Missed this on my internet struggles over the weekend, but Miguel Tejada is willing to move in order to stay in Houston beyond 2009.
Tejada said, even though he hasn't been asked, that he would be willing to move to third base (which I'm sure makes Blum/Keppinger/Chris Johnson real happy).
"They've never asked me. One thing that I always say is that I want to stay on this team. I don't want to go anywhere else. If the Astros let me [go], I definitely have to go. There's nothing I can do. For me, the change of position is not that big of a deal. I've been playing for a long, long time at shortstop, and if the Astros decide to move me [to third base] I'll be honored to do it. I know there's going to be somebody that's a younger shortstop, and probably the team can be better if I move to third base. I always say, the door is open for anything. I'm a free agent this year, and I can play third base and I can play short. I just want to win, and if somebody thinks they can win with me at third base, I'm very honored to move to third and work hard.
If they want me to stay here, I'll definitely stay here. We have to work out something. Like I've always said, I think all the support the team has given to me in the offseason and all the response I got from the fans and the players and the organization means a lot to me. And I want to give a championship to the Astros. That's why I want to stay here and win here. When I see the team win the trophy, I want to be part of it."
McTaggart is quick to point out the Astros already have third-basemen in Blum, Keppinger, and the impending return of Aaron Boone at the Major-League level, and Chris Johnson at Triple-A.
McTaggart:
Houston will be looking to upgrade at third base in the offseason, and re-signing Tejada as a third baseman could open the door for defensive wizard Tommy Manzella, currently at Triple-A Round Rock, to get his turn at shortstop.
Third base is one of the positions Wade will be evaluating in the off-season, and I have absolutely no idea what will happen.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
