Three Teams Interested In Lawrence
Brian Lawrence couldn’t crack Colorado’s rotation, so the 31 year-old soft-tosser is now a free agent. Since teams aren’t willing to give up much on May 2nd, Lawrence has multiple suitors. The Denver Post reports that the Orioles, Tigers, and Padres have interest.
Tim Brown reported yesterday that Detroit is on the prowl for pitching, and the loss of Jaret Wright created a vacancy for the O’s. Most likely, though, Lawrence returns to the Padres and tries to re-establish himself at Triple A. He had flirted with San Diego in the offseason before David Wells signed. Boomer has not fared well in the early going. Nor has Clay Hensley, but both have earned another month to set things right based on past results.
The Padres may feel an extra need for pitching depth if top pitching prospect Cesar Carrillo needs elbow surgery. A healthy Carrillo likely would’ve been better than Hensley, Wells, or Lawrence (PECOTA called for a 4.63 ERA; ZiPS said 4.21).
O’s Face Rotation Vacancy
The Orioles are currently 12-14, 5 games out in their division and 2.5 games out for the wild card. With the Yankees floundering a bit, they can at least allow themselves to dream about a playoff spot. It’s time to start pondering possible improvements to push the club to the next level.
What they really need is a power bat; the Orioles are 11th in the league with a .392 SLG. However, management may view starting pitching as a more pressing concern. The starters collectively have a 4.72 ERA (10th in the league), and Jaret Wright is out indefinitely with shoulder concerns. Not that Wright would be helping that 4.72 mark if he was out there.
The O’s can take solace in Erik Bedard‘s strong peripherals as well as indications (before last night) that Daniel Cabrera had turned a corner with his control. But Steve Trachsel (0.79 K/BB) and Adam Loewen (0.75 K/BB) are precariously perched atop decent ERAs not built to last. Loewen at least can blame his abnormally strong opposition, but Trax is a long shot to keep pitching well.
Hayden Penn is undergoing surgery, leaving Jeremy Guthrie and Brian Burres as possible replacements for Wright. Guthrie, a former first rounder, is a nice gamble under Leo Mazzone. Still, PECOTA doesn’t see he or Burres coming in under a 5.00 ERA this year. Jeff Zrebiec mentions past trade discussions about Josh Fogg and Byung-Hyun Kim, options that are none too inspiring.
The Orioles often spin their wheels and tread water, but the Yanks’ struggles could present an opportunity to bring respectability back to the franchise. To do so, they need to acquire an ace starter. We’re probably at least a month off from such a possibility, and I doubt the Indians end up trading C.C. Sabathia as speculated here. Carlos Zambrano could be that available ace, if the O’s would send Loewen to the Cubs. Dontrelle Willis and Brad Penny are a couple of other names the Orioles could consider to bolster their rotation. Baltimore certainly has a few young arms the Marlins would covet.
Rosenthal’s Latest
The always-interesting Ken Rosenthal has another column up, chock full of rumory goodness. The man knows how to work the phones like no other. Some highlights:
- Rosenthal considers the possibility that Curt Schilling could be the easy choice for the best available free agent starter after this season, with John Smoltz off the board. Even if Carlos Zambrano is out there, Schill would be a better option for teams looking to go short-term. Rosenthal says the Red Sox could revisit extension talks, even though it seemed just a month ago that Schilling was certain to hit the open market. One year and $13MM still looks pretty solid for the Sox.
- The Orioles may make an offer to Alex Rodriguez, should he opt out of his contract at year’s end. It’s admittedly a longshot, though the O’s did win the bidding for Miguel Tejada back in December of ’03. If not A-Rod, then the Orioles will chase a "premium center fielder." Translation: Ichiro, Andruw, or Torii. Seems unlikely that Corey Patterson, a Scott Boras client, returns to Baltimore in 2008.
- Rosenthal feels that the Tigers are "almost certain" to exercise Ivan Rodriguez‘s $13MM option for 2008. I agree with that one, especially given the $3MM buyout price. If the best available catchers are indeed Michael Barrett and Paul Lo Duca, Barrett has the clear advantage. The Cubs don’t have any catchers in the pipeline (most teams don’t) so I can’t see why they wouldn’t just give him what he wants. Most likely the Cubs would get a discount.
Jorge Sosa For Todd Williams?
Kevin Davidoff of Newsday has rumor of a small trade that has been discussed. In March, the Mets and Orioles discussed swapping Jorge Sosa for Todd Williams. However, there’s been nothing going on recently.
The Mets picked up Sosa this winter for $1.25MM to add some pitching depth. I imagine more teams will start calling about the 29 year-old Sosa, noticing he’s thrown 13 scoreless innings in Triple A.
Williams is earning $775K from the O’s. The 36 year-old has only made two appearances, and has two scoreless innings under his belt.
The Benitez/Julio/Burgos Connection
It’s all connected in beautiful symmetry: First Armando Benitez pitched for the Orioles, Mets and Marlins, and now hurls for the elderly Giants. When Jorge Julio came to New York by way of Baltimore, it seemed that Benitez had never left. Also a shaky, flame-throwing right-hander, Julio even looked like Benitez to Mets fans– many of them thought the two pitchers were the same man. Now Julio occupies Benitez’s former role as Marlins’ closer.
What does this have to do with the Mets now? According to DNL from Armchair GM, the trade last year of Kris Benson and his wife Anna to the Baltimore Orioles for John Maine and Jorge Julio had a deeper meaning. Perplexing on the surface– why trade away needed started pitching for an unnecessary, shaky reliever?– the trade was greatly redeemed when Julio was traded to the Diamondbacks for Orlando Hernández.
The armchair GM proposes that this was Omar Minaya’s plan all along- to showcase the young, high-upside fireman early in the year in order to trade him later for a good veteran pitcher. This is what the team is now doing with Ambiorix Burgos, or so this speculation goes. Acquired from Kansas City for Brian Bannister, Burgos seemed like an unlikely candidate for the Mets’ solid bullpen, and despite continuing his struggles during spring training, made the team and pitched with a one run lead yesterday afternoon against the Phillies. Perplexingly, he was left in the game to face the lefty slugger Ryan Howard with a base open and the tying and lead runs in scoring position. Why? Perhaps Omar Minaya told Willie Randolph to "give him some good spots," and the manager complied.
It’s possible that Burgos, the successor to the Benitez/Julio line (yes, he also looks like part), will be on the move some time this year for a starting pitcher.
John Peterson is a Mets fan and writes for the blog Blastings Thrilledge.
Rockies Offer Kim To Orioles
Ken Rosenthal’s recent column is chock full o’ rumors as usual. The highlights:
- The Rockies offered Byung-Hyun Kim to the Orioles for reliever Todd Williams but were turned down. The O’s may yet work out a deal with the Mets for Williams. Kim, meanwhile, may end up a bargain for some team if the price is that low. Really, he’s better than most teams’ fifth starters.
- Rosenthal agrees with most that Carlos Zambrano will sign with the Cubs by Opening Day. However, a couple of other big-name free-agent starters to be probably will hit the market. Jason Jennings and Jake Westbrook are two of the younger members of the ’08 free agent starter class. Mark Buehrle, Joe Kennedy, Kyle Lohse, and Kim will all be under 30 as well.
O’s Will Wait On Corey Patterson
The Orioles made a rare smart move last year in stealing Corey Patterson from the Cubs for a 1990 Jerome Walton Starting Lineup figure.
Patterson was insanely bad in 2005, but regained his power stroke last year. He hit less grounders and more line drives to get his batting average back up to a respectable level. Combined with good defense and a spot towards the bottom of the order, he’s an asset. It’s been a while since he hit left-handed pitchers, but he did post a decent line against them in 2003-04.
Patterson is a Scott Boras client. While the O’s are interested retaining his services, they’ll address it after the season. Is this the right course? Tough to say. If the Orioles wait back and Patterson posts another tolerable batting line with a gaudy steals total and some flashy D, Boras will price him out of their range. If they somehow convince Patterson to sign now, they run the risk that 2006 was a fluke.
Patterson will turn 28 in August; his youth is only matched by two other 2008 free agents – Adam Dunn and Carlos Zambrano. There seems to be a surplus of free agent center fielders next offseason. Perhaps Boras would convince Patterson to wait back and sign a one-year deal in February if he doesn’t get that huge Gary Matthews Jr. offer.
Mets Interested In Todd Williams
Excitement! The Mets have "mild interest" in 36 year-old Orioles reliever Todd Williams.
Williams has been around the block – the Orioles are his ninth organization. He doesn’t miss bats at all, but he can come in and get you a groundball in a pinch. He’s making $775K, and would likely see a diminshed role in 2007 with all the relievers the O’s imported.
The Mets’ need was brought about by the discovery that Duaner Sanchez will likely miss most of the season. The bullpen was supposed to be a strength; the expectation was that it could compensate if the back of the rotation is lackluster.
Orioles Considering Reggie Sanders
Somewhere, Dayton Moore is praying that the Orioles take Reggie Sanders off his hands. Sanders, now 39, was signed in December of 2005 for two years and $10 million. He’s one of a handful of Allard Baird mistakes still residing on the Royals’ roster.
I imagine Moore has struggled to find a team willing to take Sanders and most of the $5MM he’s owed. What team would want to do that?
Enter the Orioles. Baltimore wants a right-handed bat and the Royals just want a reliever with his arm attached. The two sides are talking, so maybe Moore can unload Sanders before the season begins. Bob Dutton adds that the sticking point is how much of Sanders’s salary the Royals would consume.
Orioles Like Josh Fogg
According to the Denver Post, Josh Fogg remains on Baltimore’s radar after they almost traded for him a few months ago. Fogg makes $3.625MM in his walk year.
Fogg is one of those guys who just shows up and puts in his 170 lackluster innings. He doesn’t get strikeouts, doesn’t have great control, doesn’t get a lot of groundballs, and pitches to contact. I’m not sure how the Orioles can win the wild card if they give him 30 starts. They’ve already got Steve Trachsel.