http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/08/angels-close-to-deal-for-scott-kazmir.html

So, Alexander Torres is basically a poor man's Zach Britton - similar results, lefty starter who gets groundballs and strikeouts, but with less velocity and greater concerns due to his 5'10" frame.

Matthew Sweeney is a 21 year old 3b with 9 home runs in limited action in A+ who missed all of last season and chunks of this season with injuries.

We all know what Kazmir is; he costs about $20 million over the next two seasons.

I guess what I wonder is, shouldn't this kind of move be what the O's are doing?  Kazmir has had a lot of problems of various kinds, but he's a 25 year old with front of the rotation potential and big game experience, being sold cheaply because the Rays are a poor organization.  And he could essentially be had for Rick Zagone and Brandon Waring.  Maybe the Rays don't trade him within the division, but to us, I'd wager they would.

And what better choices do we have?  Signing a pitcher like Lackey or Harden as a free agent will cost us our second round pick and a lot more money, with no guarantee that either will be any more effective than Kazmir.  These, more than free agent moves, are the sort of chances I think the O's should be taking.