I suppose he goes into the Hall as a Yankee, but the sap in me wants to see all that overplayed “redemption” baloney. Plus I like the dude as a dude. He’s not Kyle Farnsworth, if you catch my meaning (though thank god for Farnsworth just for inspiring a great Dugout character).

But is it worth 15 million for 175 slightly above average innings? Eh, probably not.

I love Mike Mussina and I always will no matter what team he plays for. His price tag would be steep but I think he’s the kind of pitcher who could age well (even though his lousy 2007 keeps forcing itself into my thoughts). Plus I’d just like to see him back in an O’s uniform. Mussina has been quoted as saying that if he doesn’t come back with the Yankees and he does come back, it would only be to an American League team on the east coast. So that sort of narrows down his options.

I don’t think there is a chance in hell that he’d come back to Baltimore, personally. But I would still love to have him.

Or is that speculation? I wouldn’t be surprised if he could be had on a one- or two-year deal with some incentives, or maybe even toying around with option years that automatically vest based on performance and/or health.

even though it wouldnt really make much sense. I just am still a huge Muss fan.

that is way too much time on an arm that could fall off any moment now… would rather use that money for someone with longer term potential

The last thing the Orioles should be doing now is considering anyone over the age of 35 to fill in any role. We don’t need leadership right now, we guys who can show that they’ll be able to contribute to this team and get ML hitters out in 2010 and beyond.

And why would he want to retire? Only 5 wins away from a nice round 275 (which maybe the new 300) and only 30 wins away from 300; which granted would be a long shot (although not out of the question).

I have no major attachment to Mussina anymore, so I don’t get any sentimentality out of it.

We do need to fill out our rotation somehow, however. And I’d rather Mussina than AJ Burnett, who will be uber-expensive and not very good.

How many decent middle-of-the-rotation pitchers are there that we have a chance at signing this year?

Moose may be our best choice from a practical standpoint.

He’s already said that if he comes back for one year, that he’ll basically be deciding to come back for 3 and the shot at 300 (his words – it’ll be too tempting if I’m at 282…). If it was 1-2 years I could see that O’s taking a flyer on him to get the redemption story, bring back some old fans, and get his veteran presence and solid 6 innings every 5th day, but 3 years is a long commitment to an old guy who in 2007 looked about as done as can be.

I’d also hate to see him come back and struggle. Nothing worse than that. Part of me would be very happy to see him retire now and go out with a great season like he had.

I do think he’d be great with the youngsters though…

You guys should check out the book Living on the Black about him and Glavine in 2007. Good read.

Kinda like Darth Vader turned good again at the end of Return of the Jedi

No on Mussina. I like the dude a lot, aways have and always will, but let’s put the past behind us. Like OsFan21 said – the man could come back and struggle and leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.

Also, for some reason this thread prompted me to look up a bunch of ex-O’s stats on baseball reference. Raffy was pretty awesome in 1999.

I never thought it would come to that, but I flip-flopped this season. For those wondering why it would be three years, Mussina himself said that he was intrigued by 300 wins but knows that it would take more than a year: “”http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/28/after-winning-20-retirement-is-tempting-mike-mussina/" target="new">If I’m in for one, I’m in for three".

I’d like to see him here. As lousy as our rotation has been, his durability alone nearly makes him worth $15MM. Forget six innings – if we could get five out of him, he’d be our #2 by default. Sure, it seems like madness to give three years to a 40-year-old, but it’s not just anyone. We’ve established that he’s smart enough to stay effective. Hell, Moyer’s 45 and going strong. I realize that we’re rebuilding, but he’s certainly not blocking anyone in 2009, or even beyond. If we’re committed to not rushing Arrieta and Tillman, they’re probably two years away at least. Matusz could be ready sooner, but we haven’t even seen him throw a pitch yet.

With all this said, it’s a moot point. No way in hell Moose comes back. I think the Yankees bring him back or he retires.

“He’s also a guy that could assume a leadership role on the staff, a veteran that commands respect for his career achievements and the fact that he still gets it done.”

I’d rather see Guthrie in a lead role with the pitchers.

Jeremy Guthrie couldn’t muster up 10 wins despite pitching well.

I endorse signing Moose to a one year deal although he’ll be wrecking his quest to reach 300 wins if he does.

You have a point as far as the Orioles’ lousiness costing Moose wins. However, Guthrie was 10-12 this year, and to be fair he might have even won 11 or 12 if he hadn’t gotten injured. Just being anal about the numbers.

As long as it doesn’t break the bank, I’d take Moose back for 3 years. He’s stayed healthy over the years and he has used his brains to adapt his pitching style to his aging arm. Even if he’s not actively tutoring the young’uns, his presence couldn’t hurt the clubhouse and would give them a model of what a smart pitcher looks like.

Plus, if he finishes his career with the O’s and wins 300 with us, that’s one more Oriole cap in the Hall and one less Yankee one. Some might argue with that point, but I bet that’s how the Hall would call it.

I had fantasies of Baltimore’s FO being smart enough to work a trade with NY to bring him back about 3 years ago (say Penn, Fontenot and who ever we sent them for Wright). Instead we get Jaret my arm’s attached by sewing thread Wright.

I think Moose would be a nice addition to the staff. The questions are;

for how much

for how long

and would he even be interested

I don’t have a problem with a 3 year deal. I highly doubt he will be blocking someone, even if he’s posting an ERA between 4.00 and 4.50. The O’s have maybe 3 quality arms in their system who have not been injured. History says only one of them is likely to become a quality starter. So in 3 years we could be looking at Guthrie/new guy/Mussina as the front end of the rotation.

Money wise, I don’t care too much as it is not my money. $15 million for 3 years does not sound unreasonable. The issue with money, in my opinion, is what else could the O’s do with that money. If it means they spend less on their minor league system or shy away from a top draft pick because of sign bonus issues, then I’d reluctantly say no to Mussina. If it means we don’t sign Burnett or Texiaxa, then big deal. I’d rather bet on Mussina staying healthy than Burnett and as much as I’d like to see the big guy in an O’s uniform, he’s going to be way to expensive (and make Mussina’s $15 mil look like chump change).

I think that it will come down to Mussina not seeing any benefit to signing with the O’s. We just aren’t competative and do not look as if we will be any time soon.

Sure, but only if moves are made to build for the future as well.

I don’t think Moose would want to come back to Baltimore, though.