Orioles Betting Odds May Improve With Tejada Addition

The expectations of Miguel Tejada the first time he played in Baltimore were great. The team was building towards a potential World Series birth. On Saturday, the Orioles announced that they are again bringing back Tejada, this time in more of a leadership role.

Tejada was signed by the Orioles for much less than he made last year playing for the Houston Astros. Last year, Tejada made $14 million and was the Astros starting shortstop. This year, Tejada will make $6 million and for the first time in his career, play a position other than shortstop.

The Orioles will use Tejada as their starting third baseman. The team already has Cesur Izturis penciled in at shortstop, and Tejada has accepted the move to third base. It is a move that the Orioles suggested last time Tejada was in a Baltimore uniform.

At the time, Tejada did not feel that he was ready to switch positions, but now he is a couple of years older. Tejada is still productive with the bat, but his range has diminished slightly. The move to third will be one that even the best Oriole of all time has made.

Cal Ripken Jr., baseball's all time leader in consecutive games played, moved from shortstop to third base late in his career. The transition for Ripken was a smooth one, with the Orioles star making the all-star team as a third baseman.

The Orioles are picked by many analysts to finish behind the Yankees, Red Sox, and Blue Jays in the American League East. The addition of Tejada, along with the acquisition of Garrett Atkins, have given Orioles fans something to get excited about for the upcoming season.

The team still has Adam Jones and Brian Roberts, but still may need to tweak their young rotation if they are going to compete with the Yankees and Red Sox.

January 23, 2010
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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