In an appearance today on Baltimore's WBAL Radio, club executive VP Dan Duquette indicated that he was not troubled by failing to land closer Fernando Rodney, saying that the Mariners "liked him a little bit more than us." (Links via Twitter, courtesy of MASNsports.com's Roch Kubatko.) Looking ahead, Duquette discussed some other moves the club hopes to make before the start of the season, saying that he hopes to reach an extension with shortstop J.J. Hardy and remains confident that the club will add a veteran starter to the rotation.
Regarding the veteran Hardy, Duquette said that the sides were "starting to work on" a new deal and hoped to put pen to paper before Opening Day. It had been reported previously that extension negotiations were expected to take place, as Hardy is entering the last year of his three-year, $22.25MM pact. The 31-year-old has been a sturdy performer for the Orioles, with excellent defense and a power bat leading to 11.2 rWAR and 10.3 fWAR over his three years in Baltimore. An extension for Hardy would likely mean that star youngster Manny Machado will remain at third for the foreseeable future.
On the starting pitching front, Baltimore has long been rumored to be amongst the clubs seeking to draw from the remaining pool of free agent rotation options. Though Duquette expressed confidence that the O's would indeed add a veteran arm, he noted that four or five other teams were interested in the same players. Most recently, Baltimore has been tabbed as one of the most likely landing spots for Bronson Arroyo as well as A.J. Burnett.
As long as Hardy doesn’t have visions of Jhonny Peralta’s contract, he should be able to hammer out a new deal with the O’s.
he won’t pass their physical.
Haven’t heard that one before.
Are you kidding? Younger, more durable and the same (if not better) quality hitter as Peralta. Plus he has no PED scandal behind him. Peralta’s deal is a starting point for Hardy, as he should make at least what the Cardinals gave Peralta.
He’s younger by less than 3 months and he’s already under contract. Thus he’d be older by the time he hits FA.
True, I was surprised to see Peralta being 31, I thought he was in his mid 30’s at least. Relatively same age, but I forgot to mention the superior defensive glove Hardy has over Peralta
If you go by Fangraphs’ defensive evaluations over the past three years, Hardy has been a smidge better on average than Peralta. They both have very good gloves.
If you go by Fangraphs’ defensive evaluations over the past three years, Hardy has been a smidge better on average than Peralta. They both have very good gloves.
Hardy is not a FA and has no intention of leaving Baltimore. He will give the team a discount to stay.
Source? Because if it hasn’t been said by Hardy, its probably not true.
his housekeeper and i are in the same yoga class. it’s true.
My bad. I missed the link you sited when you stated your opinion.
Hardy is not more durable as he has has quite a bit of injury history. See 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2011.
No less speculation than saying Peralta’s deal is a starting point. He already gave them a below market deal the first time around.
Well yes, but as we’ve seen in the past, most athletes don’t take hometown discounts, and the ones that do announce it at some point during negotiations. You can look at Jon Lester and Jered Weaver as guys announcing hometown discounts willingness, but there are so many more guys not willing to. I never heard Robby Cano, Shin Soo Choo, or Ellsbury announce their willingness to, and thats because they took the biggest deal.
My speculation is backed up a little more, and is much more plausible, especially to non-biased fans (not calling you one). He’s just guessing that Hardy is willing, when there is little evidence to show it (he wasn’t even born on the East Coast).
Your speculation is backed up no more than his.
Like I said, he already gave them a discount. Why would one need to announce it when their actions have already shown the tendency?
I’m not saying he’s gonna do one thing or the other, but if you’re making a guess as to what will happen, what is a more accurate gauge, the past actions of a general group, or the past actions of the individual in question?
Your speculation is backed up no more than his.
Like I said, he already gave them a discount. Why would one need to announce it when their actions have already shown the tendency?
I’m not saying he’s gonna do one thing or the other, but if you’re making a guess as to what will happen, what is a more accurate gauge, the past actions of a general group, or the past actions of the individual in question?
You can just look to Corey Hart as the opposite. He pointed out that he sat on the bench taking in $10 million last year and wanted to give the Brewers a discount to make it up to them and the fans. Instead, he leaves for Seattle since Jack Z. is desperate to save his job with a winning season by overpaying in free agency.
You can just look to Corey Hart as the opposite. He pointed out that he sat on the bench taking in $10 million last year and wanted to give the Brewers a discount to make it up to them and the fans. Instead, he leaves for Seattle since Jack Z. is desperate to save his job with a winning season by overpaying in free agency.
Stop talking about it and just do it already! Ugh!
Looks like Duquette is waiting for the demands of the FA’s left to drop. I don’t think Arroyo helps this team.
There is zero reason to keep Machado at third base. What a waste of talent.
Seriously? The guy is a gold glove 3B in his first full season in the Majors and the O’s are wasting his talent? Gold glove, all-star appearance, top 10 in MVP voting. How is that wasting his talent? What more could he do at SS that he can’t do at 3B?
The average production from a shortstop is much lower than the average production from a third basemen, no? Moving Machado to shortstop, which he is indeed capable of playing, greatly maximizes his positional value.
This assumes the value they could attain per $ at 3B is greater than what it costs to re-sign Hardy to play SS.
That’s a good point. It seems like there aren’t many elite third basemen that hit the free agent market much. Regardless, the first priority should still be moving Machado to short, and worrying about third next. It would be great if Baltimore had a legit third base prospect in the system.
But unless Hardy is not re-signed, you’re creating a hole that does not exist.
The goal shouldn’t be maximum positional value from one player if doing so then creates less value overall.
But unless Hardy is not re-signed, you’re creating a hole that does not exist.
The goal shouldn’t be maximum positional value from one player if doing so then creates less value overall.
Probably zero options right now, but at the beginning of the offseason they could have explored a lot via trade. Cardinals were looking for a SS and had a 3B to trade. Plus they had starting pitching, gasp!!
They did explore a Hardy trade with the Cardinals and nothing happened.
Interesting, wonder which side wanted too much or if the Cards were really sold on Peralta.
Interesting, wonder which side wanted too much or if the Cards were really sold on Peralta.
They did explore a Hardy trade with the Cardinals and nothing happened.
Probably zero options right now, but at the beginning of the offseason they could have explored a lot via trade. Cardinals were looking for a SS and had a 3B to trade. Plus they had starting pitching, gasp!!
That’s a good point. It seems like there aren’t many elite third basemen that hit the free agent market much. Regardless, the first priority should still be moving Machado to short, and worrying about third next. It would be great if Baltimore had a legit third base prospect in the system.
That’s a good point. It seems like there aren’t many elite third basemen that hit the free agent market much. Regardless, the first priority should still be moving Machado to short, and worrying about third next. It would be great if Baltimore had a legit third base prospect in the system.
But why move him if he is already great at third? Plus Hardy is a gold glover at SS and is solid offensively
Because he is better at SS and SS is a very difficult position to find good defensive and offensive players.
So then what do you think of Hardy? He leads all ML SS in HRs over the last three years and is a two-time gold glove SS. Where’s the upgrade and who takes over for Machado at 3B? The argument of upgrading SS fits for many other teams, but not in this case.
Trade Hardy for starting pitching.
In a walk season when they’re trying to contend? If the O’s were out of it and they had a replacement for Machado at 3B the argument might make sense. But they don’t so it’s a moot point.
In a walk season when they’re trying to contend? If the O’s were out of it and they had a replacement for Machado at 3B the argument might make sense. But they don’t so it’s a moot point.
Where exactly is the proof that he is better at SS?
I realize that he played more innings there in the minors, but that does not mean that he is automatically better at SS than the incredible numbers he has put up defensively at 3B.
He’s put up great 3B numbers because he’s a SS playing 3B. His range/arm at 3B shows he’s ready to play the more challenging position to his left.
Is he on your fantasy team or something? Is that why you want him moved?
Could he play SS? Yes, most likely.
Are they in need of a SS? No.
They aren’t losing any value having 2 quality SS w/ solid offensive numbers on the left side of the field.
If there were a plethora of cheap, solid D and + bat 3B out there, it might be a different story. But this year they’re paying about $8MM for both Machado and Hardy, who last year put up 9.6 WAR between them. If you switch them, the numbers aren’t likely to improve.
Is he on your fantasy team or something? Is that why you want him moved?
Could he play SS? Yes, most likely.
Are they in need of a SS? No.
They aren’t losing any value having 2 quality SS w/ solid offensive numbers on the left side of the field.
If there were a plethora of cheap, solid D and + bat 3B out there, it might be a different story. But this year they’re paying about $8MM for both Machado and Hardy, who last year put up 9.6 WAR between them. If you switch them, the numbers aren’t likely to improve.
He’s put up great 3B numbers because he’s a SS playing 3B. His range/arm at 3B shows he’s ready to play the more challenging position to his left.
Where exactly is the proof that he is better at SS?
I realize that he played more innings there in the minors, but that does not mean that he is automatically better at SS than the incredible numbers he has put up defensively at 3B.
You asked the same question that I just answered. Yes he was great as a third basemen last year. He would have been more valuable as a shortstop.
But if you have no reasonable replacement at 3B (the O’s don’t) and you have a two-time gold glove SS who led all SS in HRs over the last 3 years (the O’s have that), why move him just because? Whatever you gain at SS (and compared to Hardy, would it be that much of an upgrade?), you lose at 3B.
I see no reason why Hardy can’t play third. It’s an easier position than shortstop. The Orioles essentially maximize the value of their real prize of their left infield(Machado) while effectively providing the same defense as 2013.
But if the argument is that Machado would give the O’s some competitive advantage by playing SS (offensively & defensively) wouldn’t you give back that advantage by moving Hardy to 3B? It would be a zero net gain by flipping one for the other.
And on top of that you have one player playing a position they have not played, moving them off of a position where defensively they are one of the top performers in the league.
If there is zero net gain, wouldn’t that be a good thing? Moving Machado to short, over the long haul at least, will greatly maximize his value(think WAR). If the Orioles get to maximize their value out of the best player to come up through their system in two decades, while not hurting the team, that would be a win in my book. If the Orioles extend Hardy, it becomes more and more likely Machado will never play short again.
But if the argument is that Machado would give the O’s some competitive advantage by playing SS (offensively & defensively) wouldn’t you give back that advantage by moving Hardy to 3B? It would be a zero net gain by flipping one for the other.
I see no reason why Hardy can’t play third. It’s an easier position than shortstop. The Orioles essentially maximize the value of their real prize of their left infield(Machado) while effectively providing the same defense as 2013.
The average production from a shortstop is much lower than the average production from a third basemen, no? Moving Machado to shortstop, which he is indeed capable of playing, greatly maximizes his positional value.
He’s better at SS. Move him to his natural position where he can put up great defense and offense, which most SS cannot do.
I’m sure Machado would be a gold glove first baseman as well, doesn’t mean he should play there.
Again, who takes over 3B?
Machado wasn’t a 3B. It’s easier to replace 3B than SS.
That’s avoiding the question. Everyone who knows Machado knows he was moved to 3B when he was called up. If you move Machado to SS, who do the O’s put at 3B? They have no 3B in the minors even close to being MLB players and, at the moment, all the potential 3B free agents for 2015 are over 30 years old and not even as good as Machado.
Machado wasn’t a 3B. It’s easier to replace 3B than SS.
There is zero reason to keep Machado at third base. What a waste of talent.
The offseason of nothingness groans on. If they hadn’t traded Jim Johnson, and let Feldman and McLouth walk, it wouldn’t be so bad. But they’ve made the team worse, and unless AJ Burnett decides he’ll take less money to pitch in Baltimore — a gift falling from the sky — they’re not going to do anything to make the team better. Ugh.
Oh, I forgot, they signed Delmon Young. Of course.
The Hardy acquisition was one of many brilliant MacPhail trades.
Other great ones include:
Tejada for Luke Scott, Sarfate, Troy Patton
Bedard for “The Haul” (Netting Tillman and Jones)
Sherrill for Steve Johnson
Koji for Crush Davis and Tommy Hunter
Michael Gonzalez for Pedro Strop
Mickolio and D. Hernandez for Reynolds (Decent, not great)
The Hardy acquisition was made possible only by the ineptness of the Twins front office. Give credit where credit is due! 🙂