After a big afternoon for the Baltimore Orioles organization, where Buck Showalter was announced manager (to begin Tuesday, August 3). Now, news has broken from Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun that Orioles 3B Miguel Tejada (feels weird calling him a 3B) has been traded to the San Diego Padres for pitching prospect Wynn Pelzer and cash considerations.

Tejada’s side of it:

Britt Ghiroli on Twitter: “tejada on the phone and angry.”

A bit on the pitcher they got in return:

  • Taken in the 9th round of the 2007 1st Year Player’s Draft ($190K signing bonus)
  • Former closer at South Carolina
  • Tops out at mid-90s
  • In 22 appearances (18 starts) with AA San Antonio, he was 6-9 with a 4.20 ERA
  • 83:56 K:BB in 94.1 IP

This upset Tejada, and is a big move for the contending Padres.  The question for San Diego will be if they use him at third, shortstop, or possibly both.  For the Orioles, many people are questioning right now the return on Tejada, which is a mid-level pitcher who did come into the season as the Padres 7th ranked prospect (though they have 2 better pitching prospects, Castro and Luebke).

Tonight in KC, Wigginton is starting at 1st.  Josh Bell has already been called and is on his way to Kauffman Stadium.  This trade will most likely give Bell a big shot at some solid playing time in the majors