Rules for not alienating A’s fans when you leave for another team:
1. Don’t go to the Yankees.
2. Don’t go to another AL West team.
3. Don’t go to the Giants.
4. Don’t go to the Red Sox.

Tejada passes the test! He signed with the Orioles, which assures him of not getting the Jason Giambi treatment when he returns as an opposing player. I would be surprised if he didn’t get a standing ovation in his first at-bat in Oakland.

He got a six-year deal for around $10M per year. Getting the long-term contract he wanted in this market is pretty good. I’m happy for him. Good luck, Miguel, and thanks for all the good times.

Baltimore finished in the bottom half of the standings, so the A’s will get a supplemental round pick and a second-round pick from the Orioles, instead of the late first-round pick had Tejada signed with a winning team. With the picks from Boston for signing Foulke, the A’s will have two first round picks, two supplemental picks, and two second-round picks in the 2004 draft.

In other news, it looks like Arthur Rhodes may indeed be heading to Oakland, as the A’s are pursuing him to be their closer. It seems like a good fit. The Braves appear to be the primary competition. I hope it’s true that he’s coming; we’ve finished second in free agent races twice this week already.

But all my disappointment will vanish if this report is true: Hank Greenwald coming out of retirement to do 60-70 A’s games on TV. All I can say to that is: YIPPEE! With Greenwald on the air, watching the A’s will be pleasurable even if the team sucks. I love Hank Greenwald.