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Miguel Tejada slipped into a Baltimore Orioles jersey with his name and the No. 10 on the back, stuck a cap on his head and flashed a big smile.
The Orioles put their new shortstop on display Thursday, hopeful the look-what-we've-got news conference was merely the first of several such affairs at Camden Yards this winter.
Tejada, who won the 2002 AL MVP award with the Oakland Athletics, agreed to a $72 million, six-year contract on Sunday. The Orioles think the addition of Tejada will start a trend that will ultimately enable Baltimore to challenge the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in the AL East.
The thinking is, if Miguel Tejada wants to play for the Orioles, why not Vladimir Guerrero, Ivan Rodriguez or Javy Lopez?
``You want to have a leader, someone who's ready to take the first step and be the first guy,'' Orioles executive vice president Jim Beattie said. ``I think that's the confidence Miguel has in us. We've talked to him about what our plans are, and we intend to carry through on that to support him.''
The Orioles are in hot pursuit of Guerrero, a four-time All-Star who would provide much-needed punch in the middle of the lineup. It would also give Tejada another reason to flash his engaging smile.
``I know Vladimir Guerrero, and I would be very happy if he came over here,'' Tejada said. ``I know me and Vladimir together would make a big change. I would love to see that.''
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It doesn't hurt that Tejada's agent, Fernando Cuza, is also Guerrero's representative.
Cuza said negotiations are ongoing, but would not go into specifics.
``This is Miguel's day,'' Cuza said, ``but they're showing a commitment that they want to win.''
Indeed, Beattie made it clear that the Orioles' whirlwind offseason would not be limited to hiring manager Lee Mazzilli and bringing in Tejada, who hit .278 with 27 homers and 106 RBIs in 2003.
``We're keeping our eye on the target and trying to proceed in a manner that allows us to improve the club quite a bit,'' Beattie said. ``That may take time, but signing Miguel has given us the impetus to do more.''
The Orioles have made offers to Rodriguez and Lopez, and now are awaiting a decision from both. Beattie has also had discussions with Barry Praver, the agent for pitcher Sidney Ponson, who was traded from Baltimore to San Francisco last year before the July 31 trading deadline but is now a free agent.
``We're keeping our options open,'' Beattie said. ``Sidney had a fine year; and we'll see what presents itself. Right now, we've got a lot of things going on.''
Getting Tejada was certainly an excellent start. The money was surely incentive to sign -- he made $5 million last season -- but Tejada became convinced that Baltimore was a good fit after talking with good friends Tony Batista and Willis Roberts, both of whom played for the Orioles in 2003.
``They told me that I'd be coming to the best city in baseball,'' Tejada said.
Playing in the same stadium as former Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken was also enticing.
``I'm happy to walk into the clubhouse that Cal Ripken used,'' Tejada said. ``It will be exciting every single day to come to come to the ballpark, because I know people will be waiting for me to do something.''
At this point, Orioles fans are waiting for the team to do something about getting some talent on a club that hasn't had a winning season since 1997.
``We're talking,'' Beattie said, ``and we're going to continue to talk. We're going to give our best shot to get something done.''