|
|
Question of the Day
On The Next Rob Long Show
David Steele - AOL Fanhouse - National Columnist
Jim Duquette - Former Oriole GM Todd Helmick - NationalChamps.net - College Football Jim Corbett - USA Today - NFL
Rob Long Show
Sponsors
|
Miguel Tejada traded to Padres
  The Orioles have traded third baseman Miguel Tejada to the San Diego Padres for minor league pitcher Wynn Pelzer, pending league approval according to the Baltimore Sun. Tejada signed with the Orioles in the offseason and batted .269 with 7 homeruns and 39 RBIs. Tejada first played with Baltimore from 2004-2007. Pelzer is 6-9 with a 4.20 ERA in 22 games (18 starts) for San Antonio, the Padres' Double-A affiliate. The 24-year-old is a ninth round pick in 2007, and was ranked as the seventh-best prospect in San Diego's system by Baseball America. Third base prospect Josh Bell is on his way back to the majors from Triple-A Norfolk after two previous stints earlier this season. My take: I was hoping for a position player, but I can't complain when a 36-year-old is traded for a 24-year-old who is a top 10 prospect in an organization. Pelzer was rated as having the best fastball and slider in the Padres organization and even though he has been a starter throughout his minor league career, it appears his future may be best suited for the bullpen. The knock on the Orioles bullpen over the last couple of seasons has been the lack of power arms and too many situational pitchers. However, that has started to change with former starters Jason Berken, David Hernandez, and Alfredo Simon being converted to relievers. This also opens the door for Josh Bell to become the everyday third baseman for the last two months of the season. Bell struggled early in the season, but in his last 10 games with the Norfolk Tides, he has batted .381 with 5 homeruns. Overall, Bell batted .278 with 13 homeruns, 50 RBIs, and 25 doubles. In 19 at-bats with the Orioles, Bell batted .263.
|