Orioles sign Eaton (updated)
The Orioles have signed pitcher Adam Eaton to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
I guess they actually do have plans to add another starting pitcher.
The Phillies released Eaton, 31, two days ago. A first round pick by Philadelphia in 1996(11th overall), he went 4-8 with a 5.80 ERA in 21 games, including 19 starts, for the Phillies last season.
In nine major league seasons with San Diego, Texas and Philadelphia, Eaton is 68-63 with a 4.80 ERA in 197 games (193 starts). He's posted a 6.10 ERA over the last two seasons.
Bring on the AL East!
Eaton is insurance with all these injuries and the uncertainty surrounding so many starters in camp.
Troy Patton didn't make it out of the seventh inning. He allowed two runs and three hits, and walked a batter, before manager Dave Trembley brought in Bob McCrory with runners on first and second and two outs.
Dmitri Young represented the tying run with the Orioles leading, 6-3, but McCrory struck him out.
Patton kept falling behind in the count.
Ryan Freel had an error at shortstop. He moved to center field and almost committed another one after dropping the ball while transferring it to his bare hand. He also had trouble with a fly ball and over-ran another ball, though the runners didn't advance. Tough day in the field.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Tough day for Freel, but gotta keep trying him at SS.
As for Eaton, I don't get this. Where are they going to put him? At Frederick?
That's too bad about Patton, I was hoping to see him succeed. Has Trembley or McPhail said where they expect to send him this season?
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Either Bowie or Norfolk. Rosters haven't been set. - Roch
The Eaton signing seems unnecessary. I'd hate to see Penn, Pauley or Hennessey exposed to waivers on his account. But maybe the team just needs someone to log innings in Spring Training. In any case, I'd rather see a youngster learn on the job in the #5 slot than go for another one year fix.
As for Ryan Freel's errors, Dave Trembley needs to face reality and carry 4 bench players, one of whom should be Chris Gomez who can back up at any infield position. Freel, Gomez, Wigginton and a backup catcher is one of the better benches in baseball.
wow, what a waste. Adam Eaton ! Wasn't he a Gillick signing with the Phil's? He's a bum.
Not a bad move! sign him to a minor league deal, no slot lost on the 40 man roster, if he doesn't cut it, let him loose, with pitchers leaving for the WBC it will be easier to get him some innings. With some of the pitching concerns, i.e., stiff elbow here, stiff forearm there, an oblique that does whatever it is obliques do or don't do when they do or don't function properly, this seems like a smart move to me. That's what I told Andy when he called me about it! :) BTW, I would probably know what an oblique is if my 2 liter abs weren't in the way.
Hey roch, eaton use to be a good pitcher do you think this means he will make the rotation or is he just a guy for the norfolk roster.
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He has to pitch his way into the rotation. They won't just hand him a spot. - Roch
Eaton is a complete no risk move for us. He earns $8 million this year and we only have to pay him $400K of it. He's had nearly 200 ML starts and is simply better insurance than Chris Waters and the like. If Hill and Pauley show they can do it, they'll get the chance, but here's a guy who can step in if they can't.
hey Roch-
does he have any opt out clause if he's not on the major league roster? Would Eaton be willing to accept a trip to Norfolk if he doesn't make the team or would he pretty much just ask for his release? It's a low-risk sign but with all of our guys who are younger than Eaton and are out of options I don't like his chances of making the opening day roster. If we can stash him away in AAA he's a decent insurance option though.
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Just found out about the deal and have no other details on contract. And I've never met him or spoken to him, so no idea what his thoughts would be on going to Norfolk. You're way ahead of me here. - Roch
Eaton....hard to figure that one out...maybe he has options left if he does not make the team or gets released..my son is a Phillies fan and he has been moaning for the last 2 years for them to dump him....he has pretty bad lately..maybe the O's can straighten him out..guess it is worth a shot..that does not sound good about Patton...but he is just getting going after missing the whole last year..that SS error may have not been wind related but the other error and bad plays....were they from this crazy wind or just bad D?
Hey Roch,
Just wanted to let you know Eaton was actually drafted in 1996, not 2000. I think 2000 was when he made his debut. Thanks, and I love the blog!
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Thanks. - Roch
This is a ridiculously low risk move for the Orioles. Not a major league contract, not a spot on the 40-man roster. Even though he was bad last year (and for the last three years, in fact), he's still only 31 and maybe needs some retooling. The worst thing that can happen is that he stinks in the minors. The best thing that can happen is that he finds what he had in San Diego and goes back to being a solid #3 starter. Somewhere in the middle is him providing an additional buffer between Chris Waters and Radhames Liz and the starting rotation.
C'mon, Bruce Chen got signed today. How much worse can Eaton be?
i dont really get this signing. his ceiling is so low. even if he has a good season, he'll still get rocked in the AL East.
Roch,
In your opinion (and I apologize in advance because you'll probably get a ton of questions just like this) do you think the Eaton signing means that Rich Hill's injury is a bit more serious then they are letting on?
thanks.
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Not according to Andy MacPhail. Check out my latest entry. - Roch
The pitching depth is starting to fall apart already. Anybody worrying about the kids getting thier shot this year should stop worrying. This is what happens when you try to build a team on projects and rejects.Eaton is a total joke,worse than Hill.
EATON?
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Look, there is "no risk" in signing Adam Eaton. But, if he has something left in his arm, he has done a fine job of disguising it in recent seasons. I watch all the teams on mlbtv. Eaton has been tough to watch.