Ruben Tejada ….where’ve we heard that name before? Oh yeah, he’s the guy who had the pleasure of meeting Chase Utley in the playoffs a couple of years ago. And he’s also the same guy who the New York Yankees just signed to a minor league contract. Stranger things have NOT happened.
Given the roll that Brian Cashman has been on lately, it probably wouldn’t be wise to bet against him at this point on anything he chooses to do. But still, the New York Yankees signing of TRuben ejada has to cause some head scratching among Yankees fans, and maybe even some of the players.
Almost a year ago now, the Mets baffled the baseball world when they suddenly and clumsily released Tejada. Subsequently, he was grabbed by the Cardinals only a day later, giving everyone pause to say, “There go the bumbling Mets again “.
Another Baseball Odyssey
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From there, the story should have had a happy ending, except it didn’t because things got worse for Ruben Tejada very quickly. In a matter of months, Tejada would go from being the starting shortstop for the Mets, to released by the Mets, to released by the Cardinals, to signed by the Giants, to playing in their minor league system with the Sacramento River Cats, to opting for free agency, to signed by the Yankees. Whew!
Ironically, it was Ruben Tejada who told the New York Post last March “I understand this is a business. I try to stay focused no matter what happens. Now it happened to me. It happens to everybody. You never know and now I have another opportunity here with another team.”
Now of course, that other team turns out to be the Yankees. Exactly what the Yankees plan on doing with him though is another question. Baseball Reference , and most other sources classify him as a shortstop, as opposed to a infielder. And obviously, the Yankees already have a shortstop and another one on the way with Gleyber Torres .
Tejada has played more than a hundred games at second though, and a handful at third. He’s not much with the bat, but he’s steady and always seemed to collect his one hit a game when he was with the Mets.
The New York Yankees Have Options
Ruben Tejada will get a invite to Spring Training by the Yankees and he’ll have a chance to resurrect a rapidly deteriorating career as a utility infielder for them.
Or, it could turn out that Brian “Always Has A Plan B” Cashman sees the Yankees showcasing Tejada for other teams to see, and then trading him later to fill a hole that his team really has.
Next: Juan Lagares injured in Winter League game
Options……it’s all about options. And the more you have as a team at this level, the better off you are. The New York Yankees just increased theirs and Ruben Tejada gets another chance. How sweet is that?