Orioles Rumors

Brian Roberts Addresses Contract Situation

By DJ Blatter | January 28, 2009 at 7:30pm CDT

On MASN’s weekly Brian Roberts segment, the Orioles’ second baseman touched on his contract situation, as well as teammate Nick Markakis’ new deal. In regard to his own contract, Roberts made it clear that though he’s focused on Opening Day, he believes that there’s time to make a deal before spring training:

"It is going to come to a point where we have to make a decision one way or the other," he said. "I don’t want this to drag out once we get into kind of midway through spring training as I start getting ready to play for the season. I think there will be sufficient time up until then to get this worked out if we can. And if not, then we’ll see what happens at the end of the year. We’re not at that point yet."

Ken Rosenthal reported previously that Roberts wants a four-year extension to stay in Baltimore. The Orioles made Roberts an offer earlier this month, which was believed to be for $10MM per season, but only for three years.

Odds and Ends: Sherrill, Kubel, Teahen

By Tim Dierkes | January 28, 2009 at 10:03am CDT

Links for Wednesday…

T.R. Sullivan examines the Rangers’ interest level in 25 free agents.
An article about Nate Silver of Baseball Prospectus.
Rany Jazayerli suggests the Jeremy Bonderman contract might have been a model for Zack Greinke’s deal.
George Sherrill’s arbitration hearing is set for February 19th. The Orioles are at $2.2MM while Sherrill requested $3.4MM, putting the midpoint at $2.8MM.
Jack Marshall discusses the ethics of Scott Boras.
Barry Bloom looks at the remaining free agent starting pitchers and possible suitors.
Dave Cameron questions the Twins’ recent Jason Kubel contract.
Sam Mellinger talks about the Mark Teahen second base experiment.
Will Clark is set to join the Giants’ front office.

Odds and Ends: Yamarin, Eaton, Atkins, Ohman

By Tim Dierkes | January 26, 2009 at 2:02pm CDT

Links for Monday…

Yankees and Red Sox fans are dreaming of Joe Mauer, whose contract is up after the 2010 season.
Updated June draft order, courtesy of Baseball America.
The Braves signed a Japanese amateur pitcher named Yoshinori Yamarin to a minor league deal.
Adam Eaton is not a candidate for the Phillies’ fifth starter job, and they’ll probably release him and eat his contract if they can’t trade him.
MLB.com made a nice addition in Phillies beat writer Todd Zolecki.
Arbitration hearing dates are set for Paul Maholm and Nate McLouth.
Jim Salisbury writes about Tal Smith, who prepares arbitration cases for clubs.
Garrett Atkins comments on his arbitration request and his future with the Rockies.
The Reds voided the contract of 16 year-old Venezuelan pitcher Ismael Guillon and re-signed him for less due to a problem found during his physical.
Athletics Nation talked to MLB.com beat writer Mychael Urban.
David O’Brien chatted with unsigned reliever Will Ohman.
Orioles infielder Oscar Salazar cleared waivers.

O’s Not In On Sheets

By Alex Walsh | January 25, 2009 at 7:17pm CDT

While the Ben Sheets market continues to be quiet, this evening we can more forcefully eliminate another team from the list of potential suitors. It appears the Baltimore Orioles are not interested.

In a post that looks at the Orioles’ young staff, Steve Melewski ends with a comment about Baltimore’s lack of interest in the potential staff ace. Melewski estimates that signing Sheets may require a two-year offer at $8MM per; he also mentions Sheets’ six DL stints. Considering these two factors, Melewski writes, "unless the club has a radical change of heart, they are just not going to take that chance."

Padres, Nats Interested In Ohman

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 24, 2009 at 11:58am CDT

According to ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick the Nationals and Padres are among the teams interested in Will Ohman. Both teams are "bottom fishing," and are considered secondary options for the lefty reliever.

Ohman hoped for a deal similar to the ones signed by Jeremy Affeldt ($8MM, two years) and Damaso Marte ($12MM, three years). He’s generated lots of interest and has a new contract offer from an unnamed team.

Crasnick mentions the Dodgers and Mets as potential suitors for Ohman, and the D’Backs, Orioles, Rangers, Indians, Rays and Braves have all reportedly had interest in him.

Odds And Ends: Varitek, Pedro, Sheets

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 24, 2009 at 9:44am CDT

Links for Saturday morning…

Pedro Martinez isn’t worried that he hasn’t signed yet.
Jason Varitek says he’s still "exchanging offers" with the Red Sox. Scott Boras and Theo Epstein didn’t comment on the talks, which continue slowly.
Buster Olney takes a look at the market for Ben Sheets. He says whoever signs Sheets will get a bargain. Some GMs would be impressed if he gets $20MM over two years.
Nate McLouth isn’t optimistic about his chances of signing a multi-year deal with the Pirates.
Peter Schmuck thinks the O’s should find a way to sign Brian Roberts to a long term contract.
The Blue Jays fired assistant GM Bart Given.
Gordon Wittenmyer breaks down the Cubs’ chances of acquiring Jake Peavy now that the team’s about to change hands.
Richard Justice writes Randy Wolf should have accepted the Astros’ offer.

Roberts Wants Four Year Extension

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 24, 2009 at 8:52am CDT

According to Ken Rosenthal, major leagues sources say Brian Roberts wants a four year extension if he’s going to stay in Baltimore.

Roberts has had ongoing talks with the Orioles about an extension and they made him an offer earlier in the month. The offer was believed to be for $10MM per season, but only for three years.

A major league source confirmed to Rosenthal that the Orioles have their "ears open" to trade offers including Roberts.

Odds and Ends: Fogg, Jays, Red Sox, White Sox

By Tim Dierkes | January 23, 2009 at 2:21pm CDT

Links for Friday…

Corey Brock talked to agent Barry Axelrod about the slow-moving free agent market.
The D’Backs still have Will Ohman and Joe Beimel on the radar, but Nick Piecoro believes they’d like to add a starter first.
Red Sox president/CEO Larry Lucchino doesn’t want the team’s dealings with Scott Boras for Mark Teixeira to affect other negotiations.
Josh Fogg hopes to sign soon; possibilities may include the Rockies, Orioles, and Nationals.
The Blue Jays are currently in talks with a Japanese pitcher.
Nolan Ryan comments on the free agent market.
Ed Wade explains his approach to waivers.
Tony Massarotti projects an Opening Day payroll around $135MM for the Red Sox. Michael Silverman examines Boston’s options behind the plate.
South Side Sox have the White Sox around $100MM for their Opening Day payroll.
RotoAuthority lists the hitters projected to earn at least $10 in fantasy value in 2009.

Odds And Ends: Varitek, Markakis, Johnson

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 22, 2009 at 7:50pm CDT

Links for Thursday night…

Curt Schilling thinks the Red Sox need Jason Varitek.
Buster Olney writes that some executives think Type A free agents like Varitek, Orlando Cabrera and Juan Cruz should sign soon instead of waiting until the season starts.
Ken Rosenthal proposes a ’Juan Cruz rule’ so that players like Cruz aren’t the ones hurt by the compensation system.
Andy MacPhail provides some of the reasons he wanted to lock up Nick Markakis. He has plenty of good ones to choose from.
Chico Harlan of the Washington Post spoke with Nick Johnson, who "expressed no particular desire" to play in his home state of California.
Kobe Bryant jokingly suggested that he could play left for the Dodgers instead of Manny Ramirez.

MacPhail On Roberts, Bargains

By Tim Dierkes | January 22, 2009 at 1:03pm CDT

A few notes from Andy MacPhail from the Nick Markakis press conference today, by way of MASN’s Roch Kubatko.

MacPhail indicates a willingness to "swoop in" and acquire a free agent at a bargain price if the right opportunity presents itself.
Talks on a Brian Roberts extension continue. MacPhail said, "The market really hasn’t played itself out," which could be a reference to Orlando Hudson.

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