Non-Teixeira business
Orioles president Andy MacPhail was expected to have another conversation today with agent Joel Wolfe, who represents catcher Matt Treanor.
Treanor has cleared waivers and is free to sign with any team. The Orioles expressed interest in him before the Florida Marlins let him go to clear space on their 40-man roster. The Marlins saved them the trouble of trying to work out a trade.
MacPhail indicated that the Orioles probably will add two more catchers before spring training, though one could receive a minor league deal. Gregg Zaun remains a consideration.
There's nothing new to report on contract extension talks with Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis.
Roberts must be an interested observer in the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes. He's more likely to stay here if the Orioles make a bold move.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
It is getting pretty scary to imagine why it has taken so long to sign your two best players. With one of them is supposed to be your "core" in Markakis.
A backup catcher of this magnitude is good for a minor league deal, not a major league one.
If you are allowed to answer this question....
What do you feel the chances of the O's acquiring Tex in a percentage? Is it down to Boston and Baltimore at this point?
By the way, I went to school with you at Old Mill. Same year of graduation actually.
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So where's the love for a former Patriot? As for your question, I just received written permission from the Orioles to answer it, but I have to send them 3 copies of my response. But seriously, I think it's down to Boston and the Orioles, in that order. The Angels sound like they're conceding defeat all of a sudden. Notice the Manny Ramirez talk all of a sudden. - Roch
Roch,
While we are talking non Tex stuff now.
How lucky were we to get rid of Tejada. He was a clubhouse cancer and take a look at this article
http://www.fannation.com/si_blogs/hot_stove/posts/32807
Roch,
It is scary because I also live right near you off of Oklahoma here in wonderful Eldersbury. How much of a coincidence is that? I thought I saw you at the Carroltown Plaza on Sat. I was like do I tell him I am the one ragging on him because he ragged on me in high school....LOL
You do a good job. Just not as opinionated as you were at the Sun
Just remember................
WE LUV YA
Even if you only SOMETIMES answer my questions...lol
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Hmmm, can't remember if I was at the plaza, unless I swung by the bank's ATM machine. Not much reason to go there otherwise. You're more likely to find me at the bar at Libatories - drinking responsibly, I mean. - Roch
Roch,
Darn, I forgot to ask you....why didn't you give me a percentage
You got that one past me!
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Giving a percentage will just get me in trouble. And I was led to believe there would be no math. - Roch
Hey Roch,
What about maybe Varitek as an option. He only hit 220 last year, but hit 284 righthanded last year, same as his career number. Great with young pitchers I'm told, a Boras client and sometimes rumored to be packaged with Tex. Could then have three Georgia Tech switch hitters for a while. Tek would be a good mentor for Wieders. Just some thoughts. I know he is probably considered too expensive an investment, but might be worth a shot if it helps sign Tex. A good catcher with improved up the middle defense could help Olsen, Liz and others look a lot better.
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The Orioles don't think he'd agree to step aside once Wieters is called up. They need someone who will slip into a reserve role without a fuss. - Roch
No mention of the silly rumor posted to ESPN that the O's tried to deal Jeremy Guthrie for Willy Taveras?
How about ESPN posting on the same page that the O's are going after Tim Redding and Carl Pavano?
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Redding, I believe, though I think the Nationals want to re-sign him. - Roch
Do you have any updates on starting pitchers? Yahoo sports had a report they are interested in Randy Wolf and Peter Schmuck is reporting "The Nationals non-tendered pitcher Tim Redding on Friday, and agent Tom O'Connell confirmed in an e-mail to Baltimore Sun baseball writer Dan Connolly today that the Orioles have expressed interest in signing him."
Anything you could dig up on these or any other pitchers would be greatly appreciated
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I mentioned Redding over the weekend. He's better than a lot of the arms out there and would make sense. The Japanese pitchers remain in play, as does Braden Looper, as far as I know. I'll keep checking around. - Roch
If the Orioles do get Teixeira do you think they will then maybe trade Roberts for Major League ready starter(s)(maybe Marquis,Zambrano) and Pie?
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They're not getting Zambrano, but Marquis' name came up during the whole Peavy debacle, as did Pie's, of course. I've stopped trying to predict whether Roberts will be traded because it's become impossible. It feels like he's been traded 20 times already, and he's still here. It really depends on whether the Orioles sense that he's not interested in signing an extension. - Roch
A reliable source just announced Tex was close to a deal with the O's for $22,222,222.00 for nine years and the tenth year free , so he can reach his 200 million. Is the math correct Roch ?
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My head hurts. Can we do state capitals now? - Roch
it sounds like the angels are out of the running.
i dont think the yanks have the funds to get ANOTHER big name especially if they are pursueing lowe and if it tex decides to choose a hometown team, the he would choose the o's over the gnats.
that leaves the o's and sox. i promised myself i wouldnt get caught up in tex sweepstakes but now all i want for christmas is mark teixeira in an o's uni...
At this point the O's need Tex and for the fans sake. I want him for Christmas.
"A reliable source just announced Tex was close to a deal with the O's for $22,222,222.00 for nine years and the tenth year free , so he can reach his 200 million. Is the math correct Roch ?"
HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA
Mark will look good wearing that orange 23.
Tex will pay for himself... give him $200M/10 years. Could you imagine Teixeira bobblehead night? FULL stadium! And if N.Markakis realizes he'll be looking at Mark's a** 3 hours a night, he'll sign a new contract before Spring Training to keep looking it for years to come! haha!!
Tex is more important to this team/city than to any other. No, he won't be able to duplicate Tejada's first season with the O's, but the FO didn't know what they were doing back then.
Also: Don't the best players in the game want to compete against the best players? Being in the AL East is THEE place to be!! The O's can compete and Tex knows that.
Ooooh, I want Teixeira for Christmas.
This is a comment posted by Forrester at WNST earlier today. He says the front office is confident that Tex is coming to us.
http://wnst.net/wordpress/drewforrester/2008/12/16/im-hearing-os-think-theyre-getting-tex/.
Thanks for posting this stuff Roch. I have an idea...how about we force Cesar to change his name to Mark Teixeira, and hope that he hits just as well as the real Tex would over the next couple years?
Roch, MLB Trade rumors has Treanor just about wrapped up by the Tigers. Oh well, we shall see. Keep up the honest reporting Roch.
Go O's!
With Treanor gone and talks with Zaun heating up, what are our other alternatives? I think Zaun is the best fit and he has said he's willing to come here and put some finishing touches on Weiters. Personally I thought Quiroz did an acceptable job but his defense was sometimes scary to watch. I am not confident that he can fill in as our starter with consistency. Zaun gives us that good defense we always claimed Hernandez had with a decent bat to go along with it.
Thoughts, opinions....anyone?