According to sources the Baltimore Orioles may be involved in a three way trade with the Oakland A's and Chicago Cubs that would see them send away  Miguel Tejeda.  The O's shortstop has 4 years left on a 6 year, $65 million dollar contract.  Only the Orioles, or a crack adict who has just been hit repeatedly on the head with a blunt object, would trade away a hitter as productive as Tejeda when they have all the leverage.  This is why I am feel reasonably sure that such a deal will take place.  The Orioles organization under Peter Angelos has the judgement of a contestant on "Fear Factor".

It gets worse.  The key players being offered by the A's and Cubs are pitchers.  One is Mark Prior, the often injured right hander, the other Barry Zito.  Both pitchers are signed only through 2006, after which at least one will presumably go on to the happy hunting grounds of baseball, AKA the Evil Empire in the Bronx.  Having been turned down the likes of Carl Pavano it is hard to see why the Orioles would believe they have any chance of signing either to a long-term contract. 

Supposedly, the O's will only make the deal if a top prospect is included.  The name Felix Pie is being tossed about as that player.  Up to this point, the name Felix Pie has only been the answer to the trivia question-"What is 3.14159 times Felix?"  But perhaps the O's are holding out for a bigger deal, like Prior, Corey Patterson, 100 Swiffer dusters for all the empty seats in Camden, and a pocket full of magic beans.

For Orioles fans this is, as is the case annually, the winter of our discontent.  For once the Orioles management needs to stop selling their fans down the Patapsco River and develop a plan.  It starts with telling Tejada that contracts are enforceable and that suffering through mediocrity is part of what it is to be an Oriole.  Maybe then someday it won't be.