It makes perfect sense doesn't it? A power-hitting infielder out of favor with his home team looking for a new place to land.
The Astros have, apparently, gotten tired of Miguel Tejada and may be looking to cut bait with last winter's major acquisition already. According to Ken Rosenthal, they know they'll have to eat at least a piece of the $13 million that Tejada is owed for the 2009 season.
As with any and all shortstop or third base rumors from here on out, the Twins haven been tabbed as a team of interest. I'm sure GM Bill Smith will sit down with Ed Wade to at least make a cursory run at Tejada, but should he pursue it any further?
That depends largely on who the Twins need to give up to get Tejada and how much salary the Astros are willing to take on.
Wade will almost certainly ask for one of the Twins young starters, but anyone besides Perkins should prompt Smith to ask for the check. If Wade is serious about rebuilding for the long term, someone like Anthony Swarzak or even Deolis Guerra could be a valuable piece to the deal.
In any case, for just one year of a third baseman who is barely on the right side of 35 (and that isn't even a given), the Twins need to be fairly judicious in their offers.
This is all dependent, however, on how much money the Astros will eat of Tejada's contract. If it's less than four to five million, Tejada isn't worth it. His bat isn't what it used to be, even in the hitter friendly Enron, er, Minute Maid field.
His defense was quite good last year, but has ranged anywhere from -8 to +17 in FRAA over the last five years, so there's certainly no guarantee that he will continue to be a plus defender as his bat slips.
If the Twins can get the Astros to eat four million or more, then a deal can go forward. Michael Cuddyer and Anthony Swarzak could form a solid core to any deal, but there would almost surely be side pieces offered by both teams.
Tejada is no longer the marquis player he was in Oakland and Baltimore, and the Twins should learn from the mistake the Astros made last winter and decline to pay top dollar for a player who no longer commands such a fee.
8 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
b g 7 months ago
Miguel Tejada is not what the Twins need. He is old and takes steroids.
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Dan Wade 7 months ago
One might argue that if he still took them, he'd be exactly what the Twins needed!
You're right, though, he isn't really the answer we need. My concern is that the player the Twins need, a young SS with power and a solid glove, isn't really out there. Rafael Furcal is close, but with his contract demands and injury history, I can't see Bill Smith jumping on him.
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John Meyer 7 months ago
Obviously you jump at the star name power, but I don't think Tejada would be a good fit. If the price is right (I mean like firesale) I would take Miguel to man 3B for the Twins. But certainly not shortstop in the Metrodome.
It'll be interesting to see how this rumor evolves.
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Dan Wade 7 months ago
Lavelle E. Neal just posted that it wasn't going to happen, which is good.
I get the sense, could be right or wrong, that Twins fans are less interested in bringing in stars from outside. Its guys like Puckett, Hunter, Mauer, Morneau, who get the fans excited (Punto to a lesser extent) partly because we've gotten a chance to watch them mature and get excited about their potential. So I wonder how much the big name would really benefit the Twins.
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John Meyer 7 months ago
Yeah I just read that too. Looks like most of the names rumored today won't happen. Not too excited about Jack Wilson, might as well keep little Nicky.
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Dan Wade 7 months ago
There's a half-written article somewhere in my computer about how Nick Punto is the Twins best free agent signing this offseason. The gist is, we have no idea how good Punto is offensively, since he's been so inconsistent.
What we do know is that he's a plus defender, and a great guy to have around the clubhouse. He'll sign cheaply and if the Twins find someone better, then he a good guy to have on the bench.
I've got nothing against Jack Wilson, but if he's the answer, I want to know what the question is.
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Andrew Kneeland 7 months ago
Tejada is exactly what the Twins aren't and haven't/shouldn't be: old while sporting an attitude problem.
He may have some pop left in his bat, but he isn't what the Twins need. I hope Smith doesn't get lured into this trap solely because of Tejada's big name...
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Dan Wade 7 months ago
Yeah, I don't see him as a good option, but the market is so thin and the Twins really do need to improve their left side that I think Smith needed to at least sit down and hear the price.
It looks like he isn't biting, and that's just fine by me. Smith seems pretty savvy, so I'm not too concerned with him getting caught up in someone's name or reputation.
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