Olson would probably find success in the sissy hitting NL, thats why San DIego seems to get going after him so hard. I’m all for trading him to an NL team, and wouldn’t mind Pie, but the O’s have more pressing needs than OF.

Some of this is going to come down to Orioles evaluations of Reimold, Pie and Olsen.

First about Olsen. The only O’s pitcher who really has pitched at Triple A with success. Ok so he struggled. Seems a couple other hot shot pitchers last year struggled named Hughes and Buchholz and I dont see their teams throwing them away. Not comparing the three, just saying the learning process isnt always easy. Not everyone is Tim Lincecum (had to work him in just to feel bad). There is nothing wrong with being a solid number three SP.

Why doesnt Towers want Pie? Why doesnt Chicago want Pie? Why does Towers want Olsen? Dont tell me Towers wants pitchers. So do the O’s. Seems we have two teams passing on Pie and one wanting Olsen and of course the Cubs have better 6, 7 options then the O’s (Marshall, Gaudin) have at 2 and 3.

Keep Olsen. Still try to get Pie because Chicago wont have a spot for him, if you dont then move on to another option. Why give a ML ready pitcher (Olsen) when its your teams biggest need unless you clearly believe Olsen will never develop.

If we get Pie then we have a legit left fielder, who can run and throw and under team control. Can he hit? Luke Scott can DH and Huff’s at first and Reimold and Montanez can show up at spring training (heck he wasnt invited last year, what does that say?) and win a job.

In the end this trade wont work because the O’s and SD should want the same things. Young ML ready starting pitching.

Now maybe if the Cubs would add Chad Gaudin to Felix Pie you could revisit this.

Looks like this. O’s get Pie and Gaudin. SD gets Olsen, Marshall and Vitters and Cubbies get Peavy.

if the Orioles liked this deal then it would be done by now. but it’s not done, and they don’t like it for the exact same reason that they didn’t jump on a Greene-Olsen 1-for-1, which was even more relevant given that SS is position we need to fill. along the lines of sanders833’s thinking, Pie will be bundled. this won’t be because Olsen is so valuable that he should get us a pitcher + Pie, but because the Cubs so badly want to add Peavy to their rotation. rather than Gaudin though, i think Marquis is more likely, with the Cubs eating $3-$4 million.

Marquis adds that experienced 3-spot we’ve been supposedly looking for, along the logic of bringing in a Derek Lowe or Byrd, to allow Guthrie to develop without feeling the weight of carrying the rotation. plus, Marquis is cheaper than those guys given that the Cubs will probably eat some. now, if the Orioles can pull off A.J.

1. Guthrie
2. Burnett
3. Marquis
4. insert young arm here
5. insert young arm here

is a vastly better rotation than last year.

Furthermore, a Scott/Pie platoon gives us a stronger lineup against lefties, coverage in CF if Jones gets hurt or needs a day off, backup at DH for Huff, and simply the best young outfield defense in baseball.

I could get into this:

2B- Brian Roberts (unless traded)
RF- Nick Markakis
1B- Aubrey Huff (unless traded) (Texiera?)
DH- Luke Scott (vs RHP), Lou Montanez (v LHP)
CF- Adam Jones
C- Matt Wieters
LF- Pie (vs LHP)/ Nolan Reimold (v RHP)
3B- Melvin
SS- Cesar Izturis

that’s a pretty legit lineup, and a pretty spectacular defensive alignment (excepting 1st and 3rd), and Olson isn’t worth anything to us anyway. Let him pitch in PETCO, give the Padres a 4.50 ERA in the back of the rotation.

This provides us with greater flexibility if we want to move Huff or Luuuke, and we aren’t giving up anything that we’d miss.

Also, Pie’s PECOTAs going into this year:

420 62 24 4 13 51 30 81 13 5 2.3 .291 .345 .480 .079 .285 .340 .471 .273 21.5 100-CF 0 3.8

None of their prospects really seem worth pursuing to me.

I think Olsen’s name keeps coming up because SD wants him more then the O’s want Pie or Greene.

I mean if you want a three team trade I could see Greene, Pie and maybe some payroll from the Cubs going to the Orioles for Olsen as part of a Peavy package. Still if I am the Orioles I can probably get both of those players in Jan for something that doesnt have Olsen in the deal and if I cant I am not broken up about it.

If the O’s are going to be the mediator, lets see if we can get into a Manny situation. We get the players and someone picks up the tab.

So SD can send us Greene, Chi can send us Pie and Marquis and maybe we would send Chi Olsen. The reason I hate this trade is the O’s are taking players those teams dont want for performance and salary issues and we are giving up the gold-a potential major league starter.

I suspect Andy will position himself for a deal that makes sense or pass.

then find a deal to do. The issue isn’t stuff, its testicular fortitude. You can’t figure a guy for a rotation position who can’t make it out of the 5th without self-destructing. In the end, middle relief is all he will ever be good for.

Having said that, I also don’t get the Pie thing.