Snyder leaves AFL
Brandon Snyder has taken his last swings in the Arizona Fall League.
Snyder returned home to attend a wedding this weekend, and he won't rejoin the Phoenix Desert Dogs. He batted .354 with five doubles, one triple, three homers and 18 RBIs in 17 games.
Brandon Waring is starting at first base tonight, but this will be his last game, too. He also has a wedding to attend and will be removed from the roster.
The final AFL game is slated for Nov. 19. The league doesn't play on Sundays.
"It doesn't make much sense to rush them back there," said Dave Stockstill, director of player development.
Brandon Erbe still can't pitch after jamming his pinkie finger. He'll return to Baltimore to have his hand examined by a team physician.
In other news, the Washington Nationals will re-introduce Jim Riggleman as manager tomorrow. I guess that's the correct term. His interim tag is coming off.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Snyder leaving on a good note. Glad to see he did well.
I know getting Bell for Sherrill might end up being a good thing in the end, maybe Johnson will work out too, but that same FOXsports article mentioned the possibility of a straight-up 1-for-1 trade, Edwin Jackson for Sherrill. Dunno how much McPhail would've known about the Tigers desiring a reliever this off-season, but the article said they showed interest in Sherrill when he was with us. I'm not calling McPhail out and it really doesn't matter now, but that would've been great for us. He might not be the no. 1 guy we're looking for, but I think it beats an error-ridden third baseman who isn't all that impressive and a guy that'll probably never start a major league game in his life.
He leaves on a good note, but the poor guy who just flew out to Arizona to watch these games, will be missing out. Hope he brings you some reports from out there.
I was rooting for Valentine to be that Nats Skipper.
I really like his style of management.
Good to see Snyder find successs. However, he is never going to get anything more than a "September call up" here in Baltimore. Too many guys are blocking his way and allegedly the O's are in the market for a power hitting first baseman. LOL.
After having watched the Jimmy the Greek documentary last night on ESPN, I thought you were talking about a time when Jimmy stopped betting on games involving Hadl, Boozer, Dubinion, and Blanda.
Roch-
The Uggla trade makes sense.
But, I still think the MOST IMPORTANT THING they need to handle this offseason, is the same as what they tried to do a few years back.
They NEED to get the top 2 or 3 bullpen arms on the market.
This rotation is going to be solid. Who knows what the 2nd half of 2010 season will bring IF WE WIN THE GAMES WE ARE SUPPOSED TO WIN.
When you look at the Twins only losing 2 games that they led after the 8th inning.
You have to hold it down.
Those losses are demoralizing and can really start a bad streak.
Anyway. Just my thoughts.
Roch, I take it the rules in the AFL are more layed back considering they are letting Snyder leave for a wedding?
From the Sun
"Center fielder Adam Jones lost a tiebreaker for the last Super 2 salary arbitration spot, meaning he won't be eligible to have his pay decided by a panel until after the 2010 season. Reliever Matt Albers earned Super 2 status"
Doesn't that doom Albers' roster spot? Can't see the O's paying him an arbitration salary when there are so many equivalent options that are in the system and available to the O's at lower prices. Sarfate just got a boost I'd assume.
Also, any idea from your sources as to whether the O's would prefer to sign a 3rd baseman (Beltre, Atkins, Glaus) vs. making the Uggla trade if the price is right?
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I'm sure Uggla brings a certain appeal because of his numbers, but the glove could be an issue. Depends what the Marlins want. - Roch
Roch-
I don't want to talk semantics, but I think after reading Macphail's latest interview, we have all jumped the gun on some things.
Macphail said that he was not going to trade away any of the young talent for a "short-term fix". That is it was something to fill a need going forward then they are certainly going to entertain those types of moves.
I would assume, that Adrian Gonzales, who is extremely cheap at just 10 million over the next 2 years, that they would want to work out a long term deal before anything was done.
I don't think we can cross AG off just yet. Obviously, now that he has won another GG, and hit 40 for the first time at age 27, he could be that cornerstone player at 1st for the next 5, 6, or 7 years.
I think Macphail's been misunderstood up until now when it comes to trades.
Would you concur?
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He's said multiple times that he won't trade any premium young pitchers who are viewed as long-term starters in the majors. I don't think that's changed. - Roch
christian: just how did you decide that Josh Bell was "an error-ridden third baseman who isn't all that impressive" and that Steven Johnson is "a guy that'll probably never start a major league game in his life"? Pretty harsh judgement from you on players that the highly respected Baseball Prospectus people have ranked as the #2 and #12 prospects in the system. Pretty harsh judgement from you on players who have received multiple awards during their brief minor league careers, and who have excellent statistics to boot.
Roch: Uggla for Scott and Britton. Fair trade, and if not then which side says no?
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I'd be very surprised if MacPhail gave up Britton. - Roch
Adrian Gonzalez -
27 years old...hits 40 home runs in one of the most pitcher friendly parks in baseball (if not THE most pitcher friendly park)...100+ RBI threat each year...Oh and cheap too.
Oh and Gonzalez won the gold glove this year at first base. I believe Tex won it in the AL this year. That worked out pretty well for the Yankees.
Definitely not worth giving up a package centered around one of our top pitching prospects - (aka not guaranteed to become proven talent whereas Gonzalez is)...
Which is why an aggressive team that will probably be in the playoff hunt will go ahead and make that trade (I bet Clay Bucholz has a new team next season)
I think somebody yesterday posted some 7-1 scenario to get Gonzalez filled with nothing but our worst players and I believe that person was serious. It was the comic highlight of my day.
That'd be like being offered 7 really ugly girlfriends that you get made of fun for having behind your back instead of having one super hot one everybody wishes they had. Any takers guys?
Gonzalez is absolutely worth Tilman, Snyder, Britton, and take your pick of a lower minors player. And if we got that deal we'd be the winners in that trade. Which is why it'd probably take even more than that. And if it does, we should still do it. Swap Tilman for Arieta and put Reimold in. That'd hurt but Pie is there to replace him in the outfield and he may prove to be very good as well.
Good teams find ways to make this happen. Losing one-two top pitching prospects will not kill us for sure. And one of those guys may turn out great. No getting around that, but it'll be worth it.
Elite hitters who are also elite fielders are just as valuable as elite pitchers. This isn't just an Adam Dunn power hitter, it's a guy who can field too which makes pitchers around him better as well. And it's not like 1st baseman get injured like pitchers so these multi-top prospect packages don't come back to bite you like say a Bedard to Seattle trade.
I found myself actually getting excited about the prospects of getting Ugula over a washed up player like Beltre yesterday, but then realized quickly that would be our "big bat" for the middle of the lineup instead of just a complimentary piece which is what Ugula would be on somebody else's team.
jedd said:
Gonzalez is absolutely worth Tilman, Snyder, Britton, and take your pick of a lower minors player. And if we got that deal we'd be the winners in that trade. Which is why it'd probably take even more than that. And if it does, we should still do it. Swap Tilman for Arieta and put Reimold in. That'd hurt but Pie is there to replace him in the outfield and he may prove to be very good as well.
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Jedd, I don't think Gonzo is worth all those guys for a 2 year rental. Gonzalez is not going to sign an extension before coming to baltimore when he can cash in free agency and go where he wants (contender, money, city). Eveyone would like to have Adrian here but you have to take a realistic look at this team. If we were 1 or 2 players away I would say do do the deal. We are more than 2 players away this year. Another thing, SD would want more than the 4 players your propose. They have made it known they want to be blown away for a cheap talent like thim.
Roch,
Joel, Brad and others seem to suggest that we are more than 1,2 or 3 players away from contending in the AL east and if we don't get the right 3 players I believe they're correct. But if we acquire a 3B man with the 30+ HR. of Uggla a 1B man with the power,OBA.,and defensive prowess of Derrek Lee, and a closer type reliever like Putz we can play even up with the Yanks, BoSox, and Angels and better than .500 against the rest of the league. I hate to say it{ and you'll really hate to read it } but if we pull off the UG-LEE-PUTZ trifecta we are contenders.
jedd........be patient....we need to build with these young guys, there is no quick fix......there is another gonzo out there and we can trade for him with other prospects once we are actually in contention......thats the process that every good team will use thats not named the yankees and redsoxs. patience bud
Chris/Joel C,
Joel - 2 year rental unless we do what it'd take to sign him to an extension (think $18-$20 a year in an extension). I'm hoping you aren't one of those "cost conscious" fans. I'm going to guess no. We are all tired of "cost consciousness." And to those who are - go get the Orioles accounting department names on the back of your jerseys. That's who you are rooting for after all.
Chris,
How often are Gonzo's out there? You think we are gonna get Pujols? Nope...Tex (nope)...Prince Fielder (nope)...Gonzalez can be had and patient teams end up in last place. We put a legit clean up hitter in and we have one of the best lineups in baseball hands down. From top to bottom the only weakness is Izzy and whoever we put at 3rd base next year. I'd take that.
This is not a quick fix - it's a necessary fix. We have an abundance of pitching prospects. And we have a dearth of clean up hitters in the minors2. This "buy the bats" mentality only works when you actually "buy the bats." You see us overbidding for Holiday? And when the Red Sox grab Gonzalez I bet you they have no problem locking him up to an appropriate extension. That'll just leave Prince Fielder in that big free agent class we keep waiting for. Anybody really have any faith we'll "buy that bat" when he's available? Because by that time he'll grab $23-$25 million a year.
It won't be like that year when we "bought the bats" with Tejada, Palmeiro, and Lopez. $12 million a year for Tejada back then gets you an above average pitcher nowadays.
Get Gonzalez now, stop hiding behind "Patience" and "Future" - you can build for the future now with Gonzalez. He's young enough to be great for many years. You can keep smart drafting and actually sign legit international talent. Do all those wild and impatient things competitive teams do all the time.
Jedd-
I agree with you on 2 parts:
1) the latter first- I agree that Uggla will be a focal point on our team NEXT YEAR, rather than a compliment on another, but I believe that he woudd ultimately turn into a compliment to Jones, Weiters or even Bell as they develop into complete players. Having 3/4 guys with HR potential will be necessary in the AL East. I believe the Orioles would be wise to give away a prospect such as Hernandez, or even an UNPROVEN Arrieta to get someone like Uggla who could produce today at 3B and in the DH/1B role in the future. What's the point in amassing a surplus in order to trade to fill a key weakness if you never pull the trigger?
2)Adrian Gonzalez will take a number of real prospects to bring him here, and the price is cheap. He is proven and the defense will help pitchers.
The "BUT!" I have with this is the O's should only do 1 of the two trades, and it sounds like Uggla would be the more likely of the two to go first. Maybe offer each team a package and say "whoever takes it first"