Miguel Tejada Wants Back In Oakland?

June 28, 2011; Chicago, IL, USA; San Francisco Giants third baseman Miguel Tejada (10) during the ninth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The Giants beat the Cubs 13-7. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-US PRESSWIRE

Well, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, former A’s star Miguel Tejada wants to comeback to Oakland. With 3B Scott Sizemore out for the entire season, the A’s could use the extra help that Tejada is seemingly offering. Would the A’s, a team trying to rebuild for the future, actually give Tejada a call?

Probably not. In Slusser’s article highlighting Tejada’s interest to return to the place which gave him his start, she notes that the A’s are more inclined to give an in-house option like Josh Donaldson a shot at competing for Sizemore’s spot. The A’s have already signed a way-past his prime player in Manny Ramirez, so to have two players like that on the roster would likely be two too many.

Even if the A’s did give Tejada a shot, it’d be anybody’s guess as to what type of impact he would have on the team. He won the MVP award back in 2002 with the A’s, but those days of hitting 30 homers a year are long gone. Tejada remains a free-agent and more importantly, a shell of his former self.

There’s not much hope to be had in a .239/.270/.326 slash line, now is there? Tejada, or “Miggy” as he was known as in Oakland, struggled last year with the Giants before he was cut loose in September. According to what he told Slusser, Tejada wasn’t entirely happy with his situation in San Francisco.

The former MVP just doesn’t fit in with Oakland’s current rebuilding plans. At least, that’s the nice way of putting it. The A’s should try and give younger guys like Donaldson a shot before investing money in a guy like Tejada. Sure, he might add a nice veteran presence to the clubhouse and would likely offer A’s fans a nostalgic trip back to 2002, but the guy is just not the same player he once was.

His power isn’t the same, either. While averaging 27 home runs a season from 1998-2004, Tejada hasn’t hit over 20 home runs in a season since 2006. From 2005-2011, Tejada averaged just 16 home runs a season. Last year’s .087 ISO suggests that Tejada’s power hitting days are a thing of the past.

Thanks for the offer “Miggy,” but unfortunately, the A’s will have to pass.

Tejada’s Career Numbers In Oakland 1997-2003:

Life In Baltimore 2004-2007:

Life After Baltimore (Stops in Houston, Baltimore again, San Diego, and SF) 2008-Present:

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