Wild Tejada- Manny Rumor

[GimmeShelter]

Never read this site before and this deal is a little too wild to ever happen IMO.

http://www.gothambaseball.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1945

The Baltimore Orioles aren't letting Miguel Tejada get away that easy.

As reported yesterday here at Gotham Baseball , sources have indicated that a four-team blockbuster has been discussed that would send Miguel Tejada to the Red Sox, Kris Benson and Julio Lugo to the Orioles, Aaron Heilman and prospects to the Devil Rays, and Manny Ramirez to the Mets.

However, this morning -- despite a public denial to the contrary -- the O's have let it be known to the other teams involved in the talks that Tejada is still "in play," however, "more must come their way for them to stay in the mix."

What seems to be lost in the entire discussion of this proposed deal is that Tejada isn't just frustrated by the O's inability to field a winning team, but with the way the Baltimore media handled the Rafael Palmeiro mess.

According to a Baltimore-based baseball official, Tejada "wants to go play with Big Papi [David Ortiz] in Boston.

"But he won't go cheaply, we promise you that."

He went on to say that the O's are now asking that Aubrey Huff be added to the deal, which in turn has increased the Mets and Devil Rays' burdens. It is believed that Lastings Milledge's name is now being discussed, as well as Danys Baez's and Cliff Floyd's.

And apparently -- which will probably doom this deal eventually in our opinion -- the deal no longer includes Kaz Matsui.

As far as GB can gather, the deal is looking like this:

Mets would send Lastings Milledge, Anderson Hernandez, Aaron Heilman and Xavier Nady to Tampa Bay for Lugo, Huff and Baez. New York would then send Lugo, Huff, Kris Benson and Cliff Floyd to Baltimore for Tejada, and then send Tejada to the Red Sox for Manny Ramirez.

From New York's end of things, they would be saving more money than the original deal, but would be parting with their top three prospects (as well as Floyd and Benson) for an aging, but potent superstar player in Ramirez and a closer in Baez who's said to be against setting up another closer in his contract year.

Yesterday, industry sources indicated that the O's might be the first team to bow out, but as we reported at last year's July 31 trading deadline and earlier this offseason, Mets GM Omar Minaya will not get bogged down in lengthy negotiations, and may instead wish to deal with Boston one to one.

The Mets are said to be mulling the pros and cons of this deal, so it looks like it's on hold for a few hours at least. One thing is clear: Minaya is determined to add what he feels is the final piece to a World Series contender, not an NL East contender.

Those pieces, according to everything we've heard, are Ramirez and Barry Zito, but it's looking like Minaya may have to settle for the slugger.

We'll keep you posted.

[Blackout]

tejada would be such a downgrade on offense

MAKE THE DEAL