
The Astros traded for star shortstop Miguel Tejada last December only a day before baseball's Mitchell Report named Tejada as a past steroid user. Now the Astros are reportedly trying to trade Tejada. But interested teams should know there could be another surprise in Tejada's future.
Tejada is being investigated for possible perjury after telling the US Attorney's Office he had not used steroids or discussed them with teammates. According to the Mitchell Report, former teammate Adam Piatt provided checks signed by Tejada for what Piatt said was a steroid buy.
FBI Washington field office spokesperson Debra Weierman told SI's Melissa Segura the investigation is ongoing.
Nats may pursue Hudson, Dunn
If the Nationals don't get Mark Teixeira -- and nobody actually thinks they will -- baseball sources indicate they will try to sign Orlando Hudson and Adam Dunn instead.
There's also some speculation the Nats could try for Manny Ramirez, or as one competing baseball executive put, "They may bail out Manny.'' That executive was referring to the seemingly slow market for the the free-agent slugger.
"We need a left-handed power hitter. That's what we need,'' one Nationals person said, explaining the pursuit of Teixeira, from nearby Severna Park, Md., and possible pursuit of Dunn.
The Nas' interest in Dunn is no surprise since GM Jim Bowden is known to be a fan of Dunn's from their days together in Cincinnati. As is the case with Dunn, Hudson's market doesn't appear to be developing as hoped. Originally, he sought a $50-million, five-year contract.
Money still sticking point in Cameron-Cabrera deal
The on-again, off-again Mike Cameron-for-Melky Cabrera trade is said to be on the "back burner'' now as the Yankees and Brewers haven't been able to agree on how much of Kei Igawa's contract the Brewers will pay, or more specifically, how overpaid Cameron is.
The Brewers have agreed to take Igawa and offered to pay a small portion of the $12 million remaining on Igawa's contract. But apparently the Yankees believe it is too small a portion.
The Yankees' main contention is that Cameron is overpaid at $10 million, and the Brewers have to account for that somehow. The probable way would be to pay some of Igawa's ridiculously bloated salary.
Some believe the sides will eventually work something out. For now, Johnny Damon looks like the Yankees' centerfielder, with Cabrera and/or Brett Gardner as backup/defensive replacement.
Why list of non-tendered players is better than usual
The list of players nontendered by their current teams is much better than usual, and includes pitchers Tim Redding and Daniel Cabrera, infielder Ty Wigginton and outfielder Willy Taveras. The foundering economy has teams cutting corners.
Redding was very solid for the Nationals, who are trying to skimp and save while also making a run at big-time players such as Mark Teixeira. Redding, who went 10-11 with a 4.95 ERA, is drawing interest from the Rockies, Orioles, Mets and Rangers, among others.
The Rockies nearly acquired Redding for Taveras and a minor leaguer but the trade fell through just before the tender deadline, which came at midnight last Friday.
According to reports, Cabrera is drawing interest 11 teams in all, including the Yankees.

Cintia Dicker
Lucia Dvorska

Comments (10) Add A Comment
Adam Dunn is the kind of guy the Nats sign, not Teixeira -
-from talkingNYsports_dot_com
.talkingNYsports.com
New York , NY
Total Comments (112)
WHY would the Nats want Ramirez? He's poison in the clubhouse. Sounds like he or his agent are promoting him, just in case no one offers.
Coach44
Total Comments (28)
If Teixeria doesn't sign with the Nats, I would love to see them sign both Dunn and Hudson. I also feel that they could use Pudge Rodriquez to tutor their young catchers.
LDub23
Total Comments (4)
Nationals are a last place team and will not contend for another decade. Why would Teixeria want to play for a team that has limited resources and a limited at best fan base?
CaptainJeter
Bohemia , NY
Total Comments (7)
The Nationals brought in Stan Kasten with a view to building the team in the same manner as Atlanta, Arizona and Tampa ... be prepared to live through a few lean years while building the farm system, then go out and get a few quality veterans to lead the team. Tha Nats farm system has gone from last to top 10 in the past 3 years and, while their best young players are are high A and Double A, Teixeria is the best available position player to lead the way. They also understand that he is wants to be on the East Coast to be close to his ailing parents. Unfortunately, the Orioles are better able to play the family card.
I just hope that Teixeria ends up in Baltimore or Washington. I'm sick of seeing Boston, New York, LA and, to a lesser degree, Chicago, getting all of the top 5 free agents.
LDub23
Total Comments (4)
Dont the FBI have bigger fish to fry... like Plaxico?
Yankee27
Castaic , CA
Total Comments (1080)
Note to the Nats... ditch the idea of Teixeria and take that $20 per season to get Adam Dunn and Pat Burrell. Zimmeran, Dunn, Burrell batting 3,4,5 is not that bad in your division.
Yankee27
Castaic , CA
Total Comments (1080)
For how poor the Nationals were, Dunn and Burrell can only be improvements. But those signings would make the Nationals a complete feast or fathom team. With those 2, they would have led the NL in strikeouts and been 4th in HR's last season. That doesn't even account for the fact Dunn & Burrell may be the 2 slowest and possibly worst fielders in the league. Their wins would be entertaining, but would they be any better?
Reason in Philly?
Total Comments (88)
as a yankee fan i hope we get tex but because its doubtful i want him to be an oriole. not a redsox. also i think the yanks should sign manny to a 3 year 75 million doller contract.
J-DuBz
Total Comments (29)
Dunn is one of Bowden's boys.He will be there.I am surprised he let Dmitri Young and Felipe Lopez go.Is Wiley Mo still there?I am a big Adam Dunn fan and hope he does good where ever he goes.But I am a bigger Reds fan.And an even bigger Jim Bowden hater.Does he still wear his leather pants?Hahaha
flynnkj19
Dayton , KY
Total Comments (1)
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