There are some people who shouldn't talk to the press. Enron executives, ex-lovers of European soccer stars, and Bobby Knight to name three. Add Miguel Tejeda to the list. After the original controversy over his trade demands died down, he now proclaims himself more upset than ever with the Orioles off-season moves.
Forget that the O's have spent more money so far this off season than the New York Yankees on free agents. Ignore the fact that they have added a quality catcher in Ramon Hernandez and a proven power bat in Jeromy Burnitz. This isn't about that. It comes down to money. Tejeda, or more likely Tejada's agent, has seen the market escalate to the point where his six year, seventy-two million dollar contract isn't as attractive as when it was signed. You can believe that if Tejada gets his way and is traded, a contract extension will be necessary for him to waive his trade rights.
If it were possible I'd love to see Tejeda traded to the Florida Marlins. Their key off season acquisitions are Wes Helms, Miguel Olivio, Joe Borowski, and Pokey Reese. They play their games not in a classic stadium like Camden Yards, but in a horrible football stadium with a baseball diamond shoved into it. Only 22,000 fans a game come to see Florida play and the front office is rapidly selling off it's best players. In that context, Tejeda might understand that being an Oriole isn't such a bad thing.
There is something Tejeda says he doesn't want to talk about anymore, which normally would count as a blessed relief. But, in this instance it's a B12 injection he allegedly gave to Rafael Palmero. Now, that's something I wouldn't mind hearing him talk about. While waiting to board the next flight out of BWI to Miami.
