The Yankees made a minor league offer to free agent infielder Ruben Tejada, reports Brendan Kuty of New Jersey Advance Media. However, Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News reports (via Twitter) that the offer was rejected, as Tejada is believed to have a big league offer on the table elsewhere. Newsday’s David Lennon tweets that Tejada is actually considering multiple Major League offers.
The 26-year-old Tejada became a free agent earlier this week when the Mets placed him on waivers and released him after he cleared. He’s been speculatively linked to the Cardinals for the better part of two weeks now, ever since shortstop Jhonny Peralta was learned to have a torn thumb ligament that required surgery and will sideline him for at least the first two months of the season. It’s not clear at this time, though, whether the Cardinals have extended an offer, although ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin reported recently that the Cards had some interest in Tejada before he was even released.
Tejada batted .261/.338/.350 in 407 plate appearances for the Mets last season and is capable of playing second base and third base as well, if needed. He had originally avoided arbitration with the Mets by agreeing to a one-year, $3MM deal, but the Mets tendered him a contract prior to acquiring Neil Walker in a trade and signing Asdrubal Cabrera as a free agent. Arbitration contracts, by nature, aren’t fully guaranteed until Opening Day, so by cutting him with more than 15 days left in Spring Training, the Mets were only required to pay 30 days of his salary. That amounted to about $491K, and Tejada is now free to sign with any club for any amount.
He should easily be able to find a Major League job. There are many teams out there who could use him.
If he signs with another team, do the Mets still have to pay him?
The $491K he got from the Mets is paid, regardless, but the Mets are already off the hook for the rest of his salary.
I thought the Mets are on the hook for his pay minus league minimum that another team would have to pay him. Maybe I am wrong but that is how it goes with other major league deals in the past isnt it?
He was cut after an arbitration settlement. They aren’t guaranteed until Opening Day, so he got a pro-rata payment. Would have been different if he had been in say, the second year of a two year contract.
If he’d been on a fully guaranteed contract, that’s how it would work. The Marlins, for instance, save the league minimum — $507,500 — on Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s deal with the Tigers but still owe the remaining $7.5MM of his $8MM salary.
Arbitration contracts, though, aren’t guaranteed. A club only owed 30 days of termination pay (i.e. his pro-rated salary) if the player is cut with more than 15 days remaining in camp. If he’s cut with fewer than 15 days, it jumps to 45 days of termination pay. If the player makes the Opening Day roster, the salary becomes guaranteed.
The Mets cut Tejada just before that first deadline, meaning they ate $491K of his salary. He gets that money from the Mets, while the rest of the contract is wiped clean. He’s now free to sign a new deal with any club for any amount, and the Mets don’t owe him anything beyond that $491K.
He should have a major league contract…. He’ll end up in a team’s opening roster
Tejada will get a Major League contract. Only 26 and prolly comes cheap at 1.5 or 2million.
Cardinals are still the most obvious suitor. I’m not sure if anyone else has a need for him right now, but Tejada is young and cheap. He’ll get paid.
Theoretically speaking could the Mets turn around and re-sign him at a lower cost?
Cardinals Don’t Need Him!
Career Numbers……………….255/.330/.323 /.653
10 HR’s…..16 SB’s (CS 11 times)….328 K’s………..in 6 years (580 games played, 1931 AB’s)
DWAR of -1.5
It’s not like this guy can “write his own paycheck”…….and he’s not going to provide much besides “a warm body” at SS………No power, No speed, 187/328 BB/K ratio…..
Gyorko has much better pop, about the same K rate, DWAR is -0.3 (better, but still meh).
Diaz should get a shot at this…….He has the skills required to be a solid 15/15 player, and he’s already on the roster. Why add a mediocre player and $2 million when you already have candidates???