SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Miguel Tejada wants to make one thing clear: He is happy to have shortstop Orlando Cabrera as a new teammate, even if it means a lesser role for the 2002 AL MVP once he’s healthy.
Tejada said Monday that he spoke out of frustration a day earlier in Cincinnati over criticism of his defense — and that he meant no offense toward the World Series champions or Cabrera, who was acquired in a trading-deadline deal from Cleveland earlier Sunday.
The 37-year-old Tejada is eligible to come off the disabled list Thursday from a lower abdominal strain but manager Bruce Bochy has indicated Tejada won’t be ready. The shortstop hopes to be back later in the week. Cabrera will be the every day shortstop, while Tejada is likely to fill a utility role. He has started 37 games at both shortstop and third base this year.
