego Padres celebrate after they beat the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on October 2, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Ima

Last season Juan Uribe put up the best power numbers of his career by jacking 24 home runs for the Giants. At the same time, though, he only hit .248.

Edgar Renteria, on the other hand, was almost statistically irrelevant (until that whole postseason thing) for the Giants in 2010. Tejada, at the least, is not a step down for the Giants. 

In all actuality, he is probably an improvement and definitely a scarier threat to pitchers than either Renteria or Uribe. Maybe it's just me, but I would rather have Tejada for one year at seven million than Uribe for three years at seven a pop.

This is a team that just won the World Series and they may have just improved. Be afraid MLB, be very afraid.