Talking to Tex
Orioles president Andy MacPhail just confirmed that he met directly with free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira and agent Scott Boras in D.C. before leaving for the winter meetings. It wasn't the exclusive domain of the Nationals and Yankees.
The Orioles haven't made an offer, but that's not surprising, given how Boras operates.
Also, it appears that the Orioles are fading from contention in the bidding for pitcher A.J. Burnett.
MacPhail spoke with Burnett's representative today, but from everything he's read about the other offers being prepared for the right-hander, it's clear that the Orioles aren't going to venture into that territory.
MacPhail confirmed trade talks involving catcher Ramon Hernandez, and repeated that if Hernandez is dealt, the club would prefer bringing in another veteran and allowing Matt Wieters to begin the 2009 season at Triple-A Norfolk.
I'll have more later.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
ive been dying to hear this!!!
it would be great if we could bring in tex,izturis,and 2 veteran pitchers. Move ramon and his contract.
Your post doesnt surprise me. A lot of talking and not much doing on MacFail's part. There is no way in this world PA will fork out the money to bring in Tex when it will cut into his profits like that. And to start Weiters in 3A is simply to stiff him out of a year of FA. That too doesnt surprise me with PA or AM
So Roch what is the news you said we would hear on Monday?
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False alarm. Sorry. Nothing today, but I still think it's coming. I'll let you know if/when it happens. - Roch
(With brown paper bag to face, breathing heavily).
Okokokokokokokokokok....
Whew....
Yea, I'm cool. Thanks. You know, its just that, well, reading that McPhail spoke with Tex is at least some positive O's/Tex news.
Roch,
Thank goodness you are blogging at regular intervals to feed us these tidbits. If you only blogged when AM got something accomplished, you would be pretty bored.
No surprises again with AM...more talk, no action and same outcome! The fans get more frustrated, AM sharpens his BS skills and Ole Pete becomes richer!
Keep up the good work!
I wish the O's had the chance to roll out the red carpet for him at OPCAY. That would have shown more commitment and brought up some of his hometown connections.
Can anyone fill me in on what other teams see in Ramon Hernandez? Do they not see the player that O's fans saw this year? Did he just wear out his welcome? Do folks think he'll step it up being in a contract year?
Ok, what is with Everyone slamming Andy???? I mean the man has only been here for a little while but has always made two blockbuster trades, both of which looked like smart moves last season. He couldn't pull the trigger on a Roberts trade, but give him credit for trying to get the most for what few chips he has. But this criticism of him for not doing anything???? wtf? I mean there's been like 3 transactions this ENTIRE offseason... and we're only at the winter meetings for god's sake, what were you expecting? that he'd pulled off some kind of player for player trade for the entire red sox roster? He pieced together a roster that was competitive for half of last season... He's trying to put together one that will be "competitive" the whole year this year... with the final goal being a playoff/WS run in 2010. From where I'm standing, he's setup well for it.
I would agree 100 % with Chris. Andy MacPhail is doing wonders for the Orioles, they problem is that we want immediate gratification, which dosen't happen in the rebuilding process. IF we can trade Ramon Hernandez to the Reds for UT Ryan Freel and 3b Neftali Soto I think it would be great. Then, immediately sign C Greg Zaun who I think already has the ink on the paper to come to Baltimore if Ramon is traded. He would provided a good defensive option until May 16th when Wieters can come up after saving the Free Agency years. I think the Orioles have a shot of retaining Quiroz if he accepts assignment, if not I think Adam Donachie will serve as the back up until Wieters is called up. We gotta think long-term folks
Chris - it is what we have come to expect from the fantasy league/ESPN era of baseball fans. They dont understand why first round draft picks dont immediately make your team better like in the NFL, why a lousy team which free agents avoid like the plague cant sign every one of their top 5 targets, rebuild by immediately trading every player over 18 and replacing them with younger all stars, why you cant trade your rejects for another team's star players, why the past ten years has no impact on creating a plan for the future or anything else approximating logic and common sense. Annoying, isnt it?
Chris,
Well said about Andy. Kirk has been ranting about Andy MacPhail for awhile now, and has nothing to back up claims that AM is all talk and no action. Hey Kirk, I guess his Tejada & Bedard moves last off season were all talk too. Geez, where's bob's optimistic views when we need them!
I'd take Freel for Ramon in a heartbeat, then turn around and sign Turtle Zaun. Freel has decent wheels, RH bat with a little pop, plays a solid OF, and is versatile enough for the infield.