Marlins rumors: Miguel Tejada, Placido Polanco, Brandon Inge

The Miami Marlins have been exploring a number of options to acquire a third baseman for the 2013 season -- including "kicking the tires" on Placido Polanco and Brandon Inge -- but are so "unhappy" with the market that they have even checked out veteran Miguel Tejada in Dominican winter ball, reports Jayson Stark of ESPN.

The Marlins have been on the market for a third baseman since sending Yunel Escobar to the Tampa Bay Rays last month. The club stated they planned to re-invest Escobar's $5 million salary into finding a new player to man the hot corner, but have watched as the market for a third baseman has dwindled to almost nothing. Kevin Youkilis, Jeff Keppinger, Jack Hannahan, Eric Chavez and Mark Reynolds have all signed on with new teams, leaving the Marlins to desperate measures like scouting Tejada.

Tejada, 38, has not played full-time in the big leagues since 2010 and has not seen any major-league time at all since 2011. The veteran began the 2012 season in the Baltimore Orioles organization but was released from the Triple-A squad in June after hitting just .259/.325/.296 with no home runs in 36 games. The 2002 AL MVP is a career .285/.336/.457 hitter in 15 seasons, but he has failed to post offensive numbers anywhere near his norms since 2009.