Another bidder for Ramon?
An agent who represents one of the Orioles told me that the club is "as close as it's been" to trading catcher Ramon Hernandez.
We assume that Hernandez is going to the Cincinnati Reds, but it's interesting that the Milwaukee Brewers apparently jumped into the mix. That's what this agent was told by one of his contacts in Milwaukee. He said the Brewers regard Hernandez as an upgrade over Jason Kendall.
Kendall hit .246 with two homers, 49 RBIs and a .324 slugging percentage. He played in 151 games, an unbelievable total for a catcher.
His defense was exceptional this season, so we'll have to define "upgrade."
Again, Hernandez is likely headed to Cincinnati, but the Brewers at least were part of trade discussions at some point, and might be lurking in the shadows.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Ramon and DCab for Escobar! haha.
I can't imagine their scouting departments have seen Ramon play. PLEASE, hurry up and send him somewhere before they change their mind!
any word on possible players on the other end of the deal from the brewers? JJ Hardy? Rickie Weeks? .... Just kidding. Maybe we can get a peanut vendor from Miller Park, probably have a more accurate arm than Ramon. Maybe Alcides Escobar or Brent Brewer? Gotta admit, Brewers are stacked with young SS. We don't need Ryan Freel or anyone position player from the Reds.
Hey Roch-
If this happens and the Orioles get Ryan Freel back in the deal what are the chances that Brian Roberts gets traded and where would be his going?
Bill - thanks for adding the context on Devereaux, Bradley, Holton and Howell. Even with all of their contributions, it was still an awful trade in hindsight. I mean Eddie went on to get 90+ RBIs for the next 5 or 6 years and hit another 140 HRs or so. But there is at least some question that the "Why Not?" year, one of the true highlights of my 45 years watching the O's (despite the bounced curveball in Toronto) could not have happened without the trade.
Ramon H platooning with Kendall would be a good thing for the Brewers. 151 games is way too much. The Sun reports, though, that we are looking at Hernadez for Freel.
I do not believe we will end up swapping Olsen for Pie. I don't think Cedona is any good either and we wouldn't have made the trade for the two of them. I suspect we are talking about some of those players, but with other parts included in the trade. Perhaps Marquis, perhaps others. Scott seems to fit the alleged need someone has for a left handed hitter - outfielder.
Could we be thinking Cedona or Hairston to supplement Itzuris at SS?
I am hoping that moving Hernandez makes them jump on the Veritek/Teix daily double. And that we pick up a pair of Far Eastern pitchers in another daily double.
Hey presto - Veritek/Wieters instead of Ramon, Itzuris/Hairston instead of the SS hole, Teix instead of Millar at 1b, Huff to DH and spell Mora, 2 more potentially workable Japanese starting pitchers and we haven't hurt our youth movement or lost a ton of draft picks or overcommitted to expensive and risky free agents. But we will be significantly better. get it done.
If the Orioles are working with the Reds to try and work something out, why not try and package something with Ramon to go after pitching prospect Homer Bailey. As of now, Bailey seems to be a 4-A pitcher but it all makes sense especially if Olsen goes in the Peavy deal. We would be replacing Olsen (probably a slight upgrade at this point) and losing a catcher we were going to get rid of anyway and a triple-A outfielder.
Would Bill Hall be a viable option at SS for the O's?
Roch - and everyone -
Would you trade Luke and Olsen for Pie and Marquis? Too much to give for a high level prospect and reliable but mediocre starter?
How about just Luke? Luke and Baez (who wants to start)?
Does this mean that they'd swap Kendall for Ramon? I'd do that in a heartbeat. Kendall is one of the best defensive catchers in baseball (41 CS, 55 SB), unlike Ramon (24 CS, 99 SB). He'd be a great veteran presence for Wieters.
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No. Hernandez is going to the Reds. - Roch
Roch,
Have you changed your prediction any on the chances of the O's signing Tex, maybe 10% to 15%?
Also, why the additions (projected) of a Freel or Pie? Are the O's sour on a platoon of Scott and Reimold. At 24 or 25 Reimold has to be figuring soon into the picture or out of the O's plans. I realize Freel can play the infield but isn't his primary position OF?
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I still don't think Teixeira signs with the Orioles, but at least they've spoken to him in person. We'll stay at 10 percent and hope I'm wrong. - Roch
Roch,
What kind of names do you think could be involved in a Brewers trade? And there has been word it will be Ramon for Freel and maybe another prospect, does that sound right and how much of Ramon's do you think the O's would have to eat?
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It'll be Hernandez for Freel. The Brewers were interested, but they're out. And the Orioles won't have to eat as much salary as first thought because Freel's contract helps to offset the cost a little. - Roch
Mark C,
With all due respect, what you have offered is not something the Orioles can go get done. Varitek thinks he's still a starter - there's no way he goes to a team where he may serve as a backup.
And if we were to pick up Teixeira and Veritek, the price would be high - so we would be pretty committed to expensive (Tex) and risky ('Tek) free agents.
Milwaukee has a better farm system than Cincy. It would be nice to get one of their hitting studs for Ramon.
Part of the blame for Ramon Hernandez' defensive woes should go to Daniel Cabrera, who is probably the most difficult pitcher to catch in MLB.
Roch, it sounds as if dealing Hernandez to the Reds is imminent. I think it’s a good move, and it’s not that I’m that high on Freel (he appears to be a suitable fourth outfielder/utility type if he’s healthy). Perhaps Hernandez became expendable once Wieters showed he was going to rise quickly, but it’s important to note that most teams do not just give away catchers who can hit some (okay, so we did it before with Mickey Tettleton, but we got one of the Jeff Robinsons!). Hernandez’s sad performance behind the plate last season is what’s getting him dealt. I’m sure the team would’ve preferred to not be bothered with dealing him then signing another catcher to fill the time before Wieters arrives. I imagine they feel they can’t afford any more of his lackluster defense.
Hell, I'd give the Brewers Ramon, cash (at LEAST half of his salary for this year), and a low to mid level prospect in exchange for Hardy, or if possible, Escobar.
It would be real nice if we got Daryl Thompson with Freel!! Hometown guy (LaPlata), good young pitcher, and buddy of mine!!
Hey Roch. If we get Ryan Freel, do we also get Farney, his imaginery midget friend?
Roch,
Your old pal Petet Schmuck is reporting that the deal for Hernandez for Freel & minor leaguer is all but done. Any word that it's all but in the bag?
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It's being reported all over the place. It's done. - Roch
Roch, are you expecting a Ramon for Freel announcement today?
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Any minute now. - Roch
Escobar from the Brewesr or DE La Cruz or Mayorson from Cincy.
baseball prospectus is saying that the hernadez-freel deal is expected to be announced later today...so i guess milwaulkee is out of the picture
Does this mean that there is technically a chance we could get Jay Gibbons back?!
They really hate Ramon this much? Dealing our only ML C in his walk year for an oft injured utility guy? Freel can play some 2B, 3B (maybe Mora is gone?) & the OF. Freel won't start anywhere unless they are trading Roberts too, plus Freel WILL get hurt, count on that much.
Hate is a strong word, but Hernandez has played his way out of everybody's hearts. He dogs it offensively and defensively, and the one thing that aggravates me and others, I am sure, is his refusal to block runners at the plate.