So uhh... who is out there? (FAs)

by CStoneNo37 on Nov 1, 2009 2:32 PM EST Comment 57 comments

I was looking at a list of free agents in our main "need" positions (1B, 3B) and the lists are pretty freaking thin.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/12/2010-mlb-free-a.html

There's a couple decent-but-risky options at 3B in Troy Glaus and Juan Uribe, but do you really trust that Glaus is healthy and that Uribe won't revert to his sub-.700 OPS White Sox form? I don't. 1B is not much better ... Hank Blalock? No thanks. Branyan will probably get re-signed by the M's. Nick Johnson's always injured. Adam LaRoche is the only respectable option IMO and his production isn't even anything to write home about for a 1B.

So what's the game plan? Trade? Sign one of these scrubs? It's not like the O's really have any good options at these positions in the system. MacPhail said he's planning to be active this winter. I guess I should trust that his vision is better than mine.

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and yes

I do realize I’m still being awfully generous in my assessment of Juan Uribe.

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by CStoneNo37 on Nov 1, 2009 8:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I thought

Chone Figgins, Joe Crede, and Adrian Beltre were all F/A for third?

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by Michael18 on Nov 1, 2009 8:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

They are

and they all suck. I’d take Figgins, I guess.

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by CStoneNo37 on Nov 1, 2009 9:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Honestly I think Glaus and Figgins

are the only guys on the list that I’d take over Wigginton.

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by CStoneNo37 on Nov 1, 2009 9:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Figgins definitely

then if Bell starts to produce well, we have trade bait.

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by Afghanistan Steve on Nov 2, 2009 9:20 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Figgins is a decent player

Certainly the best option available at third.

by yurizanow on Nov 2, 2009 11:55 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

agreed. Which is also yet another reason he’ll never leave the Angels. Or should I say they’ll never let him leave.

by bigity b on Nov 2, 2009 4:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Why no thanks to Blalock? He’s the best option, IMO. For the price, he may be the perfect FA for this team too. He can play both corners, essentially keeping 3B warm until Bell is ready, and then slide into a 1B/DH role and/or super sub off the bench ala Wiggy (with far more power). He also provides much needed pop to the lineup. If he is real hot, he could be flipped at the deadline too. Of all on the list, I say go after him (and Ben Sheets at SP; read very low risk, very high reward).

by bigity b on Nov 2, 2009 4:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Blalock doesn't seem like a good choice.

He’s been inconsistent over his career. I find him hard to figure out, honestly. Like this year he hit 25 HR but his OBP was .277. His numbers look good in ‘07 and ’08 but he was injured both years and didn’t play more than 65 games either year. In ‘06 his OBP was ok but he didn’t hit for much power. He’s just not a reliable guy. He’s basically Ty Wigginton but with a threat for power.

Some Day, Matt Wieters Will Make The Cooperstown Crowd Laugh By Talking About The Time He Batted Behind Melvin Mora And Luke Scott. -Keith Law via Matt Wieters Facts

by Stacey on Nov 2, 2009 4:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

...my point exactly...

Due to his injury history and inconsistency he wont be expensive and he wont be wanted by top tier teams. IF the price is right, i would take him exactly because he’s Wiggy with more pop. Placed in Camden Yards, that could go a long way for the lineup. Isn’t that what we need? Then we can still use Wiggy off the bench. And if Blalock gets hurt, it’s not like we broke the bank (long-term either) for him too. Of the FA available, and we have 3 filed positions to fill, he goes a long ways for 2 of the positions.

by bigity b on Nov 2, 2009 5:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Except that he's not good

Signing a free agent to fill a position because he’s not that good and therefore not in demand is the way of the O’s of a few years ago, not Andy MacPhail. I mean, his OBP was .277! I don’t care if he hits 25 HR, that’s ridiculous. That means he was on base less than Cesar Izturis.

Some Day, Matt Wieters Will Make The Cooperstown Crowd Laugh By Talking About The Time He Batted Behind Melvin Mora And Luke Scott. -Keith Law via Matt Wieters Facts

by Stacey on Nov 2, 2009 5:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Also

now that I think about it, isn’t Blalock a butcher at 3B? Not really what we need backing up our young pitchers.

Some Day, Matt Wieters Will Make The Cooperstown Crowd Laugh By Talking About The Time He Batted Behind Melvin Mora And Luke Scott. -Keith Law via Matt Wieters Facts

by Stacey on Nov 2, 2009 5:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He was good when he first came up but he’s been a complete butcher since 2005 according to UZR. Since 2005, he’s got about 2 full season worth of data. He’s been in the -12 range during that time. As a stop-gap type of guy, I wouldn’t give him more than $1M on a one year deal.

btw, remember when Hank first came up. Him and Carlos Pena were MONSTER prospects for the Rangers. At first, Hank looked a like a beast before settling into mediocrity.

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Man in Black: Yes.
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by birdman on Nov 2, 2009 6:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd take

Blalock on the bench if we didn’t have the fat male stalker. But i don’t want to see him trot out to 3B everyday and his injury history wouldn’t allow it anyway. But he could DH some and play 1B some. But again, I’d strictly want him as a bench guy and he’s probably too ’spensive for that.

Don't let the sunshine fool ya. - Townes Van Zandt

by BPinOK on Nov 2, 2009 10:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Two guys I like

Nick Johnson at first and Adrian Beltre at third.

Johnson’s big issue is his health, though I do like his ability to get on base. Games played: 2005 – 131, 2006 – 147, 2007 – 0, 2008 – 38, 2009 – 133. What’s to like? Career line: 273/402/447/849. So he gets base and hits like Mark Grace. But hot damn can he get on base. 2010 will be his age 31 season.

From 2006 to 2008, Adrian Beltre put up the following numbers away from Safeco: 287/331/488/819. For reference, the average MLB OPS from 3B was 756. Fangraphs seems to love Beltre, even after that ridiculous contract drive in LA.

I think there are some other factors involved in the decision process as well. Is the team committed to Felix Pie and Nolan Reimold? If so, where do they move Reimold? DH? 1B? Wither Luke Scott? Over at the hot corner, what are the teams plans with Josh Bell? It’s clear that Bell needs to be in Norfolk next year, if only to work on hitting lefties. Is that an out for MacPhail to let Wigginton be the everyday 3B next year?

I think if you can quality at a nice price, you go after Beltre and Johnson. I don’t much like many of the other options…Blalock struggles away from that joke of a ballpark. Figgins won’t sign in Baltimore and his game is too reliant on a high BABIP imo. Plus he sucked a couple years ago (2008 OPS: 685!). I like Pie more than I probably should so I advocate moving Reimold to first (and really Jones to LF, with Pie patrolling center – he just makes it look so easy out there). I’d think Beltre might sign a 2 year deal, which would be attractive because he could presumably be dealt next off-season or July of 2011.

Librarians are hiding something

by dfa on Nov 3, 2009 1:51 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

You prefer Pie in CF over AJ???/

I think Jones makes it look MUCH easier than Pie does. Pie has a sort of flailing quality in the outfield even when he makes the play.

I’m not particularly opposed to either Beltre or Johnson, but what kind of money do you think they are going to sign for? Do you think Beltre would sign a 2 year $14-$16 M contract? Isn’t he a Boras client?

by O'sFan21 on Nov 3, 2009 10:20 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Speaking of which

What the heck is going to happen to Felix Pie? He doesn’t have a position on this team, he doesn’t have any options, we don’t even know if he’s any good!

"I like baseball, movies, good clothes, whiskey, fast cars ... and you. What else you need to know?"

by Andrew @ TLC on Nov 3, 2009 10:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Pie

has too much potential to just let him walk for nothing. He proved semi-valuable last year when injury-prone Jones went down.

Keep him around, he will get more chances to prove his worth. Unless of course you prefer Lou…

by sickuvitall on Nov 3, 2009 11:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Pie > Montanez

Pie had the 4th best OPS on the Orioles post ASB plus he plays great defense.

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by dfa on Nov 3, 2009 11:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

pie is a perfect 4th outfielder

he can hit a little bit, run, “play” all 3 positions, and is a legitimate option to give any OF a day off. now, would i count on him for a late inning pinch hit? probably not, but whats wrong with him just being our 4th outfielder? a nice guy to have on the bench.

"you know what the orioles could use right now? a day off." - joe angel

by swilhelmross on Nov 4, 2009 5:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

and if he ever learns to read the 3B coach, he could be a later inning baserunning sub…

by bigity b on Nov 5, 2009 3:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Pie and AJ

I’m no expert, but I liked what I saw in Pie in center. I like Jones a lot too, but I worry about Jones’ health a little and I think he can be preserved if he was in LF. I don’t really care either way as LF looks pretty spacious in Camden Yards compared to other fields.

Beltre is a Boras client, and I have no clue what he’d sign for. I would hope 2/16 would be enough, but I really don’t know.

Librarians are hiding something

by dfa on Nov 3, 2009 11:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

AJ's health

I think it’s a concern, sure, but it’s way too early to label him as “injury prone” or “unable to stay on the field”. Yes, he hasn’t been able to be out there for more than 132 games in either of his seasons, but it’s only been 2 years.

"I like baseball, movies, good clothes, whiskey, fast cars ... and you. What else you need to know?"

by Andrew @ TLC on Nov 3, 2009 11:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I mean I think Pie was pretty good in Center,

but I thought AJ was clearly more comfortable out there. Maybe he just looks smoother though and it’s deceptive. I don’t know if I really think AJ is an injury risk at this point and I don’t really see how playing LF instead of CF would make him less likely to get hurt. He’d still be chasing balls down in the gap and down the line and still be jumping over/running into the fence to catch fly balls.

by O'sFan21 on Nov 3, 2009 2:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

injuries and the OF

Yeah, I don’t really know if playing CF is more treacherous than LF either. I think it’s just a truism that may or may not actually be true. Pie seems like a gazelle out there in center though. The biggest problem with moving Jones to LF is that it might screw up the 2110 promotions, so there’s that. I’d still like to see an OF of Markakis, Jones and Pie because I think Pie’s glove is so much better than Reimold’s and I think Pie could be a league average LF offensively.

Librarians are hiding something

by dfa on Nov 3, 2009 3:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I like Reimold in LF – where else is he going to play, 1B? and I don’t see what’s wrong with keeping Pie as the 4th OF, especiallu if someone of you are concerned AJ is “injury prone.” Isn’t that all more reason to keep a very good 4th OF? Keep Reimold in LF and use Pie as a late inning Defensive sub.

by bigity b on Nov 5, 2009 3:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

delusions of grandeur on pie fo sho

by twistedlogic on Nov 6, 2009 4:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

NO BELTRE

AUGHHGHGHGHHGHGHGHDEATH.

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by CStoneNo37 on Nov 3, 2009 11:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

I’d bet dollars to donuts Beltre has a better season than Figgins in 2010 while at 2/3rds the price and for fewer years…

Librarians are hiding something

by dfa on Nov 3, 2009 11:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

btw

The LOL was meant at the death comment. I disagree with you on this issue, but it was funny…

Librarians are hiding something

by dfa on Nov 3, 2009 11:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I would too

but I’d also be willing to bet Wigginton is within striking distance of both of them for waaaayyyy less money. Neither Figgins nore Beltre will be worth the cash they get unless everyone really is scared off by the awful year that Beltre had.

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by CStoneNo37 on Nov 3, 2009 12:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know

In the last three years, Wigginton has had WARs of 1.4, 3.1, and -0.3, while Beltre’s been at 3.0, 4.1, and 2.3, consistently beating the pants off Wiggy. And Beltre’s younger than Wigginton. It’s a heck of a lot easier for Ty to provide enough value to justify 3 million dollars (or $7.3 to justify the entire contact) than it will be for Beltre to justify the 10 million or whatever he’ll end up with…but I would bet that it’s more likely that Beltre’s justifies his contract next year than Wigginton does.

It’s a similar exercise with Figgins. But don’t get me wrong – it would be dumb for the Orioles to sign either one of those bums when we have our own bum, and the difference between the two (considering Josh Bell’ll be up by mid-June) is probably like one win or so at the very extreme.

"I like baseball, movies, good clothes, whiskey, fast cars ... and you. What else you need to know?"

by Andrew @ TLC on Nov 3, 2009 1:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Bell

I’m not sure I’m going to want to see Bell in June. Until he figures out how to hit southpaws he is a really good platoon player in my book. I think he should spend all of next year in AAA.

Beltre could be a nice buy low option given his injuries and the perception that he didn’t live up to his last contract. Plus if he signed a reasonable deal he could be attractive to a contender if his numbers can be inflated since he would be leaving Safeco.

Librarians are hiding something

by dfa on Nov 3, 2009 1:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Glaus, Beltre, Figgins, Johnson, Blalock, etc.

I don’t like any of them. They would all be expen$ive for what we would get from them. 3B is solved in-house with Wigginton then Bell. 1B solutions are bad on the FA market (Glaus, Johnson, Blalock, Delgado, etc.). If McPhail can trade for a power hitting 1B, fine. Otherwise, I would play whoever wins 1B next spring among Aubrey, Snyder, Hughes, Montanez, Scott, Reimold, etc. and keep the FA cash for next year when some real FA 1B may be available and the Orioles are ready for a run at the AL East.

by fuddnelson on Nov 3, 2009 1:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Just one problem

There isn’t anybody out there at first base next year either. By far the best option is Carlos Pena, who will be going into his age 33 season and if he’s on the market, will be looking for a huge contract.

Next year is pitcher rich, though, between Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Javy Vasquez, and Brandon Webb.

"I like baseball, movies, good clothes, whiskey, fast cars ... and you. What else you need to know?"

by Andrew @ TLC on Nov 3, 2009 1:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This is what worries me.

We basically have three options at the outfield corners: free agents, trades, or prospects.

FAs? It seems like there isn’t anyone that good on the market this year, and next year doesn’t look much better.
Trades? I really don’t know how Andy’s going to trade for a real power bat without giving up some of the young pitching.
Prospects? Bell might pan out at third, but I don’t think we have anyone that’s going to consistently knock 30+ HRs a year at first.

I hope Andy has some ideas, ‘cause I sure don’t.

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by Vuff on Nov 3, 2009 3:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

The defense and power of the team are going to be (IMO) good but hardly championship caliber at the current rate. It worries me a lot, and the lack of any real options in the near future is one of the reasons that I’m not exactly jumping on a bandwagon.

"I like baseball, movies, good clothes, whiskey, fast cars ... and you. What else you need to know?"

by Andrew @ TLC on Nov 3, 2009 3:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i just laughed a bit because of your line about “in-house options at 1B Aubrey, Snyder, Hughes, Montanez, Scott, Reimold.” I like Aubrey (who reminds me of Doug Mienekevitch (sp)) but his future is off the bench. Otherwise I thought Snyder was being groomed for DH and aren’t Montanez (future DH), Scott, and Reimold OF’s? I think you can say, “if we take some prospects and try them out at 1B, we may have the answer in-house” but you certainly can’t say “we have in-house options” because none of them currently play there!

by bigity b on Nov 5, 2009 3:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Montanez (future DH)...

For the Long Island Ducks maybe.

by sickuvitall on Nov 6, 2009 10:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What we're forgetting in all this

is non-tender candidates. There will be more options hitting the market before December, and some of them ought to be pretty attractive (I myself am partial to Garret Atkins)…so it’s hard to judge what the Orioles should do for the time being.

"I like baseball, movies, good clothes, whiskey, fast cars ... and you. What else you need to know?"

by Andrew @ TLC on Nov 5, 2009 8:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

What do y'all think about Matsui?

Midway through this season I commented somewhere on CC about Matsui coming to the O’s but I don’t recall getting any feedback (positive or negative). Sure he’s old, but he can still hit… maybe we sign him for a year and he can DH. And we get rid of Luuuuke. Does anyone know if Matsui’s looking to stay with the MFY, or if not how much $$$ he’s looking for (ie, is he far too expensive?)?

Also, he and Koji are BFF! Come on now.

I just would rather get someone like him than shell out a crapload of money for a 3rd baseman who may or may not work out, when we have Wiggy who is no superstar but will do fine for “Phase II” of the rebuilding.

by O Nina on Nov 5, 2009 9:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'd love to get Matsui for a year or two at DH

But I think the Yankees want to keep him. And if they want to keep him I don’t know why he’d leave. They were saying on the broadcast last night (which could be totally wrong considering the idiots calling the game) that the Yankees have indicated that they’ll look to keep either Damon or Matsui, but not both. I can’t imagine them keeping Johnny Damon. He had a good offensive year but he’s so bad in the outfield that it’s practically a national pastime to make fun of it. Plus they’ll need LF open for Matt Holliday.

I’m telling you, Jim Thome for DH.

Some Day, Matt Wieters Will Make The Cooperstown Crowd Laugh By Talking About The Time He Batted Behind Melvin Mora And Luke Scott. -Keith Law via Matt Wieters Facts

by Stacey on Nov 5, 2009 10:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

But

Damon is way more versatile than Matsui, since Matsui can’t play the field at all, and with some older players, they might need the DH slot free.

But I think it comes to this: if it were me running the team, I’d resign Matsui to DH on a short-term deal (since Montero is the long-term DH there), and then go after Holliday to replace Damon…and that’s what I think they’ll end up doing.

"I like baseball, movies, good clothes, whiskey, fast cars ... and you. What else you need to know?"

by Andrew @ TLC on Nov 5, 2009 10:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Right

Neither Damon or Matsui is long term anything, and if he stays healthy Matsui’s bat is much better suited for DH. I’d imagine they might want to put Posada at DH a bit to save him. Speaking of catchers, Montero won’t stick there?

Some Day, Matt Wieters Will Make The Cooperstown Crowd Laugh By Talking About The Time He Batted Behind Melvin Mora And Luke Scott. -Keith Law via Matt Wieters Facts

by Stacey on Nov 5, 2009 10:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

From what I've heard from everybody

No – he just can’t play it defensively.

"I like baseball, movies, good clothes, whiskey, fast cars ... and you. What else you need to know?"

by Andrew @ TLC on Nov 5, 2009 11:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well that's no problem for them

They’ll just sign Joe Mauer after next season.

Some Day, Matt Wieters Will Make The Cooperstown Crowd Laugh By Talking About The Time He Batted Behind Melvin Mora And Luke Scott. -Keith Law via Matt Wieters Facts

by Stacey on Nov 5, 2009 11:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And the shit piles higher...

God I love the AL East!

by sickuvitall on Nov 5, 2009 12:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hmmmm

Well, okay. I wasn’t sure the Yanks wanted to keep him. I thought he might be expendable to them. I’m still going to cross my fingers for this because I really like the idea of his presence on the Orioles.

Heh, poooor Johnny Damon. I used to really like him. Wonder where he’ll end up.

by O Nina on Nov 5, 2009 3:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought everything I had heard/read said they weren't going to keep either Damon or Matsui.

by O'sFan21 on Nov 5, 2009 4:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, but can they really say that now about the second name – the guy who just won WS MVP?

by bigity b on Nov 5, 2009 5:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I hadn't heard anything

other than what was said during the WS, so I don’t know.

Some Day, Matt Wieters Will Make The Cooperstown Crowd Laugh By Talking About The Time He Batted Behind Melvin Mora And Luke Scott. -Keith Law via Matt Wieters Facts

by Stacey on Nov 5, 2009 5:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I heard they were reluctant to bring back either because they want to keep the DH spot so they can give the old farts (Posada, A-Rod, and Jeter) an occasional rest.

Vizzini: Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?
Man in Black: Yes.
Vizzini: Morons.

by birdman on Nov 5, 2009 6:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

That is what the NYT said:

Matsui will be a free agent after the World Series, and the Yankees are eager to open up designated hitter as a place to rest veterans like third baseman Alex Rodriguez, catcher Jorge Posada, Jeter and perhaps left fielder Johnny Damon, who is also a free agent.

Come on, they’re not going to want too many old dudes hanging around, right?

by O Nina on Nov 5, 2009 7:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I heard Buster Olney

say that he thought both had played their last games in pinstripes.

Don't let the sunshine fool ya. - Townes Van Zandt

by BPinOK on Nov 5, 2009 8:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't like spend a lot of time reading yankee blogs or anything

But all my MFY fan friends (I’ve tried to disown them unsuccessfully) say the team is making noise that they won’t re-sign either of them.

by O'sFan21 on Nov 5, 2009 9:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Fair enough

Like I said heard that on the WS broadcast and you know how accurate those dolts are.

Some Day, Matt Wieters Will Make The Cooperstown Crowd Laugh By Talking About The Time He Batted Behind Melvin Mora And Luke Scott. -Keith Law via Matt Wieters Facts

by Stacey on Nov 5, 2009 9:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs