UPDATE: The Mets have released Tejada.
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Last week it was said the St. Louis Cardinals were interested in trading for New York Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada. However, the Mets were seemingly hesitant to move the 26-year-old considering starter Asdrubal Cabrera injured his knee and is expected to miss two weeks.
The club then made a somewhat questionable move on Tuesday and reportedly placed Tejada on waivers. Such a decision would free the Mets from paying him $2.5 million of his $3-million salary for 2016, assuming he clears waivers. Perhaps the potential salary reduction would make him a more appealing trade candidate, but it's clear Tejada's tenure with the Mets is nearing its end.
The shortstop was expected to join the Mets for today's spring training game against the St. Louis Cardinals, but it was reported that his bag was left behind when the bus left.
Tejada is most remembered for being the victim of Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley's vicious takeout slide in Game 2 of last year's NLDS. Since then, Major League Baseball has changed its sliding rule for breaking up double plays after Tejada fractured his leg when Utley took him out.
In the grand scheme of things, it comes as little surprise the Mets are attempting to part ways with Tejada. The Panama native owns a career .255/.330/.323 stat line with just 198 runs scored, 10 home runs, 148 RBI and 16 stolen bases in 580 games. He's known more for his defense, but he's accumulated a 0 dWAR up until this point in his six-year MLB career and the team's infield depth is good enough to leave behind Tejada's $3-million salary.
New York added Cabrera and second baseman Neil Walker this offseason and Wilmer Flores will also be an option in the middle infield assuming David Wright gets most of the reps at the hot corner (depending on his health). Youngsters Dilson Herrera and Matt Reynolds could also be ready for MLB action early on in the year.
Flores has been having a sensational spring training (.556/.609/.722 with three runs scored and two RBI), but Herrera and Reynolds have been struggling. Still, Herrera has MLB experience from the past two seasons and Reynolds is expected to build off of his first full season at Triple-A Last Vegas.
There are many factors as to why the Mets placed Tejada on waivers, but we'll have to wait and see what happens within the next few days.
