Scott Miller of CBSSports.com says the San Diego Padres have focused their attention to acquiring a middle infielder before the July 31 Trade Deadline, and their chief target is Baltimore Orioles’ infielder Miguel Tejada. There will be competition from other parties. The Orioles have been fielding calls from the Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals regarding Tejada and Miller says the Padres may not have enough goods to complete the deal.

The Padres are in need of infield depth since second baseman David Eckstein went onto the disabled list with a right calf strain on July 21. Eckstein may not be ready when he’s eligible to come off the DL in the first week of August.

“Jed’s trying like heck,” one source said of general manager Jed Hoyer’s efforts during his first July trade deadline.

Tejada, 36, is hitting .269 with 7 home runs and 39 RBIs in 97 games for the Orioles this season. He’s primarily been playing third base, but the Padres think he can return to his shortstop roots. Tejada is owed about $2 million for the rest of the 2010 season, and he will likely cost the Padres a mid-level prospect.