Luke Scott wants Guerrero in the lineup (updated)

The Orioles' search for a left-handed reliever won't lead them to Joe Beimel. He's apparently decided to sign with the Pirates, according to this tweet from Troy Renck of the Denver Post. Beimel was born in St. Marys, Pa. and pitched at Duquesne. He spent his first three major league seasons in Pittsburgh. Sounds like he wants to go home. We'll find out later how much the Pirates are paying him for that warm and fuzzy feeling. Yes, they beat out the Orioles. They also beat out the Red Sox, though I'm sure that fact will go unnoticed or unmentioned by a few readers here. Beimel would have been a solid addition, but he bounces around and usually signs late. He's not a big-ticket item. He's not in heavy demand. He would have been useful here, but I'm not banging my head against a wall over Joe Beimel. Update: According to mlbtraderumors, Beimel turned down major league offers, including a two-year proposal, to accept a minor league offer from the Pirates. At least we went a few minutes without talking about Vladimir Guerrero. Time's up. Beimel was expected to make his decision today or over the weekend. It should take longer with Guerrero, who's still waiting for a team to step up with a better offer than the $3 million to $5 million that the Orioles are proposing. Meanwhile, Luke Scott is putting his body through a rigorous workout and not letting the Guerrero rumors distract him. There's no doubt that Guerrero's signing would impact last year's Most Valuable Oriole. Scott would move to left field, though it's also possible that he could be dealt late in spring training. Right now, the plan would call for Scott to grab his outfielders glove. "The truth is, I haven't really given it a thought," Scott told me yesterday in a phone interview. "Off the top of my head, it's one of two things: Either I'd be playing left field or there would be the possibility of a trade. But at the same time, left-handed power isn't something that's very available on the market. I like to think what I bring to the table is something that's wanted, but if it was to happen, that guy's a great hitter and would only make our lineup better, more potent. I don't see anything bad about that, if you ask me. "Our lineup is looking really, really tough right now. It is the AL East, where the most important thing is how you match up on the mound, because of what we face day in and day out. But at the same time, they have potent lineups, as well. And he's a freak, a tremendous hitter. He hits pitches that no one else hits." Scott says if he were facing Guerrero, he'd force the ball down the middle instead of trying to bury it on the veteran's hands or going down and away. Guerrero is one of the game's best bad-ball hitters, certainly the best I've seen. Older fans have mentioned Yogi Berra and Roberto Clemente. For me, it's Guerrero, and Scott apparently agrees. "I've seen him miss more four-seamers right down the middle than take a submarine sinker on his hands or away and try to hurt people in the left field bleachers," Scott said. If you haven't caught on, Scott endorses Guerrero's signing. He'd rather play in the field, which Guerrero would allow him to do, though not seven days a week. "The guy had a great year last year, and the benefit of the DH is that you stay fresh," Scott said. "You do stay fresh longer. I've always said in a perfect world for me, I'd play the field five days a week and DH two days a week. It's a long season and taking a couple days off your feet can do wonders for you. It will be interesting to see." Scott is cutting down trees and stacking wood as part of his winter workout routine. "My body's just crying," Scott said. I thought there was no crying in baseball? "I've only heard about Guerrero through other people," Scott said. "I feel good about where I'm at. I'm just focused on getting my body in shape and getting ready mentally to have my best season yet and help this team win. I haven't been following it. "I do understand if he was to come, it would help our offense. There's no doubt about it, regardless of where I'm at. I can DH, play first base, play any of the corner outfield positions. I've always been that way. Whatever they ask me to do, I'll do to the best of my ability and be ready. That's for sure."