Toronto, Canada – BALTIMORE (Reuters) - Free agent Miguel Tejada has signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles, who will move the six-times All-Star shortstop to third base, the team said Tuesday.
Tejada, who played with the Orioles from 2004-07, was the American League's MVP in 2002 as a member of the Oakland A's. The Orioles traded Tejada to the Houston Astros after the 2007 season.
The Orioles never finished above .500 during Tejada's time in Baltimore but the 35-year-old native of the Dominican Republic said he was convinced that was going to change.
"I'm happy to go back to the Orioles," he told a news conference at Camden Yards. "I'm not going to put a lot of pressure on myself.
"The last time, I could not be a winner. But I think this is the time to be a winner."
Tejada, who has a career .289 batting average over his 13 major league seasons, said he was unconcerned about the move to third base.
"I've been playing baseball a long time," he said. "I know it's not going to be an easy thing to do. But I'll have a lot of time to work with the coaches."
The Orioles finished in last place in the American League East last season with a 64-98 record.
(Writing by Steve Ginsburg; Editing by Justin Palmer)
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