20 replies to this topic

[Trautwein's Degree]

If the rumors are true that the Boston Red Sox have contacted the Astros about Miguel Tejada, rest assured the All-Star shortstop wouldn’t be intimidated about playing at Fenway Park.

Tejada is one of the most accomplished active players against the New York Yankees, and he wouldn’t shy away if he were drawn into the famous Yankee-Red Sox rivalry.

“I wouldn’t be intimidated to go play in Boston,” he said. “But I’m not thinking about that right now.”

Houston Chronicle

Edited by Trautwein's Degree, 29 July 2008 - 06:38 PM.

[Trautwein's Degree]

ESPN:

The Boston Red Sox have had discussions with the Houston Astros about shortstop Miguel Tejada, sources told ESPNdeportes.com's Enrique Rojas.

One source said the conversations between the two teams had just started. Another source, one close to Tejada, said he Red Sox and Astros have been in talks for some time now about a trade.

[tims4wins]

A quick look at the defensive stats on ESPN.com has him ranked fifth among qualified shortstops in fielding percentage and an even more impressive fourth in zone rating. Also, as of June 7, mgl had Tejada at +22, ranking him 3rd among shortstops.

On the offensive side, he doesn't walk much any more (19 on the season, .318 OBP), and his power numbers aren't great despite playing half his games in that bandbox down in Houston (22 2B, 10 HR, .420 SLG).

As far as his contract goes, he is signed thru 2009, at $13 million.

If it doesn't cost the Sox much, then I'd be all for it. He's a pretty fierce competitor and I would imagine good friends with Manny and Papi, which can't be a bad thing.

[URI]

I hope to hell the rumors aren't true. Tejada isn't a good baseball player anymore.

[nazz45]

He's signed for $13 million next year. He's been in a steep decline over the past three seasons and is in the midst of a lousy season in which he has produced significantly worse from month to month. If their is interest, I don't get it.

edit--However, to my surprise, advanced defensive metrics have Tejada as one of the better defenders at short this season. He's typically been around average in previous seasons by these same measurements.

edit2--And sure, Lugo for Tejada makes sense ... for the Sox. No idea why the Astros would do it unless the Sox kick in additional cash. It's not like swapping the two saves the 'Stros money when Lugo is tied up for $18 million through 2010.

Edited by nazz45, 28 July 2008 - 07:35 PM.

[SydneySox]

It would be interesting if a deal would include sending Lugo's contract back to Houston as a requirement of Boston taking on Tejada's bigger one. He didn't exactly leave the Astros on good terms.

[Trautwein's Degree]

Rotoworld doesn't buy it:

The Red Sox are already paying Julio Lugo $9 million next year and Tejada is owed $13 million next season, so it's difficult to see how that would work. It they were going to pick up a shortstop, they'd prefer a one-year stopgap. The report doesn't know for sure whether either team is looking at Tejada. It might be that both are discussing a reliever like Doug Brocail or Geoff Geary. Jul. 28 - 8:18 pm et

[SoxFanPJ]

Not only is Tejada due $13M next season but according to Cot's he still has two signing bonus payments of $2M each due in 2010 and 2011.

# $12M signing bonus ($4M paid in '04, $2M in '05, '06, '10, '11)
# 04:$3M, 05:$9M, 06:$10M, 07:$12M, 08:$13M, 09:$13M
# $50,000 All Star bonus

http://mlbcontracts....ton-astros.html

If you can move Lugo + and get Tejada then I actually like that deal. Going into 2009 you have Tejada and Lowrie, Tejada starts as the SS and Lowrie takes over for Cora as the utility IF.

Lugo is due $9m per season in 2009 and 2010 and has a vesting option for 2011 .According to Cot's the option vests with 2,400 plate appearances 2007-10 & 600 PAs 2010. He had 630 PA last season and has 307 this season. The good news is that with this injury its possible that he won't be able to trigger that vesting option which makes him easier to move in a trade. Lets say he makes it back for the last 30 games of the season and gets 5 PA per game then thats 150 more PA for the rest of the season, bringin him to a total of 1,087 PA and requiring him to make 1,313 PA or 657 PA per year in 2009 and 2010 to vest the option. Of course he could also vest it by making 600 PA in 2010 but the team could easily curtail Lugo's playing time im 2010 to avoid that prong of the option from vesting.

[ctsoxfan5]

I put this in the Manny thread, but since May 3, Tejada's had 302 PA, and put up a line of .250/.288/.345 for an OPS of .633.

[mabrowndog]

I put this in the Manny thread, but since May 3, Tejada's had 302 PA, and put up a line of .250/.288/.345 for an OPS of .633.

Over that same time frame, Lugo's line is .255/.368/.325 for an OPS of .693 in 195 PAs. The main difference is the 28 walks Lugo's drawn in 107 fewer PAs compared to 13 for Tejada.

I still believe that most here are undervaluing that portion of Lugo's game.

[Harry Hooper]

edit--However, to my surprise, advanced defensive metrics have Tejada as one of the better defenders at short this season. He's typically been around average in previous seasons by these same measurements.

He definitely looks to have shed some pounds this season.

[Pumpsie]

Over that same time frame, Lugo's line is .255/.368/.325 for an OPS of .693 in 195 PAs. The main difference is the 28 walks Lugo's drawn in 107 fewer PAs compared to 13 for Tejada.

I still believe that most here are undervaluing that portion of Lugo's game.

Yeah, the stats we're seeing here make this trade idea a really bad one. Trade an overpaid, underperforming shortstop for an even more overpaid, more underperforming one. Jesus, if Theo is really thinking along these lines then it's time to remove him from any conversations regarding the shortstop position at all. What a horrible track record Theo has for this position. He just keeps making things worse.

[glennhoffmania]

Weren't there rumblings before last season that Tejada was breaking down physically so badly that they didn't know if he could play SS anymore? I'm not doubting the defensive numbers cited, but I could've sworn that people were saying his range was so bad that he'd have to move to 3B in the near future, so it's confusing.

[CaptainLaddie]

I think it was Esasky who said that other teams should go to Theo for advice about shortstop and then just do the opposite.

[dcmissle]

It's nice that he's lost weight. So will I if there are many more threads like this between now and Thursday.

Listed at 34, which means he's probably 38. Nice run, but peaked a few years back and is on the downslope:

http://sports.espn.g...s?playerId=3727

Along with the propensity to dig a hole to China at the SS position, the timing of this vis a vis Manny and the myth that Tejada remains a power guy are disturbing. Can hear the press conf now: "Very few players can replicate Manny's production. We'll try to make it up several places, and Miggy gives us a chance to do that."

Mailing it in while appearing not to.

[Pumpsie]

Source: http://www.projo.com...12.4126a2e.html

Thank you, Lord!

Acquiring Tejada is a ridiculous idea.