The Kansas City Royals are continuing their makeover for the 2013 season by signing 2002 AL MVP Miguel Tejada.
According to the Associated Press (via ESPN.com), Tejada’s contract is a one-year minor league deal that can be worth $1.1 million if he makes it to Kansas City. There are additional incentives that can make the contract worth $1.5 million in total.
In 2012, he played 36 games in the Baltimore Orioles organization but requested and was granted his release at mid-season.
With the Royals, he will probably be asked to play a utility role. He could back up Mike Moustakas at third base, Chris Getz and Johnny Giavotella at second base and play some at the designated hitter.
When he played for the Oakland Athletics in the early 2000s, he was one of the elite players in the game. The power hitting shortstop won the MVP in the 2002 season made famous by the movie Moneyball.
He translated his Oakland success to a six-year, $72 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles after the 2003 postseason.
Tejada career has had its share of controversies. His former Baltimore teammate Rafael Palmeiro named Tejada as the man who gave him a steroid-tainted needle, according to ESPN.com. Tejada has denied it.
And issues aboutTejada’s age, name and birth certificate, reported by ESPN, swirled around him and ended a televised interview with him storming off the set.
The Royals are hoping that is all behind him. They are signing a veteran player who as recently as 2010 was a contributor to the Padres‘ surprising 90-win season. He is a six-time All Star who was named to the team as recently as 2009.
He has 2,362 hits and 304 home runs in the bank as well.
All the Royals need him to be is a role player. Tejada might be up for the challenge.
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