Free Agent Pitching -- Can MacPhail Change the O's Fortune?

by Stacey on Nov 23, 2009 5:50 PM EST in Hot Stove Comment 22 comments

With all the talk about the Orioles picking up a FA starting pitcher -- ideas range from an innings-eater to an ace to an older guy who'd be a good mentor -- it's worth noting that the Orioles haven't signed a starting pitcher as a free agent in quite some time who had much impact on the team at all. In fact, of all of the starting pitchers the Orioles have signed as FAs in the past 20 years, the most starts made by any is 66 (Jamie Moyer from 1993-1995). Since 2000, only Pat Hentgen and Koji Uehara have put up an ERA+ of above 100. The best FA pitcher of the last 20 years is easily Kevin Brown, but he only spent one year with the Birds. Jimmy Key's 2 years were pretty good. But after that it goes downhill fast.

I know that the past doesn't dictate the future, and I know that when a team is lousy pretty much every year it stands to reason there won't be a lot of talent in the starting rotation or FA pitchers beating down the door to play in Baltimore. But that's a pretty bleak list, don't you think?

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What’s Andy’s track record in signing free agent pitchers from his time in CHI and MIN?

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by birdman on Nov 23, 2009 6:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Good question

Andy was GM in Chicago in 2000 and 2001, but was at least a strong member of their front office from 1994. In that timeframe (’94), the Cubs added Kevin Tapani (who had been a Twin), Terry Mulholland, and Julian Tavarez, among a bunch of other dopes.

He was in charge of the Twins from 1985 until 1994. Notable pickups: Jack Morris and Bill Kreuger.

Unfortunately, if MacPhail starts getting good starting pitching in free agency with the Orioles, it will be the first time he’s really ever done it.

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by Andrew @ TLC on Nov 23, 2009 8:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just give me Bedard

I don’t care if he even pitches, and it would probably cost Bavasi his new job with the Reds.

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by getxstoked on Nov 23, 2009 6:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Signing FAs is a crapshoot

And FA pitchers doubly so. I’m good with the development philosophy.

by CoachOfEarl on Nov 23, 2009 6:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well

it’s MUCH less of a crapshoot than the draft.

by O'sFan21 on Nov 24, 2009 1:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Save your Money

My inclination is not to sign a FA pitcher. We could only attract a good one by vastly overpaying. But, AF might believe that none of our current stock of minor leaguers can be promoted without harming his long term development. In that instance, it would be worth it.

by BaltoBen on Nov 23, 2009 6:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

we arent going to win just with the pitchers we've got

even with the younger guys, we still dont have a 5 quality guys, guthrie is coming off a rough season, and none of those young guys are guaranteed to work out.

by twistedlogic on Nov 23, 2009 10:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Once any player moves to the AL EAST and Camden Yards their ERA is going to go up

So you might as well go low risk, high reward, and get a lower end free agent, maybe someone who has been hurt.

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by WestcoastO'sFan on Nov 23, 2009 8:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I know a certain recently hurt pitcher

that has proven his mettle in the AL East…

by daveh873 on Nov 23, 2009 8:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

High risk/high reward

I’d sign one of the injured pitchers with high ceilings: Harden, Bedard, Sheets, Duchscherer. The Orioles have money to burn and nobody to give it to, so I’d try to see if one of those guys can return…

Librarians are hiding something

by dfa on Nov 23, 2009 8:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Word

Let’s draft up some incentive based contracts and see who bites.

by Jonny Pops on Nov 24, 2009 9:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What about David wells?

by GeoffreyA on Nov 23, 2009 10:46 PM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Offer daily open-bar.

by O'sFan21 on Nov 24, 2009 1:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually

He was pretty mediocre the season he was here. 11-14, 5.14 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 96 ERA+. That was his worst ERA+ between 1993-2006. He did give us 224 innings and three perfectly acceptable postseason starts. But then he signed with MFY and had a couple unreal seasons and a bunch of pretty good ones. Looking at his 1998 stats (18-4, 3.49 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 127 ERA+, 5 SHO) makes me want to spit nails.

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by Brotz13 on Nov 24, 2009 8:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

In case this hasn't been posted

Links to videos of AFL players on Sickels blog. Excellent videos of Bell, Snyder, Erbe, Waring and many other prospects, complements of Slacker George.

by Dingbat Charlie on Nov 24, 2009 4:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for posting

Erbe’s delivery still looks pretty funky to me, I thought he was trying to have a more normal windup.

Bell does seem to have a big upper cut at times, though obviously made solid contacts in that video.

It’s worth noting that I’m no scout and generally have no idea what I’m talking about.

Librarians are hiding something

by dfa on Nov 25, 2009 1:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Erbe's delivery looks pretty strandard/good to me.

Slight hitch in his plant foot right before it hits the ground, but everything else is pretty textbook. Very good hips and strong front side. Also almost zero head movement which is good.

by O'sFan21 on Nov 25, 2009 12:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

the right foot

and what he seems to be doing with the ball. It’s like there is a pause which I presume he’s doing to be deceptive or to mess with the hitter’s timing…it just seems odd.

Librarians are hiding something

by dfa on Nov 26, 2009 2:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You think he's doing something with his right foot?

I’m pretty sure the hitch is with his plant (left) leg/foot and I’m pretty sure he’s doing it so that he doesn’t land on his heel.

by O'sFan21 on Nov 26, 2009 11:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry I was unclear. I meant his right hand. It’s how he pauses before coming to the plate.

Librarians are hiding something

by dfa on Nov 27, 2009 6:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

compliments.

by Dingbat Charlie on Nov 24, 2009 4:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Free agent pitchers.

If MacPhail is going to get even more support, he will give John Lackey and Roy Halladay unbelievable amounts of money and hope they will come. It seems like Halladay is leaning to go to the damn yankees and I would be so upset if he does. We need atleast maybe sheets, Duchscherer, or Bedard to start with. Please Andy sign Lackey and Pursuade Halladay with a tremendous offer.

That one's headed to the moon! It's outta here!

by Orioles96 on Nov 30, 2009 4:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs