Can't go a day without saying "Burnett" or "Teixeira"
I'm watching a heated debate on ESPN First Take over whether the New England Patriots should trade quarterback Tom Brady.
Matt Cassel has done a tremendous job in relief of Brady, but I'm not ready to put him in the same class as the future Hall of Famer. Not yet, anyway.
OK, enough about football. You're checking back with me to see if there are any updates on Mark Teixeira or A.J. Burnett.
Pace yourselves. The Orioles are more likely to do something after the winter meetings.
Team president Andy MacPhail repeated last week that "the hometown guys need to get our consideration."
"How practical, realistic, that's going to be, we're going to have to find out. But as we've said, we just think we'd be remiss if we didn't at least explore it."
But how deeply will they explore before turning back?
You can absolutely forget Burnett getting a five-year offer from the Orioles. Four years would seem to be a stretch. So it comes down to whether he's willing to take a lesser deal to pitch here. It's that simple. If he is, you can start fitting him for a jersey.
As for Teixeira, it comes down to how badly he wants to return home, and how patient he's willing to be while the Orioles rebuild. They're not one player away from contending. If their only need was a power-hitting first baseman, they would take "an extraordinarily aggressive approach" to signing him, as one official put it.
"He would really have to have a desire to return home because we're not going to be as immediately competitive as other opportunities he's going to have," MacPhail said. "I would imagine Scott (Boras) will keep us in the process because that's in his client's best interest and his best interest. And it would be a question whether he'd be willing to make essentially a sacrifice short-term.
"Clearly, the player fits our needs in terms of being able to play good defense and be young enough where he could still be a big contributor when we hope to make more noise in the division. We'd certainly have interest."
There are people inside the warehouse who believe Teixeira will take the best offer from a team that can win right away. They don't have any indication that he'll bite on a hometown discount, not after waiting this long to jump into the free-agent waters, not with Boras sitting poolside.
And the Orioles must beware of the expected bidding war between the Yankees and Red Sox, who will drive up the price in a frenzied attempt to keep him away from a hated rival. They've done it before. They could do the same with Burnett. They're like children with really, really big allowances.
The Orioles also don't want to make a token run at him just so they can say, "Oh gee, we just missed this guy." If they think they have a shot, they'll go after him hard. But they're not going to do it simply for the sake of appearance. They have to honestly believe they can get him.
Hang around the warehouse long enough, and you'll find somebody who says the Orioles absolutely have to get him. It doesn't take long.
I talked to one member of the organization who said if there's a player worth acquiring at any cost, it's Teixeira. Otherwise, you have to face him 19 times a year within your own division - assuming he doesn't re-sign with the Angels - and stomach the idea of having him come to Camden Yards in Yankee pinstripes or with the backing of Red Sox Nation. And it's not like the Orioles are stuck with him for the duration of the contract. They could trade him in a few years and get back five young players. What's the risk?
If I had to make a prediction, I'd say the Orioles lose out on Burnett and Teixeira, that the bidding will exceed where they're willing to go, or the player (Teixeira) will find the lure of a free-spending contender too enticing. And I hope I'm wrong.
I'd love to see Burnett and Jeremy Guthrie pitching on back-to-back days. And I'd love the Orioles' lineup, three through six, to include Nick Markakis, Teixeira, Adam Jones and Matt Wieters. It also might be easier to sign Brian Roberts to a long-term extension.
I can still dream.
If you plan to attend the 14th BB&T Classic on Dec. 7 at the Verizon Center, MASN is involved in a ticket giveaway that honors members of the U.S. military.
The network is teaming up with BB&T to provide 2,000 complementary tickets to active and inactive members of the Armed Forces. The first 500 military personnel to sign up on www.masnsports.com will receive a voucher for four tickets to the men's college basketball doubleheader (Navy vs. Virginia Tech at 5 p.m., Maryland vs. George Washington at 7:30 p.m.). Both games will be shown on MASN.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko |
Don't forget that the Pats won't be getting Tom Brady back. They will be getting a guy that had what three? operations on his knee this year. History tells us that Brady won't be 100% next season and that in all probability his new 100% will be about where his 90% was before this year. Cassel's numbers are eerily similar to what Brady did his first year.
As for A.J. I am not sure any team gives him five years, if the O's go four I think they have him.
Roch - You've pretty much said it all in regards to Teixeira. Well put. We just need AM or Peter Angelos to become the person in the warehouse who believes we have to have him.
Very well put, Roch, but do you feel there is no chance of the Os compromising on the 5th year? Maybe something simple like the 5th year being guaranteed only if AJ averages 150 innings over the first 4 years?
Way this offseason is headed it feels like this offseason is pushing us closer to The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown Territory.
Yankees - We've got a Sabathia
Red Sox - We've got a Lowe
Orioles - We've got a Roch
I doubt we get Tex or Burnett but the fact is we have to spend money to make money. If we get anyone this off season it has to be Tex. Yes we need pitching but Tex would atleast bring fans out to the games and be a draw for the O's once again that we lost when Ripken retired. Will we go to the playoffs if we sign Tex?...no...but at least we can get some face back if we are able to sign a All-Star caliber player. Hopefully it will also break the terrible stigma that this town has carrieda round the last 11 years...Like or not this game is still a business and winning brings in the money but so does signing name brand players...especially if they grew up 30 miles away!!!!!
Hey Roch, any idea if the O's are one of the teams Boras claims made a "formal offer" for Tex?
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As of Thursday, the Orioles hadn't made any offers to any of the free agents. I'm not sure when Boras made his statement. - Roch
I think it's going to take 5 years for A.J.
Roch, your info here on the Burnett and Teixeira situations is excellent. I think if the O’s can get Burnett for 2 years and an option year, as you suggested earlier, they should probably do it. That number of years might be sensible for Burnett, a pitcher with an injury history, but we all know sensible has nothing to do with it. If the market bears 5 years for him, which if you believe any of the stories/rumors in the media about him that’s what it is, the O’s offer is below market in terms of years. If he decides the O’s offer is good and he really wants to play here, the O’s just got extremely lucky and should be very thankful up until his first DL stint.
Jerry, I’m saying, if the O’s really wanted these players, yes, they should’ve been aggressive out of the gate to get them (though, as you mention, Boras is an obstacle). Do I think it’s what they should do? No, personally, I think they’d be better off continuing the rebuilding and not give any outside players huge free agent contracts right now and instead use some money to hold on to their best current players. But if they felt this is the way they wanted to go, they needed to do something different (with the risk that it would fail anyway) and not just say, well, we hope they want to play near their home and maybe they’ll give us a call back. Perhaps that’s really all they have to offer beyond cash (MacPhail’s sobering words suggest he’s resigned to that). If so, it’s not much of a strategy.
JPA: Yes, I’m thinking about it assuming the O’s would be spending on free agents (I know, I know—silly me). I think the club has the resources to sign free agents and do the rebuilding the system thing, but in reality, I don’t think much has changed with free agents coming here. Why would any top free agent in his prime years want to sign on to play with a losing team when winning teams can give him the same or more (or even less) years and the money? That’s the same question we’ve been asking the last 8 to 10 years, and the answer hasn’t changed, and right this minute there’s little they can do about it. They can continue rebuilding and extending their current players—two things they have more control over than free agents—until they get into a better position where Baltimore is a place the best players want to play.
would the orioles go after a guy like brad penny who a couple season ago was a great pitcher for the dodgers? . Who knows maybe he can be a reliable starting pitcher next year with Guthrie. I'd give him an offer.
Also, jason johnson is a free agent any takers? (kidding)
Roch, why is it always AJ Burnett, he's an injury machine - why arent we hearing Ben Sheets name commin up? Do you know if theres any interest from our O's?
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You're not the first person to ask that question. I haven't heard Sheets' name come up, but I'm not privy to everything coming out of the warehouse. - Roch
Just wanted to let you know that I just saw your commerical, it was awesome...
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Thanks! I'm still waiting for my Oscar nomination. - Roch
I said this before that the Orioles should find a way to sign Teixeira. Get some pitching ,does'nt have to be top noch , some fairly good pitching. There are some help out there. Show Mark Tex that it won't be that long before we will have a very good team . I see some good arms comming soon. Plus we also draft high this year and we have a person or two for trade .
Again thanks
Tex said he wants to play for a winning team , that leaves out ant Peter the Great franchise........Burnett is a quality pitcher who wants a five year deal , that leaves out any Peter the Great franchise..........Come to think of it , any Peter the Great franchise leaves out most of the quality players so you end up with what the O's now are , a poor excuse for a major league team , and now they are going to put Baltimore on the away jerseys so everyone will know Baltimore fields the worst team in their division..........Peter the Great must be proud.........
Roch it sounds like you are even caught up in all the Bull crap that is coming out of the warehouse this year. We are going to make it our number 1 priorty to sign Aj and mark this off season. Roch in there wildest dreams thay aren't prepared to give mark a 7 to 10 year deal worth 200 m illion, they aren't preparded to go over 3 years to sign Aj, so why is it year in and year out we have to keep hearing all thsi crap. They will be lucky to get that shortstop they want and they will sign 1 0r 2 Steve Trachasl look alikes.Roch reading your blog i hope you aren't by in to all this hype as well.Mark will sign with boston you can count on that. They really do these kool aid drinking fans a injustice when they give them hopes that will never materialize. You know what i am saying is the truth.
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I just went back to see where I wrote that both players will sign with the Orioles. I said that I expect the Orioles to fall out of the running for both of them. So we're in agreement here, right? Or am I missing something? By the way, where were your NFL picks this weekend? - Roch
I cant imagine that either player would be willing to come here for less money to be on a last place team for the forseeable future. Its simple we are years away from fielding a competitive club in the AL East.
I agree with Jeff V. The Yankees aren't going to give 5 years to Burnett. Not after the Carl Pavano debacle. Burnett wants 5 years, teams want to give him 3. Logic says he gets a 4 year deal. Question now is will the Orioles go there?
The pieces are out there for the Orioles to improve in a hurry: Sign Burnett as your ace, Teixeira as your cleanup hitter, and a solid shortstop like Orlando Cabrera. Add a #3 starter like Braden Looper. This enables you to re-sign Roberts. Suddenly the pieces are there.
2B Roberts
CF Jones
RF Markakis
1B Teixeira
DH Huff
LF Scott/Montanez
3B Mora
C Wieters
SS O. Cabrera
Rotation:
Burnett
Guthrie
Looper
Last 2 slots: Winner of the spring training contest between Liz, Patton, Albers, Olson, Penn, Waters, Bergesen, Tillman, Hernandez, Danys Baez, etc.
Bullpen:
Sherrill
Ray
Johnson
Baez
Walker
Pick from: Bierd, Hoey, McCrory, Jim Miller, Cherry, Burres, etc.
Non-Tendered:
Daniel Cabrera
hey roch. if you were trembley and you suddenly found yourself with A.J. Burnett and Mark Texiera, would you put Burnett ahead of Guthrie, and Teixiera ahead of Huff? Both current Orioles had better numbers than either FAs..
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Good question. I'd be tempted to keep Guthrie the No. 1 out of respect for what he's done here, but more likely, it would be Burnett as a 1 and Guthrie as a 2. I left out Huff earlier when reciting my dream lineup. Has to be Markakis 3, Teixeira 4, Huff 5, Jones 6 and Wieters 7, though the opposition's starting pitcher could have a slight impact. And you'd hope that Wieters would eventually move up. Jones is projected as an eventual 5, though. Ah, such a wonderful problem to have. - Roch
Cabrera would be a better and cheaper option then Looper. Looper has an ERA over 4.50 in the NL Central. He'd be in the 5's in the AL East. Also Cabrera would make half as much.
Sorry, but sometimes all this projecting and hypothesizing puts me in a funk.(I thought the whole Bedard/Roberts thing last year was going to do it...now we have Teixiera/Burnett. SSDD).
You know, I remember a few years back when the Orioles got bold and went out and landed themselves an All-Star caliber shortstop by promising they would build a team around him. They gave him a good contract and the chance to be a hero...then they failed on their end of put the young pieces together around him to get the team where they said they were going....
Fast forward to now and unfortunately it seems as if the reverse is true. They have Markakis, Jones, Guthrie, Roberts (for the moment at least), Johnson, Sherrill, Ray (coming back), Weiters (on the way), Reimold (on the way) and a slew of young arms already on the roster and on the way that have the potential do a lot of things if cultivated the right way...and yet they seem reluctant to go out and take some calculatedly drastic steps to land some of the veteran pieces to lead them back to better times.
It's all just very disheartening to me sometimes. :(
Roch,
Given the fact that the O's will not get Burnett and end up with leftover pitchers, has Pavano's name come up at all? He's better that any of the other possible suggestions from the NL for a 1 year stop-gap pitcher. One year, loaded with incentives, and a team option.
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It would REALLY have to be loaded with incentives. Haven't heard his name. - Roch
I don't get it, Bob is right, the O's front office "pretend" to be interested be players in the free agent market, but never want to come close to market demands. Look at what Texiera would do for the rest of the lineup. Markakis would get much better pitches than he did last year, they would pitch around Texiera and Jones/Weiters would get the benefit. It would help the entire structure of the team. If they are not willing to seriously consider 8/160 or 10/200, then come out say we aren't in it!
Is there any attraction to a player to take an overpaid contract for shorter term? For instance, if offers for AJ top out at 4 years at 15M . . . would he consider 2 years at 17 or even 18M? Is that type of thing ever done? For the player he is a free agent again soon and for the team, O's rebuilding will be far enough along that we know how the young arms are likely to turn out.
Why would the O's not be able to outspend other clubs for a Teixeira? I would think that he would probably have a bigger impact on the O's bottom line revenue than the revenue of any other of the clubs that are in contention for his services. The O's would have a larger increase in attendance and jersey/souvenir sales because of Teixeira's hometown status over the other clubs.
ReleaseBurres, Huff did not have better numbers then Teixeira.
A. Huff .304/.360/.552/.912 96 R 32 HR 108 RBI
Teixeira .308/.410/.552/.962 102 R 33 HR 121 RBI
Also Teixeira would fit perfectly in between the lefties Markakis and Huff.
Roch,
Two questions regarding Teixeira & the O's: (1) Do you think that McPhail has had a change of heart in going after Teixeira in earnest? Based on earlier comments, like trying to make us like the "Minnesota Piranhas," you would think McPhail would be building a team that would be competitive in 2010 and contending in 2011. (2) When McPhail speaks about Mark making a sacrifice, does that mean money or just not winning in year one of his deal? I think he'd be willing to do the latter, but not both. I'm not sure if cash is an issue hear.
One quick add-on: Signing him to a mega deal is a no brainer in my opinion. Local kid. Could be the next generation's Brooks or Cal. Switch hitter that will hit 300 with 30+ HRs for the next 5-10 years. We'll never get a chance at a player like this in the next 10 years. Probably never get a chance at player like him ever. There should be no team that can outbid us for him.
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"Sacrifice" means not being on a contender right away. MacPhail will pursue Teixeira, but he can't offer the chance to win immediately. And it's likely that the bidding will exceed where the Orioles want to go for one player. - Roch
The orioles must absolutely sign Mark Teixeira. Their is no room on this one. They can get away with not signing Burnette although many of us would love to see him here. But for many of us we werent aware of Burnettes ties to the area. On the other hand everyone...I meen everyone who cares about basebal in baltimore has been waiting for Mark to come home........Please front office , I believe tha this would have iplications almost equal to not re-signing Ripken on a contract year!! GET THIS DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Teixeira is your team face.........
why sign mark teixeira when you have brandon snyders 2 years away
Because Brandon Snyder won't be half the player Tex is.