Orioles Notes: Crisp, Burnett

I really question whether anybody within that organization has a specific direction in which they're heading. I'm painting with broad strokes here, but really, are they competing, rebuilding, keeping the status quo? every off season

it's the same every off season, sign a couple of middling players, stand pat, and hope for another fourth third place finish.

How doesn't AJ Burnett make sense for the Orioles?

Bedard and Burnett would make a excellent 1-2 lefty right punch for the O's, while Jeremy Guthrie can provide at least average production and Adam Loewen can show his star potential.

Maybe, just maybe, Daniel Cabrera can prove his value and show some consistency.

Throw (shudder) Steve Trachsel back into the picture and you've got a pretty formidable 5 man rotation with Trachsel as a backup

agreed...Trachsel is so over the hill he can't even look back and see the top of it

Burnett or his wife is from Baltimore, as they sort of wanted him. They could use the pitching. Maybe Miguel Tejada for Burnett, could that work?

i dont think the Jays would have to throw in anything. if the Orioles want Burnett and would give Tejada then thats it, no throw ins. Tejada can put up some good numbers, but hes been on the decline and hes not that good denfensively ..plus he could have to move from SS and the Jays allready have Glaus at 3B for 08 with an 09 player option and Thomas at DH for 08 with an 09 player option.

If I'm the yanks, I give them Farnsworth for any prospect. I don't care if the guys is 45 years old. That is a horrendous contract.

I know this might sound crazy but hear me out.

what about a lugo + crisp + cash to baltimore for tejada.

it solves the outfield problem for the orioles as well as gives them a shortstop. i think crisp could thrive in the non pressure environment of balitmore. lugo could possibly too. it would also bring a ton of speed to their lineup. if lugo lead off and roberts was right behind him, it could make them dangerous. maybe sign bonds to dh and you might have something there.

thoughts?

ps. this was my first ever post. be kind haha

I mentioned Farnsworth because the Orioles are interested in him and his track record shows a couple of great seasons. I'm aware that reliever lives are quite short, but look at what the Orioles did last season with their bullpen (spending a ton of money on middle relievers) and tell me that they're aware of it. If they're interested in him -- and that's been reported from multiple sources -- then he's got value in a trade for Tejada. As for Horne, he's not a bad prospect -- the Rangers wanted him for Gagne.

Is this a great package? No, of course not. I'd be happy to include Gardner (and hope the Orioles overrate speed), but I suspect that's not going to placate you. That's the thing, though: it's not about making an objectively fair offer, it's about making an objectively unfair offer that the other team will take. I look at the Orioles and see a team that overvalues middle relievers, doesn't project starting pitchers well, and thinks fourth outfielders can start (see: Jay Gibbons). So I'd offer Horne, Gardner, and Farnsworth and see what happens.

It would be nice to see the Orioles move Tejada's salary so they can adjust for the coming season and make a run at next year's free agent market. It's sad, though. Why should a team with their resources face a small market type rebuilding effort?