We heard a few Orioles-related tidbits earlier today, and now MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli provides another handful. Ghiroli discussed the Orioles' offseason with president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, and MacPhail shared some thoughts on how the O's intend to approach free agency and trades this winter.
- The team's primary goal will be obtaining a middle-of-the-order hitter, with no specific position in mind. MacPhail suggests that adding an impact bat would benefit the rest of the lineup, by taking some pressure off the Orioles' current hitters.
- MacPhail sounds skeptical about acquiring pitching through free agency or trades, calling that approach "fragile and expensive" compared to developing young arms. However, he acknowledged that the club could once again look into acquiring a Kevin Millwood-esque veteran: "You want to have an innings eater because you never know what to expect from the youngsters. So someone like that would certainly be attractive to us."
- When approaching the free agent market for hitters, the Orioles would rather not take a flier on a Garrett Atkins type again. They are hoping to add players who are less risky than Atkins was, though MacPhail concedes that sometimes the way the market develops makes it necessary to take a gamble.
- Ghiroli speculates that, while the O's may not be able to attract the very best free agents like Cliff Lee and Carl Crawford, they will likely look hard at the group of players in the tier or two below: Victor Martinez, Paul Konerko, Derrek Lee, Jon Garland, and Brandon Webb, to name a few.
- Ghiroli predicts that the Orioles will stay in contact with most of their impending free agents, especially Ty Wigginton, Cesar Izturis, and Koji Uehara.
- The O's also made a minor roster move today, adding reliever Jim Hoey to their 40-man roster, reports Ghiroli.
“You want to have an innings eater because you never know what to expect from the youngsters. So someone like that would certainly be attractive to us.”
Somebody get these guys Brian Tallett, stat.
I say Sign Aaron Harang, sign Derrek Lee 2/15 and trade Egan and Albers and Adams for Mark Reynolds.
Harang and Lee do makes sense for the O’s. I don’t know much about their prospects but adding Lee and Reynolds could do a lot for their offense if McPhail is right about taking pressure off their other hitters. Both K a lot though, not sure how that will play out for them. Harang, if he ever gets himself right, could turn into a comeback player of the year candidate in the right situation (which probably wouldn’t be Baltimore).
Garland and Derrek Lee seem more plausible to than anything else. Garland more than Webb, who’s still an unknown quantity after the arm woes he’s suffered.Both proven players than can add veteran presence to an young and talented team.
I understand how acquiring pitchers via free agency can be “fragile and expensive”, but lumping trades in there seems like a typical MacPhail cop out, in line with complaining about the Yankees and the Red Sox and claiming that it’s impossible to get good players to come to Baltimore.
Anyways, I guess O’s fans can forget about the possibility of acquiring a Zack Greinke or a Fausto Carmona this winter.
Carmona I agree with, but is Greinke really feasible for the O’s? Their best prospects (with the exception of Britton) are 3 years away, and While Britton is good he is below Kyle Drabek in my opinion. So they will have to make up for it with their young M.L. talent. I don’t know if moving Jones, Tillman (ironic considering the Bedard trade) Britton and 2 other prospects is worth it for Grienke (or even if that would be enough).
Saying he wants a Kevin Millwood-esque vet… does he remember Millwood was one of the worst pitchers in the AL last year?
The Orioles need to quit being afraid of taking risks and being so timid in free agency. Be aggressive and make a 4/68 offer to Beltre to start, and then go trade for Prince Fielder to show that you are serious about winning. They know what they need so they just need to go get it. Enough with the excuses.
Getting middle of the order bats is not hard if you actually try to do it instead of signing the Derrek Lees and Carlos Penas and hoping they overachieve.
Go after the premium talent instead of whining that you can’t get it.
“Veteran starter,” (Oriole Translation: “old pitcher that nobody else wanted”).
The Os have a nice little stock of promising young starters (most of which have some credible MLB experience under their belt now.) A similar situation to the Toronto Blue Jays, am I right?
So why do the Os continue to waste a rotation spot every year on some mediocre no-potential vet who usually ends up being close, if not, the worst pitcher on the staff?
Keep in mind that the O’s have a relatively young set of starters that are still learning how pitch in the majors as opposed to just making pitches. They are not going to go deep into many games if they’re not ahead by a lot. The Bullpen is going to be a big factor as with most clubs in the AL east. What Baltimore seems to want to do is get an innings eater to give the bullpen some help and a little rest once a week.They would like to have someone with enough experience to demonstrate to the youngsters how to get out of trouble from out on the mound, not just telling him how to do so. That was the reasoning behind Millwood’s tenure, besides the cheap salary, problem with Millwood is that he was just awful. Showalter likes good players that think, one of his pluses is that he teaches as he wins. That’s seems to be the method behind his maddness.
If history is any indication Jeremy Guthrie will fill that role better than any “veteran” the Os could realistically acquire given their offseason ineptitude. Also strange that the Marlins, Jays, Rays, As (competitive teams with young rotations) aren’t on some endless quest to fill one of their starting rotation spots with recycled garbage.Os “inning eaters” of the past: Traschel, D’Cab (for like 4 years), Millwood, Eaton, Russ Ortiz, Rich Hill. I’m sure I’m missing some, but those six are vomit inducing enough. These moves don’t promote winning they promote procrastinating.
Derrek Lee will be the most likely guy that they will try to bring in. 2yr deal with an option. He is no longer a big power guy but still hits well enough to give the middle of the order a jolt and he plays a gold glove caliber 1B.
Harang is an interesting guy but i think he would get shelled going up again Boston, NY and TB all the time. Going outside the box a little. What about a deal for Grienke? They have the prospects and could go with a package of Arietta, Hoes, Bergesen, and one more prospect. Idk if Baltimore is on his NTC list but if it isnt it could be a great fit. Then trade for Mark Reynolds would probably take Ryan Adams and one or 2 other mid level prospects.
Rotation of Grienke, Matusz, Guthrie, Tillman, Vet. 5th starter.
C Wieters
1B Lee
2B Roberts
SS ???
3B Reynolds
OF Markakis Jones Reimold/Pie/Scott
Thoughts?
Didn’t Grienke want out of KC because he wanted to pitch for a winning ballclub?
KC farmsystem > BAL farmsystem
AL Central < AL East
The first thing (of many) I’d like to see the O’s do this offseason is make a trade for TB’s Jason Bartlett before they non-tender him. He can probably be had for a Beato-type prospect.
The second thing (of many) I’d like to see the O’s do this offseason is make a trade for KC’s Zach Greinke. I’d propose sending them Tillman, Pie (don’t laugh, KC wanted him in July), Albers, and Waring for Greinke and either Gordon or Ka’aihue. I have no illusions about trying to get Butler, he’s their best offensive player and no matter how stupid I or many others may think they are, I can’t see KC trading their best starter and their best position player in the same trade.
The third and fourth things (of many) I’d like to see the O’s do this offseason is to very heavily pursue Carl Crawford and either Adam Dunn or Adrian Beltre, depending on whether we got Gordon or Ka’ahuie in the Greinke deal. My plan B at first base is Paul Konerko, and my plan B at third base is Jorge Cantu.
The fifth thing (of many) I’d like to see the O’s do this offseason is to resign Koji to a two-year plus an option contract to be the team’s closer.
I do not think that is enough for Grienke. Tillman and Pie’s stock has fallen, and albers and waring are basically throw-ins. You would need to add a significant prospect , but I like your idea so far.
You could maybe get Gordon for a Pie, but no way he is the 2nd piece in a Greinke deal (not even counting Gordon or Ka’aihue) Greinke is worth more on the trade market than Roy Halladay, Oswalt, Cliff Lee (any of the three times he has been dealt), Peavey etc. Given his age, contract and performance. The man is amazing, but it will take two top 50 prospects to get him (just to start) or the young major league equivalent. Guys like Albers and Waring have about zero value for the Royals. Britton would have to be involved, as would a couple of other top prospects.
Fair enough, but I doubt that the Orioles would trade Britton for Greinke even up. I do not agree with your assessment that Greinke is worth more on the trade market, because everyone knows that the Royals WILL trade him at some point, while among the others you mentioned only Halladay was expected to be traded and he’s significantly better than Greinke.
Yea i doubt they would give up Britton. That’s why I doubt the Orioles get any significant pitcher on the market. They will not let any of these Young pitchers go.
yeah but everyone knew the Mariners had to trade Lee, or the Jays had to trade Halladay, and those guys were impending free agents, so only true contenders were going to bid. For Greinke is contract is pretty affordable, so just about every team would be in the market for him. Some like the Cards or Giants would prob. pursue bats instead, and maybe the Pirates or D-Backs aren’t going to give up their young prospects just yet since they are years away, but my point is anyone could feasibly get him.
If the Yankees miss out on Cliff Lee they are going to start their package with Montero (not a great fit for K.C. since they have a ton of 1B/DH types), but he is probably one of the top 3 hitters in the minors right now so they will listen. And if they start tacking on a couple more solid prospects that blows out any deal the O’s could put together (assuming Weiters, Matusz, etc. aren’t involved). The Phillies gave up their 2nd, 3rd and 4th best prospects all top 100 guys for one year of Halladay (plus 6 million dollars). Yes they knew they were likely to discuss an extension, but it isn’t as if they got any sort of discount on Halladay’s services going forward. I mean they are paying him $20 million a year, not exactly chump change. Britton, Avery and Hoes don’t match up to what the Phillies gave up (in fact it is not even close).
Greinke at $13.5 a year is a steal, he is easily worth $7-8 million more a year even on his 2010 numbers. And given his age he is still in the prime of his career. He is worth more than what we got for Bedard easily and right now I don’t think the O’s can afford that.
I don’t see why the Royals have to trade Greinke. They might be able to extend him or they could just wait and take the two top draft picks. In any respect, I am unclear why the Orioles and Royals would be a good match for a trade. The Orioles are in practically the same position as the Royals: a mid-market team that’s been uncompetitive for years, with no obvious signs of being competitive in the next couple of years. I don’t see any way either of them could make a deal that benefits both of them.
Royals should easily be able to get two high prospects (at least) for Greinke – should be worth a lot more than 2 draft picks. plus they get salary relief on top of that.
If the Royals can’t resign Greinke to a long term deal, they should be doing that.
But you’re also right that the O’s don’t have that much more to offer Greinke to convince him to sign a long term deal with them.
Jason Bartlett would be OK, but Showalter loves Cesar.
Greinke would be nice. Improbable.
I’d rather take Ka’aihue if going after a Royals player. He’s blocked & we could swap Pie (as KC only has 1-2 servicable OF’s *and 1 is a Free Agent Scott Pod.) + Pitcher for him. This would allow us to get Jayson Werth for LF or just let Nolan Reimold/C-Patterson/Scott run around out there. Possibly sign Magglio Ordonez. 😀 Not much into Alex Gordon.
Crawford just isn’t going to be an Oriole.
Dunn would really need to be overpaid to join an AL team, no less the Orioles (for fear that he becomes a DH) & be guaranteed that he gets 1B duties for the next 4 years
I like stealing Beltre from the Red Sox. V-Mart too? that’d be a nice dream & a nice way to dismantle the Red Sox. Also, Improbable but I’d be glad to receive either player.
A trade for Ka’ahuie makes a lot of sense for us O’s fans.
Cantu isn’t very good @ 3B but…I really like his age & versatility. He does put up great numbers when he’s on. Plus, if B-Rob gets injured he’s got plenty of 2B experience. Jim Presley is gonna be the O’s coach too & he was very successful with him as hitting coach. I’m all for Jorge @ 1B – he didn’t make an error there in 302 Innings this year.
I wonder who will be the veteran starter..
I like Brandon Webb, Jon Garland, Jorge De La Rosa, Justin Duchscherer, Jake Westbrook,
Hiroki Kuroda, Jeremy Bonderman or just re-sign Millwood (his record didn’t reflect the way he pitched.) He had like 15 Quality Starts. Cliff Lee had
I meant Chris Young to be on that list too. Also here is a wacky idea…but Dontrelle Willis should be offered a contract by the O’s. Here’s the idea. He has a career .206 BA against Left Handed batters. He’s faced 734 lefty batters & struck 242 of them out! Who knows, the guy might be successful as your LH-Specialist & maybe he comes back to his near-CY-Young award potential. Showalter has proven to blow minds. Willis has 4 seasons of 200+ innings, there you go.
he’s not in any shape to become the guy they need. in the thought of Millwood, they want someone who will be dependable every 5 days, giving you 6+ solid, if unspectacular innings.
Dontrelle is a high risk high reward type. Not a Macphail type of guy.
A guy who can’t throw strikes in the AL East… what can go wrong 🙂
If Willis wants any future in this league he better pull an Ankiel… and fast.
Greinke would be nice. Improbable.
I’d rather take Ka’aihue if going after a Royals player. He’s blocked & we could swap Pie (as KC only has 1-2 servicable OF’s *and 1 is a Free Agent Scott Pod.) + Pitcher for him. This would allow us to get Jayson Werth for LF or just let Nolan Reimold/C-Patterson/Scott run around out there. Possibly sign Magglio Ordonez. 😀 Not much into Alex Gordon.
Crawford just isn’t going to be an Oriole.
Dunn would really need to be overpaid to join an AL team, no less the Orioles (for fear that he becomes a DH) & be guaranteed that he gets 1B duties for the next 4 years
I like stealing Beltre from the Red Sox. V-Mart too? that’d be a nice dream & a nice way to dismantle the Red Sox. Also, Improbable but I’d be glad to receive either player.
A trade for Ka’ahuie makes a lot of sense for us O’s fans.
Cantu isn’t very good @ 3B but…I really like his age & versatility. He does put up great numbers when he’s on. Plus, if B-Rob gets injured he’s got plenty of 2B experience. Jim Presley is gonna be the O’s coach too & he was very successful with him as hitting coach. I’m all for Jorge @ 1B – he didn’t make an error there in 302 Innings this year.
I wonder who will be the veteran starter..
I like Brandon Webb, Jon Garland, Jorge De La Rosa, Justin Duchscherer, Jake Westbrook,
Hiroki Kuroda, Jeremy Bonderman or just re-sign Millwood (his record didn’t reflect the way he pitched.) He had like 15 Quality Starts. Cliff Lee had
I don’t see MacPhail overspending on any free agent. That’s no this M.O. He’ll find some role players, and bank his strategy on all the young guys becoming awesome…
And he’ll continue to do that with C, RF, CF, and SP.
I would love for him to spend a little money on one of the other corner spots, like a Reynolds, or someone, but considering the production of Scott this past year – for his $, as well as Wiggy’s versatility and year he had… I think those are the types of guys he goes after….
And while they’re all well, and good… I’d love to see Dunn or Reynolds, or someone else of that mold.