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Orioles Release Jay Gibbons
The Orioles today released their second longest tenured player, Jay Gibbons. In doing so, the O's must eat the remaining $11.9MM in salary.
Gibbons batted .230-6-28 in only 84 games last season. His 62 OPS+ was only the second time in his career that he posted a number below 100. Injuries have hampered Gibbons who has only played 100 games once in the past four years. His best season came in 2005 when he hit .277-26-79 with an OPS+ of 118.
Gibbons is still facing a 15-game suspension for use of Performance Enhancing Drugs. The suspension was recently postponed as the league negotiates stiffer penalties with the players' union. It is widely believed that Gibbons will have his suspension lifted as part of the agreement.
Cork Gaines writes for Rays Index and can be reached here.
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I posted this in the other active thread mentioning Gibbons earlier this afternoon - would have mailed you guys, but I wasn't sure who was on duty (maybe a link at the top of the page - or a common e-mail address to contact *all* of the MLBTR people would help).
Glad to see that the Orioles bit the bullet and cut Gibbons. Anyone that doubted the O's commitment to rebuilding now has 11.9 million reasons to think otherwise.
Posted by: JR | March 30, 2008 at 02:50 PM
Yeah. Too bad they didn't do the same for Payton.
Posted by: XD23 | March 30, 2008 at 02:52 PM
Payton is still trade bait.
Good to see the O's making better decisions. MacPhail has been doing a great job so far.
Posted by: Orioles13 | March 30, 2008 at 03:05 PM
I'll have to admit I had some doubts as to Angelos committment, but this is a pretty big statement on his part. This move had to hurt because of the money thrown away...but it had to be done if they were going to continue rebuilding in earnest. Trading Roberts would still be Angelos biggest statement of all, but I wouldn't be surprised if he kept him. Roberts is his favorite...I guess he should get to keep that at least if he wants.
Posted by: crunchy1 | March 30, 2008 at 03:13 PM
I agree with Orioles13 - Payton is still valuable as trade bait. He's got some value as an 4th or 5th OF and his contract ($5M for 2008 only) makes him more palatable.
Jay was owed $11.9 million over this year and next and his best "position" is DH. He's a defensive liability in the OF and at 1B. Someone will pick him up once he clears waivers and can be signed for the minimum (letting the O's be responsible for the difference).
Posted by: JR | March 30, 2008 at 03:13 PM
From the article in the Sun:
MacPhail said that club owner Peter Angelos, who has always liked Gibbons since the organization plucked him from the Toronto Blue Jays organization in the 2005 Rule 5 Draft, was on board with the decision.
"I certainly talked to Peter about it as I do with all the big decisions we make," MacPhail said. "I gave him the ramifications and what my thinking was. I hadn't really reached any conclusions myself. I was wrestling with this one. I was really, to be honest with you, looking for some advice. His advice was, 'You got to do what you got to do.' Those were the last words that he left me with and I took the position of well, this is what we have to do."
Posted by: JR | March 30, 2008 at 03:14 PM
Do you think the Giants would be interested in Gibbons? Does he have any 1B experience?
Posted by: jeffkentsucks | March 30, 2008 at 03:40 PM
Hey jks,
The Orioles tried him at 1B and he was woeful (see my previous comment about being a defensive liability in the OF and at 1B).
His best position is DH - and his durability is a *big* concern. Three out of the last four seasons, he's failed to appear in 100 games or more and he's only had 174 games played in the last two years combined.
Posted by: JR | March 30, 2008 at 03:48 PM
Gibbons was a 1B in the minors. And played 1B on and off for the O's.
Payton really has no value either. He has no marketable skills other then being OK OF at all three spots.
Posted by: XD23 | March 30, 2008 at 03:50 PM
Very strange ...
Gibbons is absolutely awful but really what is the downside to carrying him?
If you are going to eat the contract why release him unless (1) you need the roster spot or (2) he is a clubhouse cancer.
Last check they were putting out a AAAA team. Surely there was a spot somewhere for him.
Also, if the guy plays OK you might be able to pawn him off to another team which would then eat some of the salary. Again, just don't see the urgency to drop the guy and eat his contract.
Posted by: bjsguess | March 30, 2008 at 03:55 PM
The downside to carrying him is that he has no "position" other than DH. The last slot on the O's 25-man roster came down to him or Scott Moore.
Moore's played several different positions for the Orioles in spring training - including getting some game experience in at 2B (and SS, I believe - I know 2B for sure). He provides a lot more versatility than Gibbons would.
Gibbons would be probably the 6th OF and the 3rd string DH/1B.
The money for Gibbons contract is a sunk cost. The Orioles had to pay that regardless of whether Jay played ball or not. Believe me, the Orioles were shopping him around but were finding no takers.
Posted by: JR | March 30, 2008 at 04:00 PM
The Orioles did need the roster spot. They'd've dropped Scott Moore to the minors if they'd've kept Gibbons. Moore is younger, better, more versatile, has upside, and actually can play in the field. Gibbons is a poor player, positionless, and injury-prone. Plus, he was, after Tejada, the very symbol of what has been wrong about the Orioles in recent years.
Posted by: Playwright | March 30, 2008 at 04:01 PM
I think if you're rebuilding you don't want to take up roster spots with guys who aren't part of your future. You want to shed those players to give players like Moore a chance...and later you'll want to have a spot opened up for Costanzo or Reimold. The more of these guys they can get rid of, the better. The Orioles have some young guys who are close to major league ready. Sooner or later, they're going to have to play.
Posted by: crunchy1 | March 30, 2008 at 04:05 PM
MacPhail is doing a great job. Be patient O's fans.
Posted by: Kevin W. | March 30, 2008 at 04:58 PM
Good job Baltimore!
Posted by: OUTL@W]EC[ | March 30, 2008 at 07:19 PM
Letting Gibbons go is one hell of a statement.Now if players such as Payton,Huff,Mora,Millar,Bradford,Walker,Hernadez will be moved all in time.2008 will be an interresting year with more trades to come.I don't mind if Baltimore keeps Roberts and should unless blown away by an offer.
Posted by: OUTL@W]EC[ | March 30, 2008 at 07:37 PM
I agree Outlaw, I don't think the Orioles are actively shopping Roberts. It's teams like the Cubs that are approaching the Orioles. So I have a feeling McPhail will listen, but unless they get blown away they'll hang on to him for a while.
And they do have to get rid of that baggage. Sooner or later they have to clear room and see if the young guys they acquired can play.
Posted by: crunchy1 | March 30, 2008 at 07:57 PM
Yep. Had to be done. Bad money spent on him.
I wish I could fire myself for 11.9 mil.
Posted by: studio179 | March 30, 2008 at 08:10 PM
So happy.
Just being able to look at the O's roster and NOT see Gibbons' name is...bliss. I've heard quite of few Cubs fans gripe about McPhail's tenure with Chicago, but...damn, you gotta give the guy credit for what he's done so far.
Five years from now it could be a different story, but right now, I'm thrilled with what dude is doing. Forget the Tejada deal, forget the Bedard deal...dropping Gibbons is my favorite move so far. God, he sucked.
This is going to be a long year, but for the first time, I actually believe that we're really serious about rebuilding. Finally, I see the light at the end of the tunnel! Never thought I'd be so excited about a team likely to lose 100 games! (LOL)
Posted by: milehigh78 | March 30, 2008 at 09:53 PM
...and screw the money. The symbolic weight, alone, makes this move worth every penny. It speaks volumes about the philosophical change taking place throughout the organization and the direction- and commitment thereto- that this current administration is taking the franchise.
At this point I would say it's a matter of staying the course: keep the pro scouting department on the more and stay on the phones... Look for any opportunity to favorably exchange vets for kids. Roberts, Hernandez, Walker, Bradford, Mora, Millar, Huff, (here I would've added the impossible task of trading Gibbons, but I don't have to do so anymore!!!), Payton... I'd even keep my eyes peeled for the right opportunity to trade Sherrill...Scott...even Guthrie. All three are 28-30, making them a little old to fit long-term rebuilding plans. If the right deal came along, I think McPhail could really exploit the market.
Man, this is fun! It's like getting released from jail. Sure, you're broke, unemployed, and staring at a hell of an adjustment, but...f*@# it! We're FREE!
Posted by: milehigh78 | March 30, 2008 at 10:25 PM
McPhail is the right man for this job. He has absolutely no pressure to win for the next few years. The fans love him. He gets praise heaped on him for making symbolic moves. He has a built in scapegoat if anything goes wrong. Perfect! Who am I to argue with that. GOOD LUCK O's!!
Posted by: INOK | March 30, 2008 at 11:20 PM
What's Guthrie's status of yrs he's locked up until he's a free agent? I think Cabrera will go before Guthrie but Cabrera must have a break threw yr to have any value(Around a below 4 era and the freakin walks must improve).Tex might be out of the O's price range and I'm sure the Yank's will throw alot of money his way too.What's the solution at 1b in the future? Moore and Millar or will Snyder be in the plans AT 1B?
Posted by: OUTL@W]EC[ | March 31, 2008 at 10:30 AM