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By Mark Polishuk | at
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Bob M.
I think a lot of people are going to be surprised at the contract O’day gets this offseason. Absolutely nasty. His swing and miss rate has rivaled, Wade Davis and more over the past 2 years.
orcwct
i Dont think many people will be shocked by O’days contract because most people expect him to get paid. Still a little trouble with lefties but still better than most
6blairpaul
He’ll get big bucks and should. Pretty good with pretty much everyone except Bautista.
6blairpaul
Agreed. But I’m very impressed with Gyvens. And since Bundy has no options and finally appears healthy in the AFL look for him to be a one inning reliever for now.
crazy Jawa
Break the bank, get Davis back. Moral and hitting power are needed now more than ever.
orcwct
I thought this season proved the pitching was need now more than ever.
6blairpaul
25+MM for moral is a tad much. There’s guys like Smoak who could knock out 40 in OPACY for 23 MM less and we’d not have suspensions hanging over our heads.
Bob M.
I think attempting to trade Adam Jones for some pitching could help. I think Gausman is going to grow if they work on his breaking ball. Its much easier for a pitcher to develop something vs his arm side batter. His splitter has dominated lefties. I have high hopes for Gausman in 2016.
I think Alex Gordon is a better sign, than Davis. Hell so is Josh Reddick. They really need to keep their finances in check before they try to get Machado locked down. Machado has got to be the ABSOLUTE priority going forward. He needs to be locked down well past his final team control.
6blairpaul
I’d lock up Schoop as his power is awesome. He was better recognizing pitches in ’15 and should explode into a 30+ hr guy and gg 2nd baseman. You’re Reddick thought is solid.I think we missed the boat with Gordon.
Bob M.
I think Schoop is going to be solid, however if he doesnt work on getting on base, it limits his total value. If Schoop takes a Altuve type contract, that would be a good play. However that money is nothing close to what Machado will command.
6blairpaul
Most of the team needs to work on being selective. Machado figured it out but it took 4 years. I really hope Terry Crowley is more involved. I felt like Coolbaugh was brought in from Texas just for Davis. I’m hearing that Terry will be on the bench as Coolbaughs “asst.”.
GRob78
While I disagree about moving Jones (I don’t see anyone picking up his contract) I completely agree with your other points. Especially Machado. He needs to be the highest paid (non-DH) 3B in the ALEast after this season. However, the current CBA expires after 2016. Teams are waiting on the next for a lot of guys.
6blairpaul
I don’t understand the knock on AJ. 4 gold gloves. 25-30 and 90-100. He played the last 6 weeks hurt. Buck finally pulled him the last couple weeks 5 or 6 games. He’s a great center fielder who’s got 5 good years left minimum.
GRob78
I don’t see any knocks on Jones above. He’s outstanding and a core piece of what happens for the next several season in Baltimore. That contract though is pretty hefty…$16 million in 2016 & 2017 then $17 million in his final year. Plus he has a no trade clause. That seems pretty hefty. Jones is marvelous player and a better representative for the organization. The cost of moving him outweighs any addition.
6blairpaul
GRob you obviously know the O’s. Good post. Disagree strongly though regarding Davis.I suppose his getting suspended for adderal twice outweighs his homers. And would hate for him to not be granted a tue again and possibly get caught. For 150+ I need to be sure there’s not a repeat of ’14. If by chance his FA year was last year he’d get stuck like Nelson did.
rocky7
GRob78
Appreciate your comment but don’t understand your logic with respect to Adam Jones.
Here’s a player who is and most probably will continue to be the face of the franchise (even with Machado on the team), is in the prime of his career, plays hurt and hard always, knocks 30 over the fence and is a 100 RBI guy and you think $16-17M is a “hefty contract????
Have you looked at what Utility guys are making in the majors these days? How about a little closer to home on the same team. Jimenez a pitcher that effects 32 games at the most over the coarse of a year and is making $28M a year! This guy is a gift and frankly the line for his services will be long and quickly formed. The O’s would be crazy to move him for anything less than some type of blockbuster deal that solves multiple positions for them. No way that’s probably happening though.
6blairpaul
Jiminez got 50MM for 4 years. 12.5 per year.
rocky7
Stand corrected but my comment about Jones still stands.
stymeedone
In spite of the gold gloves, his rating for CF makes him appear to be a more valuable player if they move him to a corner OF spot.
DAKINS
With Donaldson putting up MVP numbers, and looking like he will earn close to $12 million next season through arbitration, I highly doubt Machado will be the highest paid 3B in the AL East next season.
6blairpaul
He won’t be until ’17 if he has another year like 15. Alot of his homers were solo as he led off most of the year. As long as he doesn’t have another knee injury the sky’s the limit for both those guys.
TheAdrianBeltre
Adam Jones contract is gold, especially to the mid-money and higher teams, and will look even better after all these FA deals this winter. If you move him, it better be for something special. Also, I’d hope the O’s look into Son, sounds like a younger version of the good Choo(COF, lefty, great OBP), and Camden Yards always helps power.
GoRav114
Wish I could up arrow this twice!
GoRav114
Every team would take on Jones with his contract
UHawks1926
I strongly doubt Adam Jones will get traded
stymeedone
Reddick would be a trade, not a sign, as he’s not a FA.
orcwct
I think the orioles need to increase the payroll 15-20 million this season in order to get the job done. You need 2 starters (zimmerman and kazmir are my choices), Parra value has fallen enough that it shouldnt be that hard of a sign, and then go get Zobrist
6blairpaul
If you’re familiar with the O’s on a daily basis you would understand that Buck and Dan get along great. As proven by their results since 2012. The most wins in the league. So Davis is just as risky as Cruz was and the big ? will be the drug exemption. According to the Balto. Sun since ’08 he’s had tue’s each year except ’12, ’13 and ’14. If you’re familiar with ADHD, formally called ADD until ’13, you would know it’s a lifelong fight. It doesn’t come and go which causes one to question CD’s history. And if I’m dishing out 150MM atleast I don’t want another suspension for “not getting his paperwork to MLB on time”. O’Day is a great reliever and teammate but for 8 or 9 per year, Gyvens and Brach have proven themselves to be solid in the 7th and 8th. Chen will be missed but he’s not a team guy. Which means he’s not a Buck type guy and he will get likely 5 @100. A tad much for his talent. I think they resign Parra, Pearce and don’t give a QO to Wieters. He’d be crazy not to take it and double his ’15 salary. They may offer him 2 @ 22. They don’t need him but Buck likes him and a as an alternate catcher/dh his bat may come alive after 2 years of injury. They’ll sign 2 ‘capable’ pitchers and hopefully nab someone like Smoak. We’ll see.
GRob78
Solid write up as usual. The O’s need to bring back several of these guys and that includes Davis. It was good to see the coaching staff come back (particular Dave Wallace) but I was hoping Coolbaugh wouldn’t return.
At the end of September I was thinking Chen, O’Day, and Davis would be ideal to return, but the more I’m seeing I have moved that down to Davis. O’Day is solid and will get some serious money but already has a couple of replacements in the system (Givens, Brach.) Chen could be let go since they have a couple of options from spot-start guys and other rotation (Wright, Drake) but ultimately they need to clear space for Bundy. Gausman needs to have a solid 2016 for sure, but that third pitch is hard to come by so far.
I seriously doubt they will make QOs for Chen and Wieters, but might for Wieters if they know he’s going to decline it. Getting a draft pick in place of that would be helpful. They’ve got their catching corps in Joseph and Clevenger. I do hope that Parra will be back, signed lower that he would’ve been in August, since that locks down the right field position. Left can probably platoon between Lake, Reimold, and Urrutia. But outside of Davis at first, the infield looks great. I don’t know who the DH could be other than seeing who’s hot between Pearce (though I don’t think he should be resigned) and Paredes.
The second level focus for the offseason should be rehabbing the farm system. Baltimore is probably going to get ranked nearly last after having given up so much for the successes of 2012-2014. Losing guys like Arrieta and Rodriguez who have proven their immense worth elsewhere has been a big ding for Duquette. The farm system is not looking great, but is full of AAAA guys that are solid in their leagues but not good enough for the show.
6blairpaul
Drake should be in the pen. You may have meant Wilson and Wright. Hopefully they’ll prove to be solid. Paredes and Lake need to move on. Pearce is a favorite of Buck’s and will hopefully return to ’14 form. He’s valuable on defense. I think he’s done everything except to pitch and catch. Just need that 20-25 back with the high OBP. At 4-5MM he’ll be an asset. At almost 4MM let Matusz go to the Cubs and find himself with the rest of the O”s pichers.
kershawsrightarm
Byung-Ho Park should be on the top of their list and also any starting pitcher that signs less then $60 million like Lackey.
6blairpaul
Lackey was bad for the Sox in ’10 and ’11. Had TJ surgery in ’12. Solid year in ’13, though 10-13 big win in game 6. And ’14 was good then gone at the trade deadline. For 80+MM. I see him in the NL. Definately not an Oriole. Was pretty vocal against Cruz in ’14 which didn’t sit well. No Al east for alot of pitchers. I love the O’s but Toronto hitting is not a plus for attracting pitching. They killed Chen and Tillman. One reason Chen is long gone. Likely to the NL.
kershawsrightarm
I doubt Lackey gets more then $25 million and that’s a stretch.
Steve Adams
I’ll be pretty surprised if Lackey doesn’t crack $30MM at least. Jake Peavy landed $24MM on a two-year deal coming off a pretty inferior 2-3 year platform to the one Lackey just turned in.
He has a chance at three years, and if not, two years at $15MM+ per season seems perfectly attainable.
No Soup For Yu!
Why is Flaherty not a non-tender candidate? His overall slash of .202/.281/.356 is pretty poor and it has gotten worse every year since 2012. Not to mention that he slashed an anemic .140/.220/.327 after the All-Star break. It’d be better to give a utility man in the minors a shot and pay him only the league minimum than spend $1.5 million to have Flaherty on the roster.
6blairpaul
With Janish he’ll probably be gone. He was here because of his D. Schoop and Hardy spent alot of time on the DL. If you remember the old O’s teams, Belanger was an anemic hitter but won 8 gold gloves. The O’s D was sloppy last year the last 6 weeks but still was the best in the AL. That’s why Hardy got 40 for 3. Defense first. Hopefully he’ll get his power back this year. From 12-14 he hit more homers than any SS.
bradthebluefish
It feels like once you lose your power, you don’t get it back. I really hope Hardy does though. It’d be great to get some pop with that gold glove of his.
delmonyoung4gg
Yeah I agree with you although I think most fans have been calling for Flaherty to be cut loose for quite some time now but Buck seems to love him so I doubt he’s getting cut.
majordanby
“Cruz, Markakis and Andrew Miller all signed elsewhere last offseason, leaving Baltimore 0-for-3 in retaining their biggest free agents.”
Hardy was also a free agent last season, but they resigned him.
delmonyoung4gg
I think Hardy was signed before he technically became a free agent so it is considered more of an extension then free agent deal but yeah I see where your coming from as he was a pending free agent. Although in hindsight I’m sure any O’s fan would of preferred that $40mil going towards a Cruz contract.
colinswain88
The comments about trading Adam Jones are insane. The contract is extremely team friendly, considering he would make 22+ on the open market. In regards to the free agents we have, I don’t see Davis being resigned and we really shouldn’t unless we increase payroll by 15 Mil (which Angelos will never do). I’d like to see the following moves made in the Offseason. Let’s Davis, Chen, and O’Day walk. The only exception being if Chen for some reason will take 12-14 million per year over 4 years. If the price is right for Parra, 8-10 Mil he’d be a great left fielder. Extend Weiters a QO but don’t resign him. Essentially we’d get 3 first/second round draft picks for guys we could replace and allocate money elsewhere. As for the rotation, try to shop Jimenez ANYWHERE someone with take him and most of his salary, even if it means including a decent prospect. Then, sign Scott Kazmir, Mike Leake, and Chris young. All are older (minus Leake) and would fit very well at OPAC. The rotation would consist of Kazmir, Leake, Tillman, Gausman, Young. Much better that last year and you could then shop Gonzalez for a solid reliever. As for the offense, I’d go for low cost, high OBP guys like Zobrist and Span(if he doesn’t get tendered). Then sign Byung-ho Park and Pedro Alvarez if he also doesn’t get tendered and put him in at DH.
All of these moves above if made should be around 45 to 50mil with not much long term contracts due to the older age of most of the free agents. So the lineup would be C. Joseph C, Byung-ho Park 1B, Schoop 2nd, Hardy SS, Machado 3rd, Zobrist/Parra LF, A. Jones CF, and Span/Alvarez RF. This will make pretty good team, with a solid rotation, bullpen, and balanced lineup that won’t rely on the Homer as much.