Miami Marlins nearing minor league deal with Miguel Tejada

According to several reports, the Miami Marlins are close to signing infielder Miguel Tejada to a minor league deal. Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes was the first to report the news.

Per @Enrique_Rojas1, the #Marlins are nearing a deal with Miguel Tejada, who was AL MVP when I was 6.

— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) May 16, 2014

Before last year's off the field issues, Tejada was a member of the Royals and served as a utility infielder. After not being active in baseball in 2012, Tejada batted .288 and hit three home runs.  Tejada , 39, was suspended for 105 games last season for a pair of positive drug tests. The major league veteran also was connected to the Biogenesis scandal.

Tejada is a career .285/.336/.456 hitter in parts of 16 seasons with the A’s, Orioles, Astros, Royals, Giants and Padres. The six-time All-Star took home AL MVP honors in 2002 when he hit .308/.354/.508 with 34 home runs for the Athletics, but his legacy has been tainted by connections to performance enhancing drugs and the falsification of his age, in which he led Major League teams to believe he was two years younger than he actually is.

Miami may just be seeking minor league depth, since Ed Lucas and Jeff Baker are both infield utility options for the Marlins. Rafael Furcal began the year on the disabled list, but Derek Dietrich and Donovan Solano have had success in his absence.

Tejada has been in and around the league, and it doesn't hurt to add depth. Should an infielder go down, he may be a viable option if he proves he can play well and consistently.