The Orioles just finalized their deal with Kevin Gregg two days ago, but that doesn't mean they're done trying to strengthen their bullpen and pitching staff in general. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail told Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun that he's having enough ongoing trade talks as well as discussions with free agents to believe they can make another move before pitchers and catchers report in a month.
"We have different discussions going on to try to get us a little more left-handed in the bullpen," said MacPhail. "We’ll just have to see how those discussions unfold."
"We got enough out there so you don’t know what’s going to come back and when or if anything comes back at all. That’s the case as you get progressively close to spring training. We have a lot of different conversations going on."
MacPhail declined to name specific targets or elaborate on how extensive talks were, but he acknowledged that the club still has some offers on the table for pitching help. Zrebiec hears from another source that any moves will not be too significant, and if they add another starter, it'll likely be through trade.
The market for lefty relief help still has a lot to offer as MLBTR's Free Agent Tracker shows. Joe Beimel, Dennys Reyes, Randy Flores, and Brian Fuentes are still available, though Fuentes is probably out of the team's price range according to Zrebiec. Kenshin Kawakami, Joe Blanton, Tom Gorzelanny, and Armando Galarraga highlight the starting pitching trade market.
It would be nice to see the Orioles return to the same prominence they had in the 70’s 80’s and early 90’s, most people forget how good they were.
I totally agree, I’d love to see that. They were one of my favorite teams growing up.
Beimel and Gorzelanny should be the next two additions to O’s. They would be solid acquisitions.
I second the Beimel decision, he’s a very solid lefty who’d be more than a specialist (like Will Ohman was.) For SP, Millwood would be a good move… the team he played on back in April was a disaster, but by August, the O’s were rolling.
I think Millwood is suited for a more pitcher friendly ball park at this point in his career. He had a down year but maybe you’re right, maybe he would be a good move for them a second time around.
Grand Canyon National Park would suit Millwood just fine.
Millwood would be good if he’s willing to come back for dirt cheap. Britton and Tillman (slated to compete for the #5 starter) have proven NOTHING. I’d put Tillman in the pen until he shows consistency and control, and let Britton stay in AAA. I’d still like to see his K/BB rate go down a little bit, and there’s absolutely zero reason to rush him. Millwood can be the #4 or #5 guy until Tillman or Britton prove themselves ready. And Millwood was a terrific clubhouse guy last year.
Definitely agree with signing Beimel, if we can’t get him then Reyes. As for a SP there isn’t a big difference in any of them besides health…
I’d pass on Gorzelanny, Why would you want a pitcher who has shown very little success in the NL to switch to the AL, to the AL East of all places?
At worst he’s a number 5 starter or long reliever. I’m sure he would do just fine. The point is no one on that list is a big flashy name who posts great numbers each year. It’s about adding “depth” as the article states.
I think Joba to Baltimore makes since. The Orioles could give the Yanks Tillman and another prospect for Joba. Then put Joba in the rotation. 1: Guthrie 2: Matusz 3: Joba 4: Bergy
5: Arietta.
Jesus christ you are on crack if you think Tillman by himself is worth Joba. Its infuriating how highly you all (Yankees fans) value Joba
Well said.
why wouldnt the yankees just put joba back into the rotation, instead of tradeing him for a 23 year old pitcher with a carear 5.61 era? Sure he’s talented but dont you guys already have a 5+ era pitcher in Mitre?
Joba for Tillman and a prospect lol. Are you on crack?
Joba’s career as a starter is done. You can thank Torre and Girardi. Girardi’s already starting to make Robertson Scott Proctor 2.0.
I’d go after Edwin Jackson or wandy rodriguez. They wouldn’t cost all that much.
They’d cost more than the guys listed in the article.
Wandy is not gonna come cheap, and then you’ll have to shell out $$$.
The orioles have the $$$. Plus u guys trade for Jackson and/or Rodriquez and u guys could easy have second place bc ur rotation would be better than the Yankees. Trade Tillman and ptbnl for Jackson and sign him to a 5yr-50mm contract extension. Sabathia might even become a free agen this year if he decides to opt out. He could be a target. The orioles offered texieria 120mm contract.
Wait, wait, wait. Did you just suggest that the Orioles give Edwin Jackson a 5/50M contract extension?
Orioles will be the surprise team of baseball in 2011.
Beimal, Byrdak and Ohman (alphabetical order not by prefrence) are the same guy. Ohman is signed and Beimel will be 2 m +. Looking at Byrdak’s numbers he would be a solid lefty in the pen. 199 appearances over the past 3 seasons with the same club while posting a 3.53 ERA over that span.
MacPhail needs to stop obssessing about the pitching and realize what torpedoed his team last year – the offense. He’s got a ton of question marks both performance wise and injury wise in the lineup right now and he needs one more bat for insurance to make sure last season’s offensive ineptitude doesn’t happen again. That bat is going to make more of a difference than another arm.
Disagree. The O’s need is pitching, pitching and pitching more than anything else. They are not going to compete with the better hitting line-ups unless they have pitching!
Part of good defense is having the pitchers make pitches that can be caught by the fielders. Last year the Blue Jays were credited with having all kinds of mashers on their team ,but it was their pitching that kept them in front of the O’s. With the bats that MacPhail has added and having Roberts play everyday, the Birds should be in most games if the pitching holds up. And you thought MacPhail was obsessed with pitching!)
Someone please take Kenshin Kawakami. I’m so sick of seeing his name pop-up and nothing worked out. I like the guy and feel he was slightly mishandled by the Braves(although they were in a tough spot), and he’s capable of being solid #4 or #5. He’s been linked to the Orioles all offseason…..
His contract is a little ridiculous to say the least, but I do think he would do as a #4 or #5 guy. At least until Tillman and Britton are ready.
The O’s have done a great job this winter, they are the most improved team. That being said, it is time for these young pitchers they keep talking about to start producing! Any addition to the pitching staff is a must for this team.
Well Baltimore is the Cubs of the east. Pie, Patterson(last year) Sosa, this year Lee, and Gregg. So they not only can have Zambrano, I would throw in Soriano just for the hell of it.. Z and Soriano and $150 million cash for anyone or anything. I don’t know whose on the team that’s anygood
Don’t forget Izturis & J Fox still on the team, & since McPhail’s been here: Will Ohman, Rich Hill, Scott Moore & Rocky Cherry, Steve Traschel (oh gawd twice), Freddie Bynum…oh & if you’re going with Sosa, don’t forget Palmeiro came up with the Cubs.
Let’s not forget that Roberts was linked to the Cubs lord knows how many times.
I think adding Vladmir Guerrero as DH and moving Scott to left would give us a more dominating line up…that would make Baltimore a definite 2nd place team.(No one is topping Boston).