WASHINGTON — All-Star shortstop Miguel Tejada has been charged with lying to Congress about an ex-teammate's use of steroids, the latest baseball player to get caught up in a web of cheating and juicing that has stained the sport.

Tejada is expected to plead guilty in court today. The charges against him were outlined in documents filed yesterday in federal court in Washington.

The teammate is not identified in court documents, but he is referred to as having played with Tejada on the Oakland Athletics. Tejada won the 2002 American League Most Valuable Player award while playing for the Athletics and is a five-time All-Star. He now plays for the Houston Astros.

The documents indicate that a plea agreement has been reached with Tejada.

Tejada faces as much as a year in jail if convicted on the misdemeanor charge of making misrepresentations to Congress. Under federal guidelines, he would probably receive a lighter sentence.

The charge came in a legal document called a "criminal information," which only can be filed with the defendant's consent and typically signals a plea deal. A hearing is scheduled for today in Washington, and Tejada and his lawyer plan to hold a news conference later in the day in Houston.

Messages left for his attorney, Mark Tuohey, were not immediately returned.

In the documents filed yesterday, Tejada is charged with lying to investigators for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in 2005. Congressional staffers did not place Tejada under oath when they questioned him, but they advised him "of the importance of providing truthful answers," according to the court papers.

During the interview, Tejada denied knowledge of an ex-teammate's use of performance-enhancing drugs.

ARBITRATION

RAYS' NAVARRO LOSES

All-Star catcher Dioner Navarro lost to the Tampa Bay Rays in salary arbitration yesterday and will receive the team's $2.1 million offer rather than his $2.5 million request.

Navarro was eligible for arbitration for the first time after hitting a team-high .295 with seven homers and 54 RBIs last year, when he was selected to his first All-Star game. He made $432,500.

Navarro became the second player to go to a hearing this year. Nationals pitcher Shawn Hill was awarded $775,000 on Saturday rather than the team's proposal of $500,000.

Fifteen players remain scheduled for hearings, which run through Feb. 20.

SHORT HOPS

Padres-Blue Jays: The San Diego Padres traded minor league pitcher Matt Bush, the No. 1 pick in the 2004 amateur draft, to the Toronto Blue Jays for a player to be named or cash. Toronto released right-hander Dirk Hayhurst to make room on the roster.

Orioles: Free agent Ty Wigginton finalized a $6 million, two-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles. The 31-year-old infielder batted .285 with 23 homers and 58 RBIs with the Houston Astros last season.

Rangers: Texas finalized minor league contracts with former 10-time Gold Glove winner and five-time all-star outfielder Andruw Jones, and 37-year-old reliever Brendan Donnelly, an All-Star with the Anaheim Angels in 2003.

Royals: Kansas City and right-hander Jamey Wright agreed to a minor league contract. The 13-year veteran was 8-7 with a 5.12 ERA in 75 relief appearances for Texas last season.