As Adam Rubin of ESPN New York reported on Friday, with the loss of their shortstop Jhonny Peralta for two months or longer, the St. Louis Cardinals have certain interest in acquiring infielder Ruben Tejada from the Mets.
The New York Mets have made no secret that they have been shopping Tejada this spring and there was even two reports that said he could even be released before Opening Day so that they would only have to pay him a small percentage of the $3 million dollars he’s owed in his final season before becoming a free agent.
However, a knee injury that could shelve Asdrubal Cabrera for as long as four weeks has dampened and notions to move Tejada who has stepped back into the starting lineup in Cabrera’s absence.
On Sunday, Tejada had a banner day going 2-for-3 in the Mets’ 11-0 rout over the Miami Marlins. Tejada stroked a two-run double in the second, and an RBI triple in the fourth to give him three RBIs and a run scored for the day. He has a .927 OPS this Spring.
If the Mets were to deal Tejada, it would likely open the door for Matt Reynolds or even Dilson Herrera, and they’d still have 2012 first rounder Gavin Cecchini in Las Vegas who is nearing an MLB debut.
Asked about the possibility of being traded, the 26-year old Tejada told Adam Rubin, “I can’t make the decision here. My mentality here is only to stay focused and do my job. They know what they have to do.”
Tejada has spent his entire career with the Mets, appearing in 580 games over six seasons and batted a respectful .261 last season with a .338 on-base, 23 doubles, three homers and 36 runs scored in 116 games.
Once Tejada started getting regular playing time after the All Star break, he was one of the players that surged during the Mets’ postseason run, batting .287 with a .362 OBP. He says he wants to show the Mets he has a role on this team.
“I’m working on staying in the middle of the field,” said Tejada. “I have, like, 15 at-bats right now. I feel really good right now. I have to keep working the same way and keep it going.”
I don’t know about you guys, but I have this inkling in the back of my mind that we should hang onto the under-appreciated Tejada and that we’d end up regretting it if we traded him. I say we leave well enough alone.
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