Miguel Tejada Available

[nate82]

A one year stop gap at 3B with Tejada would be interesting. It would also give Gamel time to either show that he is going to be the future 3B or a corner OF. Ken Rosenthal article it is on the bottom of the page.

 

I don't believe the Astros would trade Tejada to the Brewers though but weirder things have happened like the Cubs trading with the Pirates and stealing away Ramirez.

 

First question what would it take to get Tejada? Second would it be worth it to send that talent to Houston?

 

I was thinking a deal that would send Salome and Iribarren to the Astros for Tejada. The Brewers wouldn't be losing much. I don't believe Salome is going to stick at catcher and if he doesn't stick at catcher the only spot for him to play at would be DH. Since the NL doesn't have a DH Salome would be useless for the Brewers.

 

I don't see how the Astros will get back what they traded away last year for Tejada though and the deal above would be a decent deal for the Astros and probably the best deal they will get for Tejada.

[sbrylski]

Maybe if he was LH, but I still wouldn't give up Salome. Too high a ceiling if he does stick at catcher. And I think Tejada is just about done, his HR/FB rate is declined each of the past two seasons and his walk rate last year was the lowest of his career, as was his OPS. He might bounce back slightly (he did still have a good LD%) and hover his OPS in the 700's for 2-3 more seasons, but its more likely he falls apart than returns to 800+ OPS, IMO.

[piccione88]

No way would we have to give up Salome to get Tejada. Tejada is set to make 13 million next year, and has been declining the last couple of years. He hit .283/.314/.415 last year, which would look pretty bad at third base. I would rather take my chances with a platoon of Hall, and someone else for less money. There are much better options available like Beltre on the trade market, and even Casey Blake in free agency.

 

The Astros are in a bit of a roster crunch because of the contracts they have given out in the past years. I see no reason why the Brewers should help out a division rival by taken on a bad contract, even if it is only for a year. The Astros need help just about everywhere, but center field, catcher, and pitching are their biggest areas of concern in my opinion. The Astros will probably need to take on another bad contract coming back, or some middling prospects if they want to get rid of the contract. Their is no way the Astros get a top prospect for Tejada though, unless they eat a bunch of the 13 million he is owed.

[nate82]

What about a Hall for Tejada swap? I believe that would be both beneficial to the Brewers and the Astros. The Astros would get a versatile player in Hall and lose some salary in the short term with Hall and the Brewers would be taking on salary for the short term 1 yr and losing the long term financial committment to Hall.

 

3B defensively would improve with Tejada and you would be getting about the same amount of production as Hall and a LH bat. Tejada hit .284/.310/.724 against righties last year and .282/.326/.743 against lefties last year. It would solve the 3B issue for next year if you swap Hall for Tejada. Maybe I was over valuing Tejada's value or undervaluing Salome's value but Tejada still has life left in his bat he may not hit as many HR's as he once did but he would be that stop gap between Gamel and 3B the Brewers are looking for and would cost less than what Blalock would cost and he would be better defensively.

[sbrylski]

Tejada hit .284/.310/.724 against righties last year and .282/.326/.743 against lefties last year. It would solve the 3B issue for next year if you swap Hall for Tejada.

 

Let's project a .750 OPS for Tejada next season.

 

If Hall can hit .850 vLHP, which he's been doing:

 

(70% * x) + (30% * .850) = .750

 

x = .707

 

We only need to find a 3B that can OPS .708 against RHP to beat Tejada's production.

[piccione88]

The Brewers are not saving money at all by trading Hall for Tejada. The Brewers may have to sign someone to replace Tejada after 09, because no one is sure if Gamel will be able to handle third base. Even if he can, I find it a bit strange to look at Hall making around 15 million over the next two seasons, and Tejada making 13 million just in 2009, and think that we will save money by swapping those players.

[piccione88]

Astros.com is reporting that Twins appear interested in Tejada, the writer speculates that if the Twins give up one of their young starters the Astros would be willing to eat a large chunk of Tejada's salary.

 

Edit: one of the twins blogs is saying that Twins assistant GM Rob Antony met with the media, and when they brought up the Tejada rumor, "his facial expression said everything you need to know." It appears that is not happening, apparently teams that need shortstops do not even want him.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

All these stupid contracts the Astros signed are finally catching up to them.

[Oldcity]

Finally? I'd say they're catching up with them rather quickly.

[twobrewers]

Ty Wigginton is also available.

 

IF we were to trade Bill Hall to the Yankees - Wigginton would make a decent 3B.

[piccione88]

I have been on the wigginton bandwagon since the trade deadline in 2007. Wigginton absolutley kills lefties.