Miguel Tejada, the 2002 American League MVP, will bring his
stellar credentials to the Giants in 2011.
By Marcos Breton
Miguel Tejada, the 2002 American League MVP, will bring his stellar credentials to the Giants in 2011.
Reached at his home in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday night, the veteran shortstop confirmed he had come to terms with the Giants on a one-year contract believed to be worth $7 million.
“I am so happy,” said Tejada, who will be 37 in May. “San Francisco is where I wanted to go.”
Tejada finished last season with the San Diego Padres as an integral member of a team that battled the Giants for the National League West title to the last day of the season.
Tejada began 2010 with the Baltimore Orioles, his second stint with them. He also played in Houston but is best known for his years as an All-Star and MVP with the A’s between 1997 and 2003.
The Giants have not formally announced Tejada’s signing, but they posted a story about it on their website late Tuesday. Tejada said he expects mostly to play shortstop, though he can play third base.
The signing of Tejada came as the Los Angeles Dodgers announced they had lured away Juan Uribe, the utility infielder who played a key role in the Giants’ World Series run.
Clearly, the Giants felt they had to move quickly. The market for free-agent or available shortstops ranges from New York Yankee Derek Jeter to the solid but oft-injured Tampa Bay Ray Jason Bartlett. The Giants were rumored to be in trade talks with the Rays for Bartlett.
Tejada returns to the Bay Area having weathered some bruises to his reputation. In 2009, he admitted lying to federal investigators about his knowledge of performance-enhancing drug use in baseball. Tejada was never accused of taking steroids.
Tejada still has pop in his bat. The only current Giant who had more RBIs than Tejada’s 71 in 2010 was first baseman Aubrey Huff.
