Tejada wants to Stay with Baltimore Now

[E.J.]

He's becoming Manny pretty quickly...

 

Baltimore Sun

 

In a phone conversation Saturday with Orioles vice president Jim Duquette, All-Star shortstop Miguel Tejada backed down from his trade demand, saying that he doesn't want to be traded and he wants to be a part of the effort to rebuild the Orioles into a winner.

 

"He told me that this has been bothering him since he said it," said Duquette, who spoke to Tejada, who was in the Dominican Republic, readying for a winter league game. "He said that he felt bad about this and all he wanted was for this team to improve. He said, 'I want to stay and I don't want you guys to trade me.'"

 

"He wished it had never gone to this," said Duquette. "It was never his attention. He said he lost sleep over it. He sounded like it was a guy that felt bad about the way things have evolved. His true intentions were for us to improve the team."

 

Added Duquette: "We're elated. This is the first time we've heard it out of his mouth directly that he wants to stay. We're going to move forward trying to improve the team. It's going to be a heck of a lot easier doing it with Miguel in an Oriole uniform."

 

Of course this could be the Orioles just trying to get more in a trade for him as well.

[ZMovieman]

He's becoming Manny pretty quickly...

 

Baltimore Sun

 

In a phone conversation Saturday with Orioles vice president Jim Duquette, All-Star shortstop Miguel Tejada backed down from his trade demand, saying that he doesn't want to be traded and he wants to be a part of the effort to rebuild the Orioles into a winner.

 

"He told me that this has been bothering him since he said it," said Duquette, who spoke to Tejada, who was in the Dominican Republic, readying for a winter league game. "He said that he felt bad about this and all he wanted was for this team to improve. He said, 'I want to stay and I don't want you guys to trade me.'"

 

"He wished it had never gone to this," said Duquette. "It was never his attention. He said he lost sleep over it. He sounded like it was a guy that felt bad about the way things have evolved. His true intentions were for us to improve the team."

 

Added Duquette: "We're elated. This is the first time we've heard it out of his mouth directly that he wants to stay. We're going to move forward trying to improve the team. It's going to be a heck of a lot easier doing it with Miguel in an Oriole uniform."

 

Of course this could be the Orioles just trying to get more in a trade for him as well.

 

I'd believe it more if Tejada said those words to a reporter. The Orioles could be desperate for leverage if the White Sox, Red Sox, and Phillies all become unlikely suitors.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I think this is a way for the Orioles to save some face and Tejada as well. By saying he never meant for his words to be construed as a desire to be traded, it helps rehabilitate his image to the Baltimore fans.

 

My guess is that the GM went to Tejada and told him that no one was offering what they wanted for him and then Tejada came up with this.

[mhuber92211]

if anyone else has XM they were playing part of the Oriles FanFest which is similar to the Cubs Convention. It was kinda funny when an angry fan got on the mic begging for the team to take a risk with a FA but one fan asked point blank about Tejada and Flanagan answered.

[paraphrase]

He said that they have fielded many offers about Tejada and that they just wouldn't give him away. He went on to say that accroding to the organization Tejada signed a long term deal with the team and that's what the organization thinks will be the case.

[/paraphrase]

 

The "homeplate updates" included a sound bite on this so I am sure that if you listen throughout the afternoon you will hear some of it. Since XM caters a lot to Buck Martinez they might replay some of the O's intros (Buck is a PBP guy for the team).

[E.J.]

If this is true, what's next for us? Does Hendry go back to Lugo? Does he try to trade for Abreu again? Does something get done before Cubs' Convention next weekend? He's going to get burned at the stake next weekend if things don't change really quickly.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

If this is true, what's next for us? Does Hendry go back to Lugo? Does he try to trade for Abreu again? Does something get done before Cubs' Convention next weekend? He's going to get burned at the stake next weekend if things don't change really quickly.

 

Time to offer Pie + Hill + Welly + Marmol for Dunn.

[Mizzou]

Maybe he just wanted to go to Boston all along, and now that Manny appears to be staying put, he realizes that it wont happen.

 

Either way, I'm getting sick of these players demanding trades then changing their mind two weeks later.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Maybe he just wanted to go to Boston all along, and now that Manny appears to be staying put, he realizes that it wont happen.

 

Either way, I'm getting sick of these players demanding trades then changing their mind two weeks later.

 

I'm married so I'm used to people who make up their minds and then change it two weeks (make that five minutes) later.

[CuseCubFan69]

I think this is a way for the Orioles to save some face and Tejada as well. By saying he never meant for his words to be construed as a desire to be traded, it helps rehabilitate his image to the Baltimore fans.

 

My guess is that the GM went to Tejada and told him that no one was offering what they wanted for him and then Tejada came up with this.

 

Or the Pirates and Royals have made the best offers. :-&

[erik316wttn]

Good, now we can keep Prior.

[Balsa]

Good, now we can keep Prior.

[JC]

Good, now we can keep Prior.

 

Phew. Along the same lines, I was scared that Pierre wouldn't be blocking anyone and that Felix wouldn't experience that awkward rookie sensation of: "Hey, I'm better than that guy and cheaper. Why am I still living here at the Days Inn in Des Moines?"

[Banedon]

"He wished it had never gone to this," said Duquette. "It was never his attention. He said he lost sleep over it. He sounded like it was a guy that felt bad about the way things have evolved. His true intentions were for us to improve the team."

 

Do ya mean "intention" there Dan?

[YearofDaCubs]

If this is true, what's next for us? Does Hendry go back to Lugo? Does he try to trade for Abreu again? Does something get done before Cubs' Convention next weekend? He's going to get burned at the stake next weekend if things don't change really quickly.

The Cubs are a sinking ship thanks to Hendry and Baker.

[CuseCubFan69]

Good. Now the Cubs can trade Prior to the Mets for Floyd!

[YearofDaCubs]

Good. Now the Cubs can trade Prior to the Mets for Floyd!

Ask and you shall receive. ;)

[CuseCubFan69]

Good. Now the Cubs can trade Prior to the Mets for Floyd!

Ask and you shall receive. ;)

 

Floyd can hit and he's a heck of a barber...what's not to like!

 

I wonder what kind of package the Mets could give the Cubs for Prior?

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Good, I'm so sick of this Tejada crap, I didn't really want him THAT bad anyway. Certainly not for the rumored price in players.

 

Now Hendry can focus on something that IMO would be more helpful--Barry Zito. Looking at what Beane got for Mulder and Hudson, I'd think Rich Hill + Matt Murton + a mid-level prospect (eg, Carlos Marmol) would be in the ballpark. Hendry would need to flip Patterson and Walker into an outfielder to replace Murton, but I'd certainly be willing to part with him and Hill to get a RELIABLE #2 starter.

 

This team could go a long way with a rotation of Zambrano, Zito, Prior, Maddux and Williams. And maybe at some point in the season, Kerry Wood.

[JC]

"He wished it had never gone to this," said Duquette. "It was never his attention. He said he lost sleep over it. He sounded like it was a guy that felt bad about the way things have evolved. His true intentions were for us to improve the team."

 

Do ya mean "intention" there Dan?

 

While it is likely a typo, I wouldn't be surprised if Duquette did say that. He never was a guy that you'd expect to find fighting over that last chair in the Mensa Musical Chairs game.

[B]

"He wished it had never gone to this," said Duquette. "It was never his attention. He said he lost sleep over it. He sounded like it was a guy that felt bad about the way things have evolved. His true intentions were for us to improve the team."

 

Do ya mean "intention" there Dan?

 

While it is likely a typo, I wouldn't be surprised if Duquette did say that. He never was a guy that you'd expect to find fighting over that last chair in the Mensa Musical Chairs game.

 

Does Mensa have a Musical Chairs game? Are you a member?

[E.J.]

Looks like Mora came to save the day for the Orioles:

 

Washington Post

 

All that changed at about 4:30 p.m., when Duquette received a phone call from Mora, who said he had Tejada on the other line. On a three-way phone call, Tejada voiced his desire to stay.

 

It was Mora who facilitated the conversation. Mora said he speaks with Tejada on a daily basis and recently the shortstop had expressed his desire to stay, but had not voiced it to the front office.

 

"I told him he needed to resolve this problem," Mora said.

 

Mora again spoke with Tejada on Saturday afternoon and the two agreed to speak with Duquette. Mora, with Tejada on the other line, called Duquette. It was Duquette and Tejada who spoke, while Mora simply listened. Tejada initially wanted Mora to inform the team of his desire to stay, but the third baseman declined, telling his teammate, "I don't want to say anything and then tomorrow you change your mind and make me look bad."

 

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

I pray that this all holds up, and this whole "trade Mark Prior" saga ends. Good news though, very good news.

[CarolinaCubFan]

"He wished it had never gone to this," said Duquette. "It was never his attention. He said he lost sleep over it. He sounded like it was a guy that felt bad about the way things have evolved. His true intentions were for us to improve the team."

 

Do ya mean "intention" there Dan?

 

I'm not the best speller in the world, but I even caught that one. I was thinking to myself, is this a fake article? I saw Boston Harold in the link and felt better about my spelling. :D

[RynoRules]

Maybe he just wanted to go to Boston all along, and now that Manny appears to be staying put, he realizes that it wont happen.

 

Either way, I'm getting sick of these players demanding trades then changing their mind two weeks later.

 

I'm married so I'm used to people who make up their minds and then change it two weeks (make that five minutes) later.

 

Here here. And its twice as bad when you have (a) kid(s).

[CubFanPhilly]

Maybe he just wanted to go to Boston all along, and now that Manny appears to be staying put, he realizes that it wont happen.

 

 

That was the speculation at the Orioles Hangout message board - Tejada was trying to force a trade to Boston and was not really interested in going anywhere else.

 

CFP