There’s not much Andy MacPhail has done to shock me in his two-and-a-half years as Orioles president of baseball operations. All of his moves -- from trading Miguel Tejada and Erik Bedard after the 2007 season, to signing Kevin Millwood, Mike Gonzalez and Garrett Atkins this offseason -- have followed a calculated blueprint. Every single transaction has been an effort to move forward and away from the losing culture that has plagued the Orioles for 12 seasons. 

This past weekend MacPhail made what could be considered his first controversial signing since coming to the Orioles. News that Miguel Tejada will once again wear the orange and black was exciting for many fans and shocking for others. (Count me in the latter group of those raising eyebrows.)

Re-signing Tejada is the first move that has deviated from MacPhail’s master plan. Until now, the plan has been to bring in young, positive, team-oriented players. After covering Tejada for three of his four seasons in Baltimore, I’m not so sure he fits into one of those categories. 

While an Oriole, Tejada was full of energy. He was one of the most entertaining personalities on the team -- when things were going his way. That attitude could quickly change when he wasn’t happy. Will fans see a more humbled, mature Tejada this time around, or the same player whose personal mood swings could change the tenor of a team?

The controversy also comes -- whether it’s fair or not -- from the fact that Tejada’s name is synonymous with some of the Orioles’ darkest years. When he was traded in 2007 he left under a cloud of lost games, steroid accusations and clubhouse feuds -- most notably with players like Melvin Mora and Sammy Sosa. While Tejada maintained good relationships with the three Orioles still on the roster from 2007 -- Brian Roberts, Nick Markakis and Jeremy Guthrie -- if you polled former teammates, the picture of the perfect teammate probably wouldn’t be painted. It’s all a matter of who you talk to.

At 35 years old, Tejada may not be as agile in the field, but offensively there’s no question he can still play at an elite level. It’s obvious why MacPhail would want a player who hit .313 last year with 46 doubles. But are the Orioles, a team that has vowed to move forward, now looking back by signing Tejada? 

I was there for some of those ego battles with other big-time players. Granted, they are all gone now but who’s to say the same jealous tiffs and bad blood won’t develop between Tejada and the emerging stars the Orioles are cultivating? Hopefully, that won’t be the case. Tejada is not coming in as the big-time free agent superstar he was in 2004.  

Remember the 2007 MASN interview with Gary Thorne in which Tejada requested a trade because he wasn’t happy? Is that the type of “leader” the Orioles want influencing their younger players?

Obviously, Tejada likes to win and no one can fault him for that. However, when the going gets tough and the O’s are in the midst of a rough patch, the last thing the young players need to see is a veteran ready to bail.    

Tejada’s deal is expected to be completed this week. Reports say he will get a one-year contract worth $6 million plus a bunch of incentives. The former Oakland A and Houston Astro played all 162 games a season through the first six years of his career, and the last two he played 158. He expects to play every day for the O’s and is as durable as they come. His ability to stay healthy is a big reason MacPhail went after Tejada instead of Joe Crede, who has had back problems.

What happens, though, when Josh Bell, the prospect expected to be the team’s third baseman of the future, starts catching fire in Triple-A Norfolk? What happens when the Orioles call him up to the big leagues midway through the season? Will Tejada be agreeable when he’s asked to share playing time? Or will he become the disgruntled “me” guy we’ve seen glimpses of in the past?

The request could come at a time when Tejada is closing in on the end of his one-year deal and knows he needs to play and put up numbers in order to get another contract for 2011 and beyond.

Perhaps MacPhail doesn’t expect Tejada to be here long enough to have a major impact, positive or negative, in the clubhouse. In a short stint with the Orioles, what he will bring offensively could outweigh the risk of off-field issues. Tejada could be great trade bait come July. He could be the mechanism that allows MacPhail to deepen his already large pool of young talent.  

Bottom line, the Orioles needed a third baseman. While they don’t know how well Tejada will make the transformation from shortstop to third, they do know he adds some needed pop and a right-handed bat to what could be a consistent lineup. Plus, he was the best option available left in a depleted free agent market. It will be interesting to see what kind of player Tejada is, and what approach he’ll take in the clubhouse now that he’s entering the later part of his career. 

Posted January 26, 2010