Ruben Tejada's tenure with the New York Mets appears to be nearing an end after he was placed on waivers, reports ESPN’s Adam Rubin.
Tejada was due to make $3 million this season, his final year before free agency. If no team claims the infielder, the Mets could cut him more than 15 days before Opening Day and would then have to pay only one-sixth of his salary, or $500,000.
The Mets have received calls on Tejada since he went on waivers Monday, but several teams have balked at the $3 million salary, according to Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News. The Mets are believed to be interested in adding a backup catcher or a righty bat off the bench.
The St. Louis Cardinals have been mentioned as a possible suitor for Tejada after Jhonny Peralta went down with a thumb injury that will sideline him for the first few months of the season. Jon Heyman of MLB Network, however, tweets the Cardinals' interest is “limited at best,” and would consider Tejada “on the cheap.”