Miguel Tejada has reached a royal deal to return to the baseball field…
The 38-year-old Dominican-born former American League MVP has reached a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals and says he’s ready to return to the majors.
Tejada has agreed to a one-year contract that will be worth $1.1 million if he makes the big leagues. It includes an additional $400,000 in performance bonuses.
The six-time All-Star infielder last played in the majors in 2011 with the San Francisco Giants, hitting .239 with four home runs and 26 RBIs in 91 games.
“I’m very pleased with this. The contract with the Royals is a done deal,” Tejada told The Associated Press. “I’m going to try to help this team and their younger players. I’m so happy because this is what I was aiming for, a chance to get back to the majors.”
Tejada played 36 games in Triple-A for the Baltimore Orioles franchise last season, batting .259 with no homers and 18 RBIs. He was released from his minor league deal on June 25 at his own request when he didn’t see an opportunity to play for the Orioles in the near future.
Tejada has been playing for the Aguilas Cibaenas in the Dominican Republic Winter League, saying he lost 15 pounds during the summer.
“I believe I can be valuable for Kansas City in different facets. They haven’t told me what specific role they have in mind for me, but what is important is that I’m healthy and I know that I can help,” he said.
Tejada spent 15 seasons in the majors and was the 2002 AL MVP with Oakland. He is a career .285 hitter with 304 homers and 1,282 RBIs with the A’s, Orioles, Houston Astros, San Diego Padres and the Giants.