Who's left?
It's been a slow day, and I've spent the majority of it watching football, eating slow-cooked pork chops and sauerkraut, drinking Ketel One martinis with blue cheese-stuffed olives and smoking cigars. That's as close as it gets to a day off, and I'm taking it.
John Perrotto's latest column for Baseball Prospectus includes the top 20 remaining free agents, including a former Orioles first baseman. He lists the names and possible destinations.
Manny Ramirez - Dodgers
Orlando Cabrera - Athletics
Derek Lowe - Braves/Mets/Cubs
Adam Dunn - Nationals
Bobby Abreu - Reds
Ben Sheets - Rangers
Orlando Hudson - Nationals
Andy Pettitte - Astros (at less than $10MM)
Jason Varitek - Red Sox (at less than $10MM)
Ty Wigginton - Astros
Ivan Rodriguez - Not much of a market, may have to take a minor-league deal with an invite to Spring Training if he's not signed soon. Could he end up involuntarily retired?
Kevin Millar - Orioles
Mark Grudzielanek - Padres
Braden Looper - Brewers
Garret Anderson, Eric Hinske, Ray Durham, Jim Edmonds, Paul Byrd, Odalis Perez - All of them (with the exception of Byrd, who may retire) are drawing little to no interest and may be without a club on Opening Day.
If Millar re-signs with the Orioles, it probably won't be anytime soon. He's a last option if all else fails in their quest to find a right-handed hitter who can play first base. He's most definitely interested in returning, and manager Dave Trembley really likes him.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Roch, Your thoughts on signing Joe Crede, as a 1st baseman/dh? We could us the right handed bat. Think the club has any instrest? Go Ravens!!! Dan
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Isn't he a third baseman? I suppose moving across the diamond isn't that tricky. I haven't heard his name linked to the Orioles. - Roch
Are the O's not considering Looper anymore? Has his price dropped at all? I'm kind of indifferent on Millar. I mean he's a great guy to have in the locker room, but the O's could definitely add a first baseman that can play some corner outfield. Hinske might not be a bad pickup. He has experience at 1B. He can also DH and play the outfield.
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Looper, for now, is still deemed too expensive. - Roch
Roch-
I haven't heard you talk abut Oscar Salazar in a while. I know you are a big fan!
Does he still have a shot at being that RH 1B?
He is raking in summer league right now and this could give Lou Montanez a roster spot come opening day.
We shouldn't be looking at Millar, we have better internal options!
-Brian
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He has a shot right now, but it will dwindle further if the Orioles sign someone else who fits that description. Perhaps they have doubts that he is more than a bench player. And right now, it's going to be hard enough for him to find a spot on the bench. - Roch
Hmm. I'm surprised that no mention of the O's as a possible destination for Pudge Rodriguez was made.
Might be worthwhile offering a one-year contract to Paul Byrd and/or Odalis Perez.
JR
Roch, Could you find out why the Orioles are so hell bent on getting a right handed hitting first baseman???? What's wrong with this projected lineup:
Roberts(S) - 2B
Markakis(L) - RF
Huff(L) - 1B/DH
Dunn(L) - DH/1B
Weiters(R) - C
Mora(R) - 3B
Scott(L) - LF
Jones(R) - CF
Izturis(S) - SS
Why isn't the focus on getting a quality player and not let what hand they hit be our jailer???? Because there are no decent right handed hitting first baseman available????
Why are we not taking a chance on a one year pitcher line Colon, Lieber or Pedro?????
Andy MacPhail, Please sign Ty Wigginton !!!!!!!!!
Sign Kevin Millar and Richie Sexson to minor league deals with invitees than release them April 1.........
I think Zaun makes more sense than I. Rodriguez. Do you have a preference? I also have no problem if Millar comes back to the O's for another season.
Lucky Horseshoe - Here's a little info for you on Ben Sheets. In his eight seasons in the big leagues, he has only had one where he did not win 10 games. Since 2004 he has not had an era above 3.82. He has a better career strikeout to walk ratio than Johan Santana, Roy Oswalt, and Roy Halladay. He has a lower career WHIP than Brandon Webb and Josh Beckett.
Yes, he missed most of September in 2008, but still managed to win 13 games with a 3.09 era. You should be embarrassed to mention Garrettt Olson in the same breath, let alone suggest that Olson will be better in 2009.
Lucky Horseshoe- I agree that we should not spend money on crapshoots or names at the backend of their careers. In fact, that's one of the main reasons we are where we are. I'm not sure where you got it that I was a huge Ben Sheets proponent.
I am just sick of statements like "Looper, for now, is still deemed too expensive." It should be debatable whether we even want the guy, not whether we can afford him. If a guy fits the "plan" you get him and let the finances work themselves out. That is the Ravens' way. This is unacceptable as we continue to save money by playing the "he just isn't a good value" card. Other than some truly horrific $5-8 million per year FAs a few years ago, we haven't added payroll in a long while. Even Miggy was shipped out before having to pony up his salary. I'm just curious what we are saving it for? That mythical ace starter once we are in striking range? We just aren't paying the price to play with the big boys. Angelos is not evil- he just wants to run the team like a profit-earning business. Unfortunately, that seems to be fairly incompatible with sustained success in today's game. I believe Mark C illustrated that a few days back.
What a lot of fans tend to overlook when they are clamoring for the Orioles to sign certain free agents is that a number of them - for various reasons - have absolutely no interest in signing with the Orioles. If such is the case, there's absolutely nothing that can be done to bring them into the fold. That cannot be held against the front office.
Eric Hinske hit .247 last year and .204 the year before. How is that any better than Millar? Plus he's a left-handed bat. Ty Wigginton makes more sense or maybe even Rich Aurilia. I still think the best option is to simply use who we already have at first base and maybe pick up one more arm for the starting rotation. I guess it depends on how badly the club wants that right-handed bopper.
Roch and Dan-
Crede is a 3rd basemen but as long as he is willing to go to the other side of the diamond I see him as a great fit. He was a quality fielding third basemen which leads me to believe that some minor spring training work with his feetwork and scoops would be more that enough to turn him into a above average 1st basemen. Great idea in my book as long as the contract numbers are right
Roch, I know your an o's reporter but what do you think about the nats signing dunn and hudson.
The O's are being so cheap that for sale rumors are starting. Anything to them? Or ar we stuck with this loser for another 10 losing seasons?
Has the warehouse shown any interest in Yadel Marti or Yasser Gomez? Gomez seems like a speedy fourth outfielder who could play all three spots. Marti seems more up the Orioles alley in need of starters. There is a video out from Dominican Republic saying the Evil Empire and their ugly Red Head Step child were two teams named specifically, but they simply want to play in MLB.
It looks like we held onto Brian Roberts for too long. Any word on the trade front? It's sad to think of what the Cubs were going to give for him last year.
Also their is a couple of other cheap free agents pitchers out there that the O's could take a chance on such as Mark Prior(27), Jon Lieber, Jason Jennings, or Josh Fogg. Or do you think the O's are just waiting the market out and try to get the leftovers.
I just think the O's also need that veteran arm on the staff as they do in the field. I thought I remember Bedard actually complimented Steve Trachsel on his knowledge and help with pitching at one time. I'm sorry but Mark Hendrickson isn't my idea of veteran starting pitcher(He has never won more than 11 games).
Jeremy
Roch why are they so set on a RH 1B? As I see it now, they have three LH bats plus two switch hitters, three if they sign Zaun. When Wieters is here Zaun will be the only LH bat off the bench.
Why aren't we going after Dunn? At this point, he is going to be a major bargain...A 900 OPS, 380 OBP, 40 homer DH would be real nice...We could probably get him for 3-4 years and no more than 12 million a year at this point.
Roch,
don't get a chance to read your blog on a daily basis, so my comments are from a few days past up to present....sorry for the inconvenience.
1. what a game yesterday. yes, it was a win but the "men" were playing like boys in the playground. pushing , shoving and jumping on people that were already down on the ground. i show as an example the player that the ravens almost folded in half(backwards). the men need to put a leash on the adrenaline and testosterone and save it for the superbowl. that way we don't get penalties ,that may cost us the game. wish i knew who was involved, but the bar was too loud and i was too far away from the tv to be able to read the names.
2. glad to hear zaun is genuinely interested in the o's. i still like kevin millar.
3. i like the name koji. maybe someone can explain to him that when the fans call him koji, it is a term of endearment and not meant to be disrespectful. i do think that he has the responsiblity to learn some english words before coming here. i would not expect everyone in japan to learn english if one of us was going to visit there.
4. if by any chance the o's don't have all their ducks in a row by opening day...here's a thought. sign boog powell(i'm a big fan of his). put him on first base, right down the first base line, in front of the base and just have him stand there. i don't think anyone can knock him down and get to first base, (except maybe big poppy). so then all we would need are some power hitters.
5. re:jack...do you even have a job? seems like you are on line all the time and able to comment all hours of the day and night.
6. re:roch...do you even have a job? seems like you are on line all the time and able to blog all hours of the day and night...just kidding. keep up the great work.
7. remember that blueberry vodka and lemonade make a great drink.
Of course the Orioles are going re-sign Kevin Millar. They're just going to sit on their hands, let other teams sign everyone they want, then pick-up the leftovers at the cheapest cost possible...one of which will be Kevin Millar.
Why do the O's seems so set against signing Millar? He has to be better than Sexson. It seems like there's not a better than right handed first basemen out there.
Kevin Millar is a definite. He's a solid player.
Nationals to sign Dunn and Hudson...hmmm, maybe they don't have the same "master" plan as us.
Make trades: Olsen, Willingham, sign free agents: (Dunn and Hudson) and build a farm system......hmmm, I thought someone (not Roch) on this blog, told me they were mutually exclusive.
I know, the Nats must be "one player away", let me check, uh no.
So what can the answer be? Maybe they want to put out a decent product for their fans and think they can build for the future at the same time. What a concept.
Maybe we can pass a memo to McPhail and Angelos about this new plan other teams have adopted.
Roch,
In the event that you weren't aware, MLB Network keeps an updated "Unsigned Free Agents" ticker on rotation through out the day.
any news if we might be interested in the 2 cuban players?(Marti,Gomez) I hope were atleast looking into them.
Free agents should be listed in their order of desperation,that way the O's know who they have a chance at signing.I-Rod seems to fit that description but his ego won't allow him to sign for the peanuts mcPhail would offer.
2008 Kevin Millar = .234/.323/.394
2008 MLB average 1B = .272/.353/.464
I think they acquired enough underproducing "veteran presences" already this offseason.
You can make a team of still unsigned guys that is a lot better than the Orioles
Line-up
1 - Durham - 2b
2 - Abreu - rf
3 - Manny - dh
4 - Dunn - 1b
5 - Wigginton - 3b
6 - Anderson - lf
7 - Edmonds - cf
8 - Cabrera - ss
9 - Varitek - c
Rotation
1 - Sheets
2 - Lowe
3 - Pettitte
4 - Looper
5 - Byrd
Pen
1 - Beimel
2 - Foulke
3 - Guardado
4 - Reyes
5 - Springer
6 - Lieber
7 - Cruz
Now lets play McFail for a second
In keeping with my "Plan"
WHO WILL COME CHEAP so Ole PETER will be proud of me?
It indeed would be a sad state of affairs if the Oriole were to re-sign Millar. If Trembley wants to adopt Millar, the he should do it through the civil couirts, not the Oriole FO. The way it looks now is if your AARP card is up to date then you've got a real shot at making this club.
Ughh!!
I can't take another year of Hunter smooching on Millar. Millar sucks, every other team in the majors sees that and that's why there is no interest in him. If we get him back again, it is really going to stretch my love for the Orioles close to the breaking point. I can only take so many clutch pop outs before I want to go down to the park and yell in Hunter's face that Millar sucks and stop saying how great a pull hitter he is. If they were so desperate for a pop up 1B I'll be happy to take the money and do as little to help the team as Millar does.
Please, oh please NO MORE MILLAR!
I might have missed this back around the Izturis signing but why weren't we talking to Orlando Cabrerra? I have nothing against Izturis' defense which should be a big improvement over last year. But Cabrerra's D is at least pretty good and he can hit consistently over .300 with occasional power and speed. Also wherever he goes the teams seem to win.
Was it a money thing, or was he not interested in coming here? As far as I know we have basically no SS prospects to worry about blocking.
Also I can believe that Sheets might cost too much, but what is Garland asking for? He's solid but he can't be expecting ace money.
As a qualifier to all this I do like McPhail and I do believe he's doing as good of a job as anyone could be.
GO RAVENS!