Trembley on Millar, Montanez and Adam Loewen's Surprise Decision
He may not have managed any games lately, but O's skipper Dave Trembley is still keeping busy.
Since the end of the Orioles' season, he's attended the O's instructional league workouts and the club's organizational meetings. He keeps in touch with Andy MacPhail and has even talked to O's scouts who are keeping tabs on the Arizona Fall League.
While the club hasn't made many moves since the season's end, they have lost one player that Trembley expected to remain with the organization: Adam Loewen.
"I saw Adam play in the instructional league," Trembley said. "I expected him to go play in our Minor Leagues and work his way back up. I was surprised at his decision. I imagine he had to wrestle with that decision. I don't remember him ever expressing to anybody that he wanted to play with Toronto. My understanding was that he had agreed after his release to resign with the Orioles. He got treated well by Andy and the Orioles. We kept him on our roster. Let's just say in the end, I was surprised."
Now Trembley is set for the free agent process where the O's could add talent, but also could lose a key clubhouse member in Kevin Millar.
"We would probably have interest in some other guys at first base," Trembley said. "If Millar resigns it will probably be late in the off-season. We're likely to pursue other opportunities that might be there. Everyone knows what Kevin meant to our club. He was a great clubhouse and veteran presence. I expressed that to him personally late in the season."
While not naming names, Trembley said he was asked for and gave his input on free agents the club might pursue during the organizational meetings.
Late in the season Trembley said he'd like to see Lou Montanez play winter ball to work on his defense, and Montanez is expected to play all three outfield positions during winter ball in Puerto Rico.
Steve,
I live under a rock... I think I missed something. Do the O's no longer have Adam Loewen? I was really looking forward to seeing his big come back. Does this mean we'll no longer see the Orioles Magic video at the ballpark? I'm afraid someone else might be missing from that video too. O, please don't go Kevin!!
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Jen:
Good point. We have lost one member of the band and another could go, the lead singer at that. Loewen, after the O's released him to set up his signing to a minor league contract, got an offer from Toronto and accepted it. He's now with the Blue Jays and will try to work his way back to the majors through their farm system and not the O's.
Steve