Tejada agrees to terms with Orioles

[redsoxman]

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news.jsp?ymd=20031214&content_id=618126&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp


NEW ORLEANS -- The Orioles have reached an agreement with Oakland shortstop Miguel Tejada on a six-year contract, MLB.com has learned.
Tejada, 27, was the 2002 American League MVP and was considered the top free-agent shortstop on the market, and he is the Orioles' first significant free-agent signing in the Jim Beattie-Mike Flanagan regime.

The contract is believed to be for $65 million, which topped both the offers by the Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers. Beattie and Flanagan met with Tejada's agents, Fernando Cuza and Diego Benz, on Sunday afternoon and hammered out the deal.
The Orioles have been seeking a premium free agent this winter and had Tejada, Vladimir Guerrero, and catchers Javy Lopez and Ivan Rodriguez on their list. Tejada provides the Baltimore lineup much-needed power in the middle of the order. He hit .278 with 27 homers and 106 RBIs last season and is considered a splendid defensive shortstop.

He will fill an identity void with the Orioles that began with the retirement of Cal Ripken after the 2001 season. Beattie and Flanagan had in the $35 million range to spend this offseason when the contracts of Albert Belle, Scott Erickson and Tony Batista came off the books at season's end.

The club had been targeting Tejada since the beginning of the 2002 season and did not honor the option of Deivi Cruz to create a spot for the All-Star. He made $5.125 million last season but Oakland management said it was unlikely it would re-sign him.

Tejada is considered a tireless worker and a good clubhouse presence. He was signed by Oakland as a 16-year-old out of the Dominican Republic and made his Major League debut in 1998. He is a career .270 hitter with 156 home runs and 604 RBIs.

[I Are Baboon]

An excellent signing by Baltimore. That's a whole lot of clams, but I hope it works out for them. I hate to see an AL East opponent get stronger, but if it's anyone I'm glad it's Baltimore.

:thumbsup:

[Nanner]

OHMIGOD!!!!! WE GOT TEJADA!!!


:jump: :jump: :jump:

Geez. I stay away from the computer for most of the day, trying to break my internet addiction, and LOOK WHAT HAPPENS!!!

This is major. This is major in that it shows everyone the O's are serious. It also means that there's another Dominican around, which has been rumored to be a concern of Vlad's. It also must make Lee Mazzilli really happy.

WOOHOO!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

:clap2: :clap: :clap2: :clap:

[rockin500]

good job o's. :thumbsup:

[PopTop]

Very nice. :clap2:

Now, what do they do with either Hairston or Sparky :umm

[Nanner]

Originally posted by PopTop

Now, what do they do with either Hairston or Sparky :umm

I know. I'm trying not to think about that.


:D

[PissedPrincess]

I hear Pudge is next!:clap2: :clap2: The O's are gonna be awesome!!!!!!!!

:banana:

[Trots]

There are still Vladdy rumors around, too. He's got to sign with somebody. Congrats to the O's on adding Tejada.

[Nanner]

Word has it that Pudge may have lowered his price a bit, and the fact that Tejada has signed may have piqued his interest. It could also be really important towards bringing Vlad on board.

Wow.

Whattaday. But I'm trying not to count my chickens before they hatch.

:cool:

[Hobosox]

CONRATS NAN! :clap2:

i am also excited, since I always root for the O's unless they are playing my Sox.

It is also almost a certainty that Vlad will come too, b/c Florida is the only other team HE would consider, and they dont have enough $$$. Plus, Vladdy and Tejada have the same agent....

And yes, rumor has it (STRONG rumors) that Pudge is leaning closer and closer to signing.....WOW, what a middle of the order that would be! :D

[Nanner]

Hmmmm...... yes, Vlad and Tejada have the same agents...... I forgot about that! :D

Here's more on this deal ....... all the numbers.....from Monday's Baltimore Sun.

From Monday's Sun
Orioles sign shortstop Tejada
Former AL MVP agrees to 6-year deal; O's still pursuing I. Rodriguez

By Joe Christensen
Sun Staff
Originally published December 14, 2003, 10:54 PM EST



NEW ORLEANS - The Orioles are threatening to stage a major coup at the winter meetings, and if the rest of baseball was disbelieving, that changed Sunday, when they signed free-agent shortstop Miguel Tejada to a six-year, $72 million contract.

Could Vladimir Guerrero and one of two free-agent catchers - Javy Lopez or Ivan Rodriguez - come next? The Orioles certainly weren't dismissing that possibility yesterday, and suddenly everyone else had to take them seriously.

"We felt like this was a great first step for us," said Orioles executive vice president Jim Beattie. "And we've got a lot do yet."

Having sat mostly dormant on the free-agent front since November 1998, when they signed Albert Belle to his disastrous, five-year, $65 million contract, the Orioles made a bold push for Tejada starting late Friday night.

Outbidding the Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers, the Orioles signed Tejada to the richest contract in franchise history. But it was a deal that left them room to keep spending for next season. Tejada will make just $7 million in 2004, including $4 million of his signing bonus.

Tejada comes with impressive credentials. With the Oakland Athletics, he won the 2002 American League Most Valuable Player award and helped guide that team to three consecutive playoff berths.

Last year, after a slow start, he hit .305 over the season's final 130 games and finished batting .278 with 27 home runs and 106 RBIs.

The Orioles have suffered through six consecutive losing seasons, but in a teleconference from his home in the Dominican Republic, Tejada said: "I don't have any problem with that."

"When we came to Oakland, they were not a winning team. We made them a winning team, and that's what we're going to do in Baltimore."

The Orioles have made at least one offer to Guerrero, believed to be for five years, $65 million, but those talks seemed quiet yesterday while Guerrero's agents - Diego Benz and Fernando Cuza - negotiated Tejada's contract.

On the catcher front, the Orioles have a three-year, $18 million offer to Lopez, which they have modified only slightly during the weekend.

They have been in serious negotiations with Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras, and several industry sources Sunday were predicting that the Orioles would sign Rodriguez to a three-year contract with a base salary of $7 million per season and incentives that would allow Rodriguez to earn $10 million per year.

But two team sources said the club was still leaning toward Lopez because Rodriguez was asking for more than the Orioles wanted to spend.

Either way, the Orioles, who are considered the favorites to land Guerrero unless the Florida Marlins swoop in and get him, were looking pretty good in their efforts to land three marquee free agents.

"It's possible," Orioles manager Lee Mazzilli said. "We'd like to think so. I wouldn't say we're finished on anything. Whether it happens or not remains to be seen."

The Orioles were expected to negotiate contracts with Lopez, Rodriguez and potentially even Guerrero late into the night.

Beattie and Orioles vice president Mike Flanagan haven't slept much in New Orleans, but that has nothing to do with Bourbon Street. They were up most of the night Friday. Seattle made a five-year, $54 million offer to Tejada, but a Mariners official said Tejada's agent told them they had an offer from an undisclosed team for six years, $69 million. Then the Orioles pounced.

After agreeing to the terms, they got Tejada to structure the deal with a $12 million signing bonus paid out as $4 million in 2004, $2 million in 2005, 2006, 2010 and 2011. In base salary, Tejada will make $3 million this year, $9 million in 2005, $10 million in 2006, $12 million in 2007 and $13 million each in 2008 and 2009.

The deal does not include a no-trade clause, and the Orioles were able to insure all six years.

There has been widespread industry speculation that Tejada may be about three years older than his listed age of 27 - something that may come to light this offseason when he applies for his next working visa - and that added to the Orioles' gamble of giving him a six-year deal.

"We've checked on Miguel's background credentials, the whole thing, so we're comfortable with what the situation presents," Beattie said.

In the youthful Oakland clubhouse, Tejada emerged as a leader, and when he spoke of his reasons for choosing the Orioles Sunday, he certainly sounded comfortable with his choice.

"I love the stadium and the city," he said. "And I think that's why I made the decision so quick."

Flanagan cited Tejada's durability. He has baseball's longest active streak of consecutive games played - 594 - something the Orioles can certainly appreciate after watching Cal Ripken play in 2,632 straight.

"That's one of the reasons I signed over there," Tejada said. "I'm going to play on the same field that Cal Ripken played."
Copyright © 2003, The Baltimore Sun

[SlushyBOB]

congrats to the O's and thanks for getting him out of the AL West!!!!!!!

[I Are Baboon]

Now if the O's only do something about that pitching....

[Nanner]

Originally posted by I Are Baboon
Now if the O's only do something about that pitching....

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Don't bring me down, Babs.:eyebrow

[PissedPrincess]

Originally posted by I Are Baboon
Now if the O's only do something about that pitching....

Who let the Naysayer in?:angry:



















:D

[Nanner]

We'll have to torture him.


:smokin:

[bd811]

I also heard Palmeiro a few days ago.

Would this lineup be at least good enough for second in that division?:
Hairston/Roberts
Mora
Tejada
Vlad
Pudge
Raffy
Gibbons
3B
1B/DH

Theyd still have some holes to fill in the ineup, but they have enough firepower to compensate.

They are also close to bringing back Ponson, who would at least add some respectibility to the rotation.

[Nanner]

Originally posted by bd811

Would this lineup be at least good enough for second in that division?:


I would hope so, BD.

I actually don't see Palmeiro coming back to Bal'mer...... but I could be wrong.

We've also got Larry Bigbie in LF, who has some power. And Luis Matos in CF. Pop Top is worried about a glut at 1st base, which would, indeed, happen should Raffy join us. If we have Vlad, Gibbons' would probably be moved to 1st, but if Palmeiro comes, then, who knows, what with David Segui constantly injured. And Mora's being moved to 3rd.

So, it might look like this, should Raffy join us.

Hairston/Roberts
Matos (CF)
Mora (3B)
Tejada(SS)
Vlad (RF)
Gibby (1B)
Pudge (C)
Bigbie (LF)
Raffy or Bubble-Boy (Segui) (DH) - depending on who's healthy

Geez. The mind boggles.

:nut:

[I Are Baboon]

I am not trying to be a blasphemer. I am telling the O's front office to get movin' with the pitchers. :cool:

[usc2002]

The beauty of this deal is the O's were looking to spend about 40 mil this offseason...They got Tejada for 3 mil in base salary this year, 4 in a bonus so that doesn't entirely count against their own personal cap and not all of that will go towards the luxury taxing....Great job of temporarily deferring payments........so roughly 35 mil to throw around between Vlad, Pudge/Javy, and some pitching (ponson?).....I think they are paying way too much to finish 3rd in their own division....Just an opinion....

Not to say i ain't happy Tejadas got some big shoes to fill at SS, hope they don't put that pressure on him....But Cal never had Vlad and Pudge in his lineup either.....Some good players but nothing in Vlad caliber....Good luck to the O's and may they put the Yankees out of the playoffs all together.....

[bd811]

Originally posted by Nanner
We've also got Larry Bigbie in LF, who has some power. And Luis Matos in CF.
:nut:

Yea I really dont know a helluva lot about the Orioles, so I kinda had to guess who their outfielders would be. Theyve got some good ones though. Trade bait, perhaps?

[Nanner]

Originally posted by bd811
Yea I really dont know a helluva lot about the Orioles, so I kinda had to guess who their outfielders would be. Theyve got some good ones though. Trade bait, perhaps?

I don't see them using Big and Matos in trades. They've basically come up through the organization and I've read they're considered part of the future. They were two bright spots last season.

However, I do see them trading either Hairston or Sparky Roberts. Now with Miggy at SS, and both Hairston and Sparky pretty equal at 2nd, one of them will probably be traded.