Jeff Zrebiec’s article for the Baltimore Sun this morning discusses the possibility that the Orioles start selling off veteran parts as we approach the trading deadline. He specifically names Scott Williamson, Corey Patterson, Jay Gibbons, and Steve Trachsel as trade candidates.
In a related note, Gotham Baseball’s Mark Healey spoke to an industry source indicating that the Mets might be interested in trading for Williamson and Jay Payton.
Williamson makes $900K this year, with additional incentives based on his number of games. Patterson, a Scott Boras client, makes $4.3MM and is a free agent after the season. His terrible hitting this year will cost him what could’ve been a decent payday. The Gibbons contract is ugly: $5MM this year, $5.7MM in ’08, and $6.2MM in ’09. Trachsel earns $3.1MM this year plus a $4.75MM club option for ’08. Finally, Payton makes $4.5MM this year and $5MM in ’08.
The Orioles could really go nuts if they wanted to, dumping off contracts and veterans. Miguel Tejada, Melvin Mora, Kevin Millar, Ramon Hernandez, Danys Baez, Aubrey Huff, Chad Bradford, and Jamie Walker could be sent packing. If they were to commit to a rebuilding year in ’08, the Orioles have players to fill almost any team’s needs. Of course, trading all those vets would amount to admitting how many mistake contracts the Orioles have on the books.
