Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Mike Flanagan said Thursday the team is not “shopping” shortstop Miguel Tejada as the Major League Trade deadline looms later this month, as he echoed recent statements by team owner Peter Angelos.
“That’s the goal. We’re not shopping him. I think you’re not doing your job if you don’t listen to potential deals for all players. I don’t think the general public probably has an idea of how frequently we talk about everybody in the game, everbody’s star player,” Flanagan said. “Again, it just shows you their value. It’s a constant weighing of players’ worth to see what the market will give you.”
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Flanagan said his cell phone rang three times during a 15-minute interview at the team’s offices inside the warehouse at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Those calls were possibly from teams guaging interest in the organization’s players.
“They’re all serious,” Flanagan said of how he reacts to phone calls from other teams. “It’s the ebb and flow of the business. If somebody gets hurt today, then all of the sudden there is an instant need for a player.”
Flanagan believes the team, possibly on its way to a ninth straight losing season, has more talent in the organization than in previous seasons.
Flanagan said the team had gotten numerous phone calls about pitcher Daniel Cabrera. Flanagan did not sound like he was ready to part ways with the wildly inconsistent hard-thrower.
“With Daniel Cabrera, again, if you wanted to listen to how many phone calls you get ‘Whenever you want to get rid of this guy, we’ll take him,’ kind of conversations you do have,” Flanagan said. “We’re in no hurry with Daniel. The battle really isn’t with the hitters in the Major Leagues, and there’s not too many pitchers that can say that.”
