The Houston Astros granted permission on Saturday to new shortstop Miguel Tejada to play winter ball in the Dominican Republic. "I believe that the most important thing here is that a player of Miguel Tejada's caliber wants to play so this is the right decision to make," said Astros' General Manager Ed Wade. Wade also said Tejada's agent Fernando Cuza left him a phone message telling him that Tejada was interested in playing in the Dominican Republic; something he has been doing for 12 years now. Once the request was received, Wade sent the Astros' approval to the Mayor League Baseball commissioner's office. Wade also sent the approval to the Dominican League and the team where Tejada plays, the Cibae?as Eagles.