Earlier this week, a report listed the Orioles as one of the favorites to land free agent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. However, a team source later told Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com that there’s no real chance of the O’s going anywhere near MLBTR’s projected $140MM price tag on Cespedes. On the other hand, the Orioles have reportedly been willing to lay out a similar amount of money to retain Chris Davis.
While we wait to see if the O’s step up their pursuit of Cespedes or offer up more cash to Davis, here’s a look at the latest from Baltimore:
- The Orioles have done their homework on Denard Span, but Kubatko gets the sense that they are unlikely to go beyond a one-year deal for him. Baltimore has concerns about Span’s durability and the club also wonders if he can pass their physical. Span, who is coming up on his 32nd birthday, has been excellent when healthy, slashing a combined .301/.358/.421 over the past two seasons with 42 stolen bases in 943 plate appearances.
- Dan Duquette’s disdain for opt-outs is understandable, but it will be interesting to see if he bends on his policy against them at some point, Rich Dubroff of CSNMidAtlantic.com writes. Dubroff points out that the Orioles long refused to give four-year deals to free agent pitchers, but they folded for Darren O’Day and Ubaldo Jimenez. The Orioles missed out on pitching target Scott Kazmir this winter when the veteran inked a three-year deal – including an opt-out – with the Dodgers.
- On Wednesday, we rounded up some news on the Orioles, including an item on new Korean signee Hyun Soo Kim.
Angelos and co. need to be all in or all out. You can’t play half way in this league. If they cant compete, then trade what you can and start over. If you think you can, then spend some money and get a deal done. Opt outs (at least I’d think) are great for management. While you may lose a year or so of decent performance, you also are saved from the infamous last few years where its essentially dead money. Pony up DD.
Well DD has to advise Angelos to ‘Pony’ Up the dough.
However,, it would have to be a ;Christmas; Mirable for that to hweppen.
All in? Like the Dodgers, Red Sox, Angels, Tigers, Yankees, Blue Jays? Tying up tons of many between a few players or stacking a roster with 6-8 position players making $15M per year? The O’s have just as many playoff series wins last 4 years than all those teams, with significantly lower payroll and much greater flexibility. Just throwing out ridiculous deals for average players just to say you got them doesn’t win you anything. Letting Nelson go for $14M per was a mistake, but that’s the only mistake they’ve made last 4 seasons. SP that had great 2012-13-14 had bad 2015s. They need to grab a couple position players and a starter, but just because they didn’t give Kazmir $50M for 3 years doesn’t mean they’re “all out” that’s a terrible deal for the team. The O’s are stacked with a young talented core who will all need to be paid big money in a couple seasons, so just handing out huge deals to players you aren’t sold on just to say you’re “all in” isn’t how you build a consistent winner. Ask all those teams above if it works. Even the Dodgers and their $250M payroll can’t get past the NLCS
Not an O’s fan, but you have to feel for the team when reading some of these things: “Dan Duquette’s disdain for opt-outs ” and ” the Orioles long refused to give four-year deals to free agent pitchers.”
This is a major-market club with historical relevance that’s flat refusing to play by modern free agency rules. I get the inherent risks with long-term contracts for pitchers. I get that opt-outs tend to favor the players over the organization. But we’re about to enter 2016, and the concept of long-term deals for pitchers and opt-out clauses aren’t just a sweetener to get a free agent to join your club – they’re necessary parts of the offer. There’s simply no reason to think that a major free agent is going to join your club without them.
By refusing to play by these rules, the Orioles are soon to find themselves in a similar position to the Tampa Rays or Oakland A’s – only their excuse won’t revolve around insufficient funds like those teams; it’ll revolve around an antiquated philosophy.
Haven’t the Rays and Athletics had more successful years than non-successful ones in the past few years?
I don’t think it would hurt a team tremendously to copy either of those team’s strategies.
If you don’t mind crowds of about 9,000, emulate the Rays. Worst stadium, worst fan support, tightest budget. A last place finish is in store for 2016, unless Duquette falters even more this offseason.
I couldn’t have summed up the Orioles situation any better! I’m ready to jump ship and support a team that realizes it’s nearly 2016 and not 1966.
You guys are under the impression that opt outs are mutual – they are not. Opt outs are only for the payer to exercise. So there is no risk to the player – plays great he can opt out and get a better deal. If he’s a bust he has a guaranteed contract. Duquette is right on this one, and he is not alone among MLB GMs.
I think that was more about the team not wanting him to play RF rather than Kim himself. I think you’re right in that he’ll play wherever they ask him to, it just won’t be RF.
Why is it not obvious that Span would be a great fit for the Tigers? They lack a leadoff hitter and already have one of the better 3-7 hitters in the majors. They are stacked with RH hitters. They don’t have the budget to sign one of the top FA OF’s. Their minor league system is thin, and giving up a draft pick is not desirable. Span has the speed to cover the large LF at Comerica National Park. He would not require the long length of contract that Upton, Cespedes, or Gordon would require. Seems a natural fit to me. Of course, he has to be healthy. Lets do our homework now, Avila. Be ready when the time is right.
I think it’s not obvious just because they already have Gose and Maybin to play CF, and putting Span in LF reduces his usefulness – if he’d even be willing to do that. Gordon seems like a great fit for them to me – slightly cheaper than Cespedes and Upton, left handed, can lead off, a little more pop, and gold glove caliber defense.
He supposedly doesn’t have the arm to play right field. It has nothing to do with kim be willing to, he’s just not able to.