Who replaces Bradford?
The Orioles are going to announce a corresponding roster move before tomorrow night's game. And don't forget, they'll be playing at Camden Yards - if you remember how to get there. Seems like it's been forever.
For me, it's been at least one job ago.
No sense waiting until tomorrow. Let the speculation begin!
The Orioles could bring up Hayden Penn and return Dennis Sarfate to the bullpen, though Triple-A pitching coach Larry McCall noted that Penn's still feeling some discomfort in his left leg after having it pierced by a broken bat.
Kam Mickolio, obtained in the Erik Bedard trade, has a 0.68 ERA at Norfolk, and opponents are 3-for-42 against him since his promotion from Double-A Bowie. They're also 1-for-13 against him with runners in scoring position. He's twice gone two innings with the Tides.
He'd also take Adam Jones' place as a constant reminder that the Orioles got the best of that deal.
Rocky Cherry has a 0.83 ERA in his last 21 2/3 innings, allowing only two runs and striking out 24.
Bob McCrory, who missed about six weeks with a sore shoulder, has returned to Norfolk and is 2-3 with five saves and a 2.93 ERA.
If the Orioles want to maintain their quota of submarine stylists, they could purchase Andy Mitchell's contract. He has the same technique as Chad Bradford. He also has 11 wins, though he's been forced into a starting role.
"He can throw every day," McCall said.
McCall raved about McCrory and Mickolio earlier today and predicts that both relievers will be in the Orioles' bullpen next season. McCall said the last six pitches that Mickolio threw in his most recent outing were clocked at 97 mph.
"We've got three or four guys on this team who could pitch for the Orioles next season," McCall said.
I'd love to see Mickolio get the promotion. Fans would get to see more of what we got for Bedard. (Possibly best trade in Orioles history.)
In that case, call up Kam Mickolio. If he can hit 97 mph consistently and accurately, I have no problem at all with him in the bullpen. He can be our 7th inning man.
And he needs a look-see from us loyal fans.
I vote for Ben W. He seems to have a lot of time on his hands.
I'd love to see what Kam could do up here. Wasn't he supposed to be the rawest of all the pitchers we acquired through the Bedard trade? His rise through the minors and stellar numbers seem pretty refined to me. Plus, I think it would be fun to introduce him to our favorite O's journalist: Kam Mickolio, Roch Kubatko; Roch Kubatko, Kam Mickolio. Mellifluous, isn't it?
Roch,
Just got back from vacationing in Portland and Seattle (where I was able to see Saturday's and Sunday's games). I was upset that the day before I left when your blog ended on the Sun, but was incredibly happy today when I got the link to this blog! (Late) Congrats on the new gig, I hope it all goes well!
I had to stop posting a lot on the Sun blog when my firewall at work stopped allowing me to commen at the Sun; hopefully this one will work when I go back in and check next week. Thanks for all the continued updates, I'm sure you'll let us know as soon as possible when the PTBNL in the Bradford trade is revealed.
KG
A lot of posters are speculating about which player we will get from Tampa and a few seemed convinced it would not be Reid Brignac. Why not?
We have not yet heard how this deal was structured. If the Orioles have agreed to pay all or a significant part of the remainder of Bradford’s contract, it is not unreasonable to expect a player of that quality.
I realize that about 5 mil is a lot to pay for a top prospect but we have paid about that much each year for our first rounders in the draft and don’t have a lot to show for it. Brignac has a chance to be a solid performer and should be worth the financial risk.
When you don’t have the talent in your farm system you have to think outside the box.
Roch,
First, congratulations on the move...now I have no need to visit "The Sun".
Secondly, can you speculate, since your so good at it, as to whom you feel the Orioles will get in return for Bradford.
Good luck and thanks for the interesting reading.
What about another centerfielder. Jay Payton is not an everyday solution. Do we know if Lou can play center?
This is kinda easy. One of these 3 in order. Miller, Romero [ the strike out machine ] or your guy.
Wow the Sherril trade does just keep looking better and better. Any word on the last piece of that deal Tony Butler? I read a few places that he is young with a live arm but saw that he struggled a bit this year before an injury. Any news would be appreciated. Also who, if anyone, do you think is the next Oriole to go this month?
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Butler was on the DL at Delmarva. I'll check on him and get back to you. As for next Oriole, all I can say is that I predicted Bradford would be the first to go. I just have to find the blog entry for proof. Walker and Payton are possibilities. - Roch
Regarding Matusz, I think the pressure is on the O’s. Last year it was too with Wieters, for the most part, but now, the O’s are clearly in a rebuilding phase and signing a top pick is the thing you have to do. How do you sell rebuilding if you don’t sign your top draft pick? You can look at the Rays and see where signing top picks gets you with patience and, of course, good choices. In the end, I think they’ll get it done.
As for the Bradford deal, I think the O’s made the right move, basically because a rebuilding team should not be paying $3.5 million per year (for more than one year, at that) for a specialist reliever and he’s not going to bring back much in return . This is basically a salary dump—nothing wrong with that when you’re rebuilding—and perhaps they can obtain a useful future major leaguer but most likely not (sorry, you’re not going to get a player back who has been ranked in anything for someone like Bradford). Now, why did they trade within the division when they said they wouldn’t? Good question, though at this point, your trading options are limited when there’s a waiver claim (as I understand it, you deal with the claimer or you pull the player back).
I think the key thing is, as Roch has indicated, they have options to replace him. Any of the options mentioned would be intriguing.
So they tried to pass him through waivers and he was claimed by Tampa? I don't understand why Tampa has to give something in return then. Is it only because the O's could have pulled him back, so the Rays offered someone back in a nominal "trade" so they could claim him through waivers?
I vote Mickolio. I still don't think Penn has done enough to get a call up before Sept 1.
And I'm damn curious about who the O's are getting in the trade. I checked out the Tampa blog and they have benched Upton for not hustling and the Rays fans aren't real high on him right now. The Rays do have a few SS prospects so one of them might be a possibility.
Another 3.5 mil off the books. Anyone think MacPhail is saving his money for some Xmas shopping?
Beerman-- I'm pretty sure Voldemort, despite his nasty breaking stuff, would be ineligible for this move as his title "He who cannot be named" rules him out as the PTBNL. Contractual stuff.
Give Penn until September to prove that these 3 starts were not a fluke. Bring up the Mik.
Remember, when it comes time to pay Tex-- it is not $200 million. It is $20 million each year. We need to start paying people not just salary dumping. Pay Roberts. Pay Markakis. Pay Guthrie eventually. Pay Jones eventually. Move JJ to starter (begrudgingly I guess next year).
Roch, do you think Huff would clear waivers? Curious given his production of late...
Thank you for your time Bradford. Really consistent player. But good move to pass him on for the O's. Shouldn't expect too much in return but hopefully we can use that extra spending money on some FA signings and Draft Signings(This is needed RIGHT NOW). Time is a ticking.
I also would be interested to see Mickolio up in the bigs. With the season he has had, let's give him the chance that Waters and Motanez have gotten and over-performed. But if the office wants to be more conservative, Cherry would have to be the choice. Let's wait on Penn until next Spring Training and hope he doesn't get struck by lightning in the mean time.
Schmuck is reporting that Penn is not the guy getting called up. Says whichever reliever gets called up will go back down next week when Penn starts in Cle.
Roch, I've lived in Eldersburg my whole life up until this year when I moved to PA for college. Why haven't I seen you around? Favorite supermarket?
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Safeway on 32, though I frequent Martins on occasion. - Roch
This is a good move for the O's. We lose Bradfords contract for next year and save money. Plus we most likely get a low celling prospect, but in the Rays organization a low celling prospect could be a high prospect in the Orioles. Interesting that MacPhail is getting the Orioles out of the bad contracts Flannagan got us into, do you think his contract will be renewed. Of course Flannagan got us Adam Stern for J Lopez, Adam is a great player to play the last 3 innings of early Spring Training games.
Jim Miller, he's been great all season
Sorry this is off-topic but here's a must-read interview with Mussina.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Answer-Man-Mike-Mussina-talks-New-York-Orioles?urn=mlb,99203
I say it is Penn who will eventually replace Sarafate as the starter, maybe not Sunday, but soon.
There are two thought processes here with Bradford. If the O's pay a good portion of the remaining salary then the prospect will be better.
If the O's just dump the salary then the dump will be for nothing more then an old single A player.
I cannot image PA paying alot to get rid of Bradford and I definitely cannot see the Rays giving up someone who could face them 18 times every year. My gut tells me it is a salary dump that frees up space on the 40 man roster at the end of the season. Promote someone currently on the 40 man roster and fill Bradfords 40 man spot with someone that you have no intention of resigning next year. This gives you more flexibility at the end of the year (more open spots on the 40 man). Teixeira and all those guys on the 60 day DL have to replace someone.
Hi Roch,
Good to find you here. Is Amber on her vacation? Thank the cameraman for the butt-shot a week ago for me (last night at the Sun, I think).
Bet it's Rocky Cherry.
Can you provide any insight on other Orioles placed on waivers? Gotta go, time for Favre drama on the Deuce.
Thanks for keeping your blog going.
Roch, perhaps you could explain how this whole "player to be named later" process works? It would seem that the two teams have to agree on who that player is, but what are the ramifications for the club offering the player if that player(s?) is deemed unappealing by the club on the receiving end. What, in other words, keeps the Rays from offering us their worst prospect in return for Bradford?
This is soooo much better then the new Sun blog by that other guy...
So, how long before the player to be named later has to be named...it is 30 days?
Never mind my previous entry as I just read the previous blog...
Haha that Voldemort comment kind of made my day.
Good to see you've found a new home, and even better, you have a new picture up.
Dylan I share your sentiments about Mickolio. Anytime a guy of his size is performing well in the minors, you want to see what he can do at the big league level. Also, McPhail seems to think that he is about ready; otherwise he would not be pitching in Norfolk right now.
Hey Roch, really enjoying the new blog, keep up the good work man. I went to the Bowie game tonight and eventhough Bergessen got nailed, the Baysoxs still came back and got the win. Reimold had some solid hits, Blake Davis hit a few line drives and eventhough Wieters went hitless, he looks like a monster at the plate. Wieters missed an opposite field homer by a few feet. He has a great pressence at the plate while the ball just jumps off his bat. I'd recomend going to see Bowie this year: tickets are cheap, beer is cold, prospects are all over the field and the team is playing great.
I was at the Bowie game tonight. Felix Romero came in and pitched 3.2 innings no hits or walks 7 strikeouts. Including a very impressive 9-10 pitch inning with striking out the side. I'm looking up his numbers and they are quite impressive. Did we just sign him as a minor league free agent?
It's pronounced - Mon tenezz. For sure!!
Sorry, check that. It's Montaunyezz. That's how it's was pronounced at Bowie. Romero struck out 7 in 3 innings tonight.
FOUND YOU.
Way to quit on me RIGHT as I was going on vacation, Roch. About gave me a heart attack. Schmuck is good but he isn't you.
Hey, I'll vote for Rocky Cherry since no one else is. Time to see if he can contribute at the big league level. I think it's his turn.
Roch,
I think that bringing up Penn and putting Sarfate back in bradfords spot makes the most sense. On the otehr hand if we are still looking at the big picture...Rocky Cherry Cola or Big Kam would also make sense.
Every roster move makes Andy MacPhail look like a magician. He has spun talent on the decline into much more talent on the upswing. Get rid of an uninspired, oft-injured starter for a closer, the center fielder of the future, a flame-throwing reliver and some other parts. In addition, get rid of an aging (two years over night) and disinterested SS for a power-hitting outfielder, a flame-throwing bullpen arm (now in the rotation), a solid middle reliever/swingman (now on the DL) and future starter (now recovering from surgery). Not too shabby for the future. Let's not forget that Rocky Cherry and Scott Moore came over for Trachsel last year.
JPL My guess when all is said and done, it isnt 20M per year either but somewhere south of that although with the Angels and Yanks supposedly involved who knows.