Fresh meat

by Scott Christ on Dec 21, 2005 10:01 AM EST in News & Rumors

Now on the market ("notable" players only):

Kurt Ainsworth, SP
Eric Byrnes, OF
Eddy Rodriguez, RP

Sad to see Ainsworth probably won't be getting a shot this spring. Not sad to see the other two go.

Chad Bradford, RP
Wade Miller, SP

I'd really like the Orioles to take a chance on Miller in the fifth spot. He's not exactly going to cost any substantial money.

Ken Harvey, DH/1B
Grant Balfour, RP
Wayne Franklin, RP
Cha-Seung Baek, RP
Ryan Franklin, SP

We don't need another juicer.

Joe Borowski, RP
Lance Carter, RP
Trever Miller, RP

Carter and Miller both had lousy seasons after good years in 2004. They might be worth a look, particularly Miller for a shot at being our top lefty out of the pen.

Ramon Ortiz, SP

No. One of my very least favorite pitchers in the world for the constant comparisons to Pedro Martinez despite that he has never not sucked.

Jason Phillips, C/1B

I'd rather have him around as the third catcher than Gil.

Dan Kolb, RP
Endy Chavez, OF
Josh Fogg, SP

I almost thought maybe we could take a chance on Fogg, then I realized just how terrible he is.

Dewon Brazelton, SP

The Padres really wanted rid of Sean Burroughs.

Alex Escobar, OF
Junior Spivey, 2B
Rick Short, IF

Short is a 33-year old former O's draft pick that finally made it to the majors this season. He was mentioned here earlier this year. I'd rather have him than Newhan. After all, Rick Short hit .400 this year for the Expos. They basically have the same career resume (I'm way too lazy for accent marks - that should read, "reh-zoo-may").

Anyone you'd like to see the O's pick up? None are money acquisitions, obviously.

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I'd try for

Miller and Brazelton. At the worst they could suck, and we would have taken a chance. At best, they could turn out alright, and it would give us flexibility to deal pitching for hitting.

by therobotian on Dec 21, 2005 10:48 AM EST reply actions

I really want Short

I would really like to see the O's give Rick Short a shot and see if he has a few good months in him as an everyday player. He was made extremely unnecessary in the Nats organization when they got their second all-star 2B in Soriano.

Who knows, maybe he comes in and tears it up for a couple months.

Beltway Sports Beat: A blog or fans of Baltimore-Washington area sports

by CStoneNo37 on Dec 21, 2005 11:38 AM EST reply actions

yeah,

but we don't have room in our infield for a 33 year old rookie. we have 3 all stars and a potential slugger (or seasoned veteran) at 1B. where would he play? we already signed Gomez for next year, so he's our utility guy.

by therobotian on Dec 21, 2005 11:40 AM EST up reply actions

B-Rob

Will B-Rob definitely be back for opening day?

Plus, he can play 1B.

Beltway Sports Beat: A blog or fans of Baltimore-Washington area sports

by CStoneNo37 on Dec 21, 2005 12:08 PM EST up reply actions

We have

more than enough guys who can play first base at this point. Conine can play it, Young can play it, Friere & Gibbons, as well as Gomez. All of those guys are better than or equal to Short. And most are younger.

by therobotian on Dec 21, 2005 5:12 PM EST up reply actions

Young

sucks.

Beltway Sports Beat: A blog or fans of Baltimore-Washington area sports

by CStoneNo37 on Dec 21, 2005 5:55 PM EST up reply actions

bah humbug

I don't like feel good signings.

by birdman on Dec 22, 2005 3:57 AM EST up reply actions

These guys can pitch

Exactly the kind of reclamation projects that Leo can do something with:
Wade Miller
Ramon Ortiz (2-cent head, million-dollar arm)
Josh Fogg
Grant Balfour (excellent pitcher, out last year with injury)
Joe Borowski (you'd think the Devil Fishees would keep their one good reliever)
Mike Lincoln (another decent relief guy)

Ken Harvey - hey we got to have someone stand at first base

And why not get Jeff DaVanon too? He's better than any of our outfielders and the Angel's have cut him loose.

PS - good no-cost gamble by the Os on signing Orber Moreno to a minor-league contract. He can really pitch when he isn't broken.

by 3RunHomer on Dec 21, 2005 12:32 PM EST reply actions

re:

Ken Harvey - hey we got to have someone stand at first base

Harvey is zero percent better than Walter Young.

"I don't see why you reporters keep confusing Brooks and me. Can't you see that we wear different numbers?" - Frank Robinson

by Scott Christ on Dec 21, 2005 12:34 PM EST up reply actions

Not much there

I like Miller and Balfour, but both are hurt. Miller won't even begin throwing until February. and he's likely to have stamina and effectiveness issues when/if he's ready to come back. If he's cheap enough, he might still be worth a shot. Balfour missed all of last year with Tommy John surgery, and then tore his rotator cuff and labrum. So.... no on Balfour.

Short is like a better-hitting version of Howie Clark. I like him.

We can still sign Ainsworth to a minor league deal, right? That would probably be the move I'd be most interested in.

by Joltin Joe Orsulak on Dec 21, 2005 12:42 PM EST reply actions

re:

Yeah, I'm hoping they give Ainsworth another shot. Who else is going to?

"I don't see why you reporters keep confusing Brooks and me. Can't you see that we wear different numbers?" - Frank Robinson

by Scott Christ on Dec 21, 2005 12:50 PM EST up reply actions

Pitchers

I'd have to take a chance on some bargain basement pitching for a possibility that Leo could unleash some positive results. I'd try to retain Ainsworth while adding Brazelton and Wade Miller to potentially fill a rotation spot. I'd also go after Trever Miller and Chad Bradford to compete in the bullpen (which seems to be in dire need of a lefty). Brazelton intrigues me, only because he's young (25) and was thought of so highly only 4 years ago that he was the third pick in the draft. He seems like the ideal reclamation project attempt. I'd be curious what the history has been on him; ie. injury, attitude, just a Devil Ray thing?

by delbird on Dec 21, 2005 3:14 PM EST reply actions