Tom Verducci of SI.com posted a pretty fantastic commentary on the current state of shortstops in baseball.

What it really boils down to is that the day of the heavy hitting shortstop is over.  It's rare that a shortstop will both hit and field at a high level.

Why does this relate to the Orioles?  Well, the comments by Andy MacPhail and Dave Trembley to look for an offensively minded shortstop are unrealistic.  They don't exist in any high numbers.  In fact, if you're looking at the position purely by OPS, you'll find that the NL East is a total anomaly.  Hanley Ramirez, Jose Reyes and Jimmy Rollins are the exception to the rule that shortstops, given that great defense is so necessary at their position, don't need to have an OPS over 100.  Hell, somewhere in the 80s would be fantastic.

They need to change their tune.  Finding a slick fielding SS with a BA around .270 would be perfect for this team, given the lineup of the future.

Sidebar:
The article also alludes to the necessary shift, for most shortstops (Omar Vizquel is the largest outlier in the game), to a different position as they age.  Is it realistic to say this?  I think so.  The problem seems to be ego.  Players like Tejada, clinging to past glory at shortstop, need to let go and move to a position better reflecting their abilities with the bat instead of inabilities with a glove.