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Garko is a nice player. He's still young & had 90 RBI's last year...I just dont think we are in a position to give anything up for him. What do we have to offer that Clev could possibly be interested in besides the untouchables??? Got me??

ESPN is reporting on their Rumor Central page that the Yankees would rather trade Xavier Nady over Nick Swisher. Nady is better offensively, but doesn't have as much experience at 1B as Swisher does, with only 82 games played there over his 8 or 9 year career.

I know we hate to trade with the Yankees, but Nady would be a good offensive pickup and can play all the outfield spots. Plus, he bats right-handed. Plug him in the lineup behind Huff and in front of Luke, and I think it would be a great match.

Thoughts Roch?
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Works for me. - Roch

Roch,

can you post that picture of Ed Reed or do you know where to find it...could be good a thing to send along to my friends who are Titans fans so they are reminded what kind of afternoon tomorrow is going to be.

Thanks!

Cereal Blogger-
We can offer Clev bullpen help, wich they are in desperate need of. If that is all we have to give up for Garko, I say pull the trigger.

Roch. . .excellent show yesterday with Tom and Amber.

the roast would be a fun event to attend, though in my case there's a scheduling conflict. I'm sure the house will be packed and it's a excellent charitable cause.

thanks for the info and insights re: the O's. I keep checking daily to see who's going to be added to the roster to bring this club back to respectability and then to a championship.

I too would like to see the pic of Reed to send to some "friends" in Florida.

Roch,
Don't you have to actually do something for them to roast you for it? Or is that not a requirement anymore.

I mean, I've been following your blog since you first started blogging at the sun, and it's been fun...but still, you might be the first person ever to be roasted for blogging.

But seriously, it sounds like a fun event. My wife's birthday is the 24th, think I can get away with taking her to your roast to celebrate? Somehow I feel like if I did I'd be roasted.

Go Ravens!
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Well, there's also the reporter/TV/radio stuff... And I'm such a beloved figure... Or it's just a good excuse to have people gather and make fun of me for charity. - Roch

Roch,
What will it take to get Garko from the Indians? Would he only come over as part of a Roberts trade?
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Indians could use some bullpen help. Not sure they have interest in Roberts anymore. - Roch

Roch,

With talk that the Orioles are considering signing Ivan Rodriguez and, now, Jim Edmonds, these just don't seem to be moves that one would normally associate with a team that is supposed to have no shot at contending. Granted, Rodrigues and Edmonds are both at the tail ends of their careers, but you would think the O's wouldn't be going down this route. Do you get a sense around the warehouse that club officials are quietly optimistic about having a breakout year like the Rays did last year? All of this really depends on their starting pitching, of course. The bullpen is probably the team's strength. The offense isn't great, but not bad, and has a few players that should be better (Markakis--possible all-star, Jones could have a breakout year). If a couple of the young pitchers put it all together, then a Rays-like season isn't far-fetched. If you can give us a sense of what the club officials' expectations are for the upcoming year, that would be great.
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I don't get that "breakout year" vibe from anyone. Guys like Pudge and Edmonds would fill holes in the short term. The focus is more on 2010. - Roch

Why don't we just use Oscar Salazar at 1b?

Edmunds? Really? Is there some aversion to putting Freel at first against righthanders, whom he hits reasonably well, much better than Edmunds has done against lefthanders over his whole career? Why not just get a backup catcher who can play 1st and drive in the occasional run as well as Ramon did? Is Edmunds at this late stage of his career any better than Salazar or Millar? The Pads were dopey enough to pay Edmunds 8 mil last season; does he want to hang around so badly that he'll take, say, the type of contract Corey Patterson signed with the Nats, which would enable him to barely clear 1 mil if he starts enough times? Why not just invite Jay Gibbons back to camp? Calvin Pickering was still flatulating around in the Atlantic League last year, too, and I'm sure he'd love an invite as well.

How do we go about getting tickets to the roast of Kid Roch?
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Great nickname, Funky Cold! You can get them at Rams Head Live. Or I can hook you up. - Roch

Kansas City has a total logjam of young 1B. We should be seeing who they are willing to deal for Radhames Liz. Maybe Ryan Shealy?

I'd rather see Millar than edmonds. The numbers are the same and Millar has the rah rah effect. Roch why is Salazar not being mention for 1b? Am I missing something? Especially since you keep saying we're filling holes until 2010. I'd bet he can hit .235 and get 20 hrs as well as Millar Sexton or Edmonds can at a cheaper price. Who knows he may even hit .285 with 25 HRs.

I have to say, I'm not interested in Jim Edmonds, even a little bit.

Anita won't be speaking at your roast?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I'm hoping she'll attend. Don't think she's scheduled to speak. - Roch

Roch;
On Garko, You will give us more details later but.....you are being roasted at Rams Head Live on Jan. 21? Was that a shameless plug? Or was it a hint like the one you left for Koji? Have a Koji Garko kind of day!

I also would like a Garko move if it only cost a bullpen member. The guy is still young and would be more than a one year rental since there is no one in the minors ready for that position.

Roch,

With the premium on closers during this era is there any word on the O's using co-closers in Sherrill and Ray, if not for anything else but to improve their stock? I have always be in favor of having your best guy close but that person may not be the same from game to game.

Also, I know you talked briefly about Snyder but is there anyone else the O's may consider moving to 1b in the minors?

Garko has good numbers. He's 28 years old, yet three more years til free agency. Of all the 1b candidates discussed here, I like he and Billy Butler best. However, the Indians will require more than just bullpen(Sherrill or Ray) help to get him. Plan on one of our young starters(Hernandez, Bergeson, or Berken) being included or someone like Brandon Snyder.

Xavier Nady would be nice, but he's a free agent at the end of 2009 and at what cost?

After reading Connally's article on the Roberts/Markakis negotiations, I get the sense the team is at the point where they will need to overpay to keep them. Let's face it they know they are the face of the franchise.

Robert's has been offered $10 mil a year, yet they remain significantly apart on both length of contract and money. Wow! That suggests to me that the Orioles are offering three years and Brian wants five. The money . . . I can't imagine paying him more that 10 mil a year.

Markakis has been offered six years @ $10 mil a year, but the team comes up $10 mil short. All this after Dustin Pedroia signed for $40 mil??? I still would do the deal(six years/70 mil) if it means keeping Nick here for three years beyond his free agency.

Of course, if this team had been pro-active, just once(before AM arrived), it wouldn't be necessary to have this conversation.

Yea Roch where can we find that photo???
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It's been posted on the blog entry. - Roch

What on earth would the Orioles want with Jim Edmonds. You know Rouh, I'm just not gettin' it! We are suppose to be rebuilding, but all we have done all winter is sign a bunch of 34 & 35 year old pitchers! And now you say they have interest in Edmonds! He's 39! There are some nice, young, players out there that could help this team now, and in the furture. Dunn, Garland, just to name a couple. I would have rather seen them go after Gambi than Edmonds! Is this team really this poor, that we can't spend any money on a serious player? I know its all about the furture, but come on! Jim Edmonds? I would rather see them just let Salazar and huff split time at 1st.
I hate to say it, but I'm starting to think maybe Jack is right! Maybe we are getting hoodwinked! We let Cabrara go, than go out and sign an older verison, just to save a few bucks. Where's the youth movement? Why not sign a guy like Garland or Sheets, these guys are young and would still be here in 2010!
I don't mean to rant, but I just don't like what I'm seeing this year! Mark Teixeira was not the only FA out there this year that could have helped this team!

Roch,

Now with the Yankees out of the picture, I am thinking it might be an interesting move for the Orioles to go after Andy Pettitte. We are looking for good pitchers short term, and he is a good pitcher that was looking for short term with the Yanks. If I am doing the math correctly, offering him a 16 mill contract would still put us under budget from where we would have been if we got teixiera. I think we should take a stab at him.

What do you think of that?
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As I've said before, Andy Pettitte probably doesn't want to come here, and I'm not sure the Orioles would top NY's offer of $10 mil. - Roch

Sun reporting we just brought Chris Gomez back. He can also fill in at first base even though his role is to be utility. Hit good for us last time around.

Break Out Year? More Like OUTBREAK year, as in there will be so many seats open at OPACY that people will think there is some Peruvian Anal Virus on the seats and stay as far away from the place as possible. (just don't tell the yankee and sox fans that flood the place.)

Roch- Any rumblings on Daric Barton?
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I'm checking on it. - Roch

Roch,

After the Uehara signing, I am left wondering if we are still pursuing Kawakami?

Figured maybe it would be a selling point that his fellow countryman is now headed here.

Do you view the O's as a serious contender still for Kawakami? Should they be?

If they are and they should be, do you think they seriously have a shot, now that the Yankees are reported to be interested, as well?
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No, I don't. The Orioles aren't hotly pursuing him right now and I'd assume another team will give him a better deal. - Roch

Roch, the orioles have just resigned chris gomez.Don't get me wrong i have always liked him and he has always done a acceptable job. My question is why did they ever get rid of him in the first place. roch i know this organization has there hands full with trying to do the right things and make us a winner, but moves like that don't give the fans any hope. When we didn't sign Mark t and this town was down in the dumps, wouldn't it have been nice to be able to say that we just signed brian and nick to contract extensions. You know and i know that brian and nick are both out of here. When your only 2 locally grown star players don't want your money and don't want to stay here what does that really say about this organization.It's really sad roch that the only news we get is the signing of a 37 year old player that already has been on and off of this team 3 different times already.

I'd be at that roast for sure... if I wasn't going to be in Sarasota at the Reds complex playing baseball. Our yearly tourney is that week. What are they going to serve up, besides you Roch, Skinless Chicken breasts & Salmon with brown rice? Is it possible that Surhoff will show up with a large medium shirt on? :-)Notably absent from the roaster list... NO Anita Marks? As much as you co hosted her that first year & she isn't part of the gig? Surely she has some ammo to use... :-)

If the O's can get Garko, do it, as long as the price is very reasonable. He is a better option than Millar,Edmonds, etc. I still like the idea of Signing Wigginton though. He can play 2B & 3B too. Very flexible guy position wise... I have given up on the notion of Dunn, obviously potter wants one of the lowest payrolls in baseball, so that won't work.

Roch,

Now that the Orioles have made another huge splash and re-signed Chris Gomez, does this pretty much eliminate any chance of Salazar making the team if they sign Sexson, Edmonds, or some other over-the-hill player to play 1st base?

Nothing against Gomez; I'm just wondering how you think this impacts giving some of our younger guys a chance to prove themselves.
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It definitely got a lot harder for Salazar to make the club. - Roch

Roch,

Now that the Orioles have made another huge splash and re-signed Chris Gomez, does this pretty much eliminate any chance of Salazar making the team if they sign Sexson, Edmonds, or some other over-the-hill player to play 1st base?

Nothing against Gomez; I'm just wondering how you think this impacts giving some of our younger guys a chance to prove themselves.

Re. Ryan Garko -- there was a lot of talk shortly after the 2008 season that Cleveland might try to trade him, but I think that's cooled down now. The team realizes that there's no telling what might become of Travis Hafner, so Garko might end up with more at-bats at DH if Victor Martinez plays more 1B. Martinez is a better fielder than Garko and his playing 1B would also allow Kelly Shoppach to play C more often. As for needing bullpen help, the Indians believe they're pretty well set, after acquiring Kerry Wood and Joe Smith (the side-arming reliever, not the power forward who played basketball at UMd) -- so well-set that they included one of their top minor-league reliever prospects, Jeff Stevens, in the trade for Mark DeRosa. So while Garko would be a nice addition to the Os, I just don't see it happening.

In Chris Gomez we trust.

Why Chris Gomez???? Why???

im tired of hearing about ed reed troy polamolu is way better plays the run and the pass reed just plays pass he is a free lantzer.how many tackles did he have in 16 games 40 thats less than 3 a game what did troy have?a 100 tackles and 7 picks come on any resonable football fan can look at the numbers and see who is better.another thing james harrison 16 sacks 110 tackles 7 forced fumbles thats why he was def mvp and ed reed wasnt.so stop with all this ed reed stuff.when he plays pittsburgh all i see him do is look around for hines ward and james harrison

The Baltimore Orioles. Providing a relaxing, no pressure environment for aging veterans in the twilight of their careers to make a quick, easy couple million.

What a sales pitch.

Hi Roch,

I saw earlier where you said that the O's focus is on 2010. However, there is currently no one under contract (or in the farm system) projected to start at 1B, 2B, or 3B after this season. And many of the 1B options we've heard (Sexson, for example) seem to be 1-year, short-term options. And we've heard nothing at all about how 3B will be filled long-term.

I find this kind of odd; do you? What is the organization's thinking on how they will fill these positions less than a year from now? Where will our 2010 first baseman, second baseman, and third baseman come from? Thanks Roch.
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No idea, Steve. I'm wondering same thing. - Roch

Orioles just signed Chris Gomez--I always liked him--

Ryan Freel and Chris Gomez. The era of the two-man bench is upon us.

Hey Roch,

I was looking at the MLB Channel, and they said that the O's signed Chris Gomez to a minor league deal. Does that deal include a invite to spring training?
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Yes. - Roch

I see Trembley is asking for Ty Wiggington. I could live with that.

Nady has always been a favorite of mine since the day I saw him play his first AAA game when he was a Portland Beaver. It was obvious he was going to be a major league hitter (unlike Jon Knott).

Like nearly all Pads phenoms (and O's for that matter) he never lived up to his hype and he's not going to win anybody a pennant (because he can't pitch) but he's underrated and besides, the O's have never had an Xavier.

O's just signed C. Gomez, guess that answers one bench question

Backup C - Rental
Utl- Freel
Utl- C. Gomez
Utl- Montanez or Salazar

I hope Montanez makes the team as the LF and they put Scott as DH/1b. Then you have Salazar as your bat off the bench.

Bill,

I'm not sure what you mean in regards to Freel being better against LHP.

Edmonds' career OPS:
vs. RHP: .954
vs. LHP: .767

Freel's career OPS:
vs. RHP: .732
vs. LHP: .737

Even at this stage in his career, I think a healthy Edmonds is likely to be better than Salazar and Freel. After his trade to the cubs he hit 19 HRs and had 49 RBIs en route to compiling a .937 OPS.

Roch,
It looks like Fresh Hands Gomez is back in the fold. Pretty sweet. I always liked that guy.

[i] It would be a curious move[/i]

Roch,

You've been around the team for a long time, why is everything so difficult with the Orioles? The entire organization can't include nothing but bad people, there must be some good and talented people there. I guess it all must go back to Angelos and his sons?

This is 10+ yrs of horrible baseball, terrible decisions and endless negotiations. Whether it includes the endless spring training location issues or MASN or free agents, etc. Seems like management is so paralyzed with making the wrong decision or trying to wring out the extra buck.

Hasn't anyone every told Angelos that baseball decisions aren't paid on an hourly rate?

I'm in my 40s and grew up as a huge Orioles fan but I'm glad I live out west (AZ) and don't have to suffer constantly with their ineptitude.

Hey Roch, i'm a long time reader and first time poster. Thank you for all of you "insider info" and all of the humor your blog brings me and the countless other readers on this blog. Your blog relly has helped deal and with the last 12 years of "Orioles magic". I just hope we can turn this thing around. All of us need to be patient and let MacPhail do his job. Some of the same philosphies he had with the Twins and Cubs are what he is trying to instill here. We have pitching-potentially talented pitching-at our lower and middle levels of the minore. Markakis, Jones, Wieters and the hopeful improvement of our last two draft classes. Developing pitching will allow us to either plug them in the rotation or trade for quality position players. Please, just give MacPhail a chance to do what Gillick, Wren and Malone were not given a chance to do. I do have one question-Do you feel comfortable giving some readers of this blog(not naming names but it rhymes with Mack) knowledge of your whereabouts? Your readers don't want you to become literally roasted. lol...just joking but thanks for the blog Roch!

"I mentioned a long time ago that Cleveland's Ryan Garko was a possibility, and that remains true. "

If the Indians and the Orioles have had no discussions about this player, how is he still a possibility?

Yet you seem pretty convinced that the Orioles obtaining Kawakami is not a possibility, even though they still have ongoing negotiations with him...and his main suitors other than the Orioles, the Braves, seem to want to spend a lot of money on Derek Lowe. If they sign Lowe, I would have to assume they would not be able to afford Kawakami.

Not trying to be hard on you, but I am just wondering what sources you have or what information you have that leads you to these conclusions. You know more about it that I do, so I am very curious.
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Well, I'm not going to give you my sources, but I know the Orioles have discussed Garko as an option at first base if they couldn't get Teixeira. If someone has a "source" saying they haven't contacted the Indians, I guess you can choose to believe it. That's the Hot Stove League for you. But I know the Orioles have/had interest and the Indians soured on Garko and were willing to move him if Hafner proved to be healthy. As for Kawakami, I didn't say there was zero chance for the Orioles, but I know they're focusing on other areas now, and the person I spoke with who would know about these things seriously downplayed the club's chances of signing him now, with the assumption that another team would meet his current asking price while they're trying to sign or acquire a catcher and first baseman. - Roch

Roch,
This is my 1st time blogging on your page, but I've been reading your stuff for months now, I like what you put out. But,I was wondering where some of your bloggers get their info. I've been a O's fan longer then i've been alive. I've seen the O's when they were great, I've seen them when they were so-so and I've seen them well lets say the last 11yrs have said it all. Until Mr A is no longer around and the city takes care of its team, we will just always continue to be a stop over for future greats to start but never stay, thank god these kids can play great 81 game seasons, because the 2nd season(81) they stink...But I love my BIRDS and I'll continue to watch the games being played and root for them because I really HATE the Yankees/Red Sox, but I love the game...