Orioles To Explore Free Agent Market

Orioles president Andy McPhail said he plans to explore the free agent market to make big time additions to the club. McPhail said he would not pass up talking to guys with geographic ties to the area. With that said, both A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixiera have ties to the Baltimore area and would fill holes in the Orioles lineup. However, Teixeira is looking at a deal around 20-25 million dollars annually. With Miguel Cabrera moving across the diamond, it allows Scott Boras to compare him and Cabrera, both by personal health and stats, to come up with a deal better than his. The Orioles may not be able to support that kind of deal, especially if they want to resign Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis. 

With Burnett, the Orioles will likely non tender Daniel Cabrera, opening a spot in the rotation and saving the Orioles about three million dollars. Burnett makes his offseason home in Baltimore and could be easy to lure to Baltimore if the right deal is out there. According to a source, however, Burnett is having "serious" talks about a contract with the Blue Jays. 

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Orioles, Markakis Talking Extension

According to MASN Online, the Orioles and Nick Markakis have had preliminary discussions about a contract extension. It is believed that the discussion was merely to make sure that there is mutual interest in getting an extension done. While Markakis and his agent will talk with the Orioles, there is really no pressure on Markakis to get a deal done. He has three years of arbitration and will be twenty-five next month, so he can wait to cash in next season. However, I spoke with an Orioles executive who said they view Markakis as a guy to build a team around, and would like to sign him as soon as possible.

With that said, it is likely that the Orioles will offer a deal that covers his arbitration years, plus two or three years more. Based on players similar to Markakis who have received long term contracts, I'd say a six year deal worth about 11-13 million dollars annually will get it done. Markakis has a lot of room to grow, and it can be seen by his increased patience at the plate as well as an increase in on base percentage. Orioles President Andy McPhail has a history of including options and performance bonuses, so expect any deal to be loaded with incentives. 

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Orioles To Acquire Hill?

The Baltimore Sun is reporting that the Orioles are closing in on trade for Cubs pitcher Rich Hill. Hill, who is out of options, was once a top pitching prospect for the Cubs, but has failed to find the strike zone the past couple of seasons. Orioles new pitching coach Rick Kranitz is very familiar with Hill, having coached him in Triple-A with the Cubs. It will be interesting to see how Hill responds to a new opportunity. He has a lot of potential, but just could not command his pitches better. 

The Cubs nearly acquired Brian Roberts last offseason but they backed out when the Orioles continued to hold out for Rich Hill. Hill will likely join former Cub Felix Pie, who the Orioles just acquired for Garrett Olson. In 2005, the Orioles held out for Pie in the trade that would have sent Erik Bedard and Miguel Tejada to Chicago (Mark Prior was involved as well). At the time, you could argue one way or the other about the trade. But if these players find success with their new teams, it is very possible that some Cubs executives will be held accountably. 

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Pie to Orioles?

According to the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles and Cubs are discussing a trade that would send Garrett Olson to the Cubs for prospect Felix Pie. This would give the Cubs the legitimate pitching prospect they need to include in the Jake Peavy deal, which is still weeks away from happening. The Orioles have always thought very highly of Pie, nearly acquiring him in a Miguel Tejada deal three years ago (That deal was going to send Erik Bedard and Miguel Tejada to the Cubs for Felix Pie and Mark Prior). Olson, 25, went 9-10 with a 6.65 ERA in 26 games last season. The Orioles reportedly tried to send Khalil Greene to the Orioles for Olson, but were rejected. 

Bringing in Olson, and other Cubs prospects would not only clear up payroll, but make them much better in the future. The players the Cubs have talked about with the Padres include Josh Vitters, Jeff Samardzija, Randy Wells, Angel Guzman, Ronny Cedeno, Wellington Castillo, and so on. The deal will likely include Josh Vitters, with two or three other players going to the Padres.

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Orioles Sign Uehara

The Orioles and Koji Uehara have agreed to a two year deal worth 10 million dollars, the Baltimore Sun is reporting. Uehara is the first Japanese pitcher to ever pitch for the Orioles, and sources have informed me that the Orioles have interest in signing more Pacific Rim players. The Orioles would like for Uehara to start, and currently have him penciled in as their number two starter. Over his 11 year career in Japan with the Giants, he went 112-62 with a 3.01 ERA and struck out 1,376, while walking just 206 batters.

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Orioles Eyeing Rodriguez

The Orioles are reportedly targeting free agent catcher Ivan Rodriguez to be their back up catcher. Rodriguez hit .295 with 5 HR in 82 games for the Tigers last season but hit just .219 in the tough AL East. However, he has a lot of knowledge of the game and would be the perfect mentor to a guy like Matt Wieters. Orioles GM Andy McPhail is familiar with Ivan Rodriguez having closely scouted him when the Cubs pursued him back in 2003. He spurned the Cubs to sign with the Tigers, but the Cubs have had success at the catcher spot over the past couple of seasons with Michael Barrett and Geovanny Soto, so there are probably no hard feelings. 

The Orioles are also in the market for a first baseman, and are looking at free agents Richie Sexson, Kevin Millar, and Ty Wigginton. The Orioles have also inquired about Micah Hoffpauir and Daric Barton, among others. 

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Angels Concede Cabrera, After Tejada

It appears the Angels have given up on acquiring Miguel Cabrera and are now focused on Miguel Tejada. Sources are saying talks have not gotten to specifics, but it makes sense that they would turn to Tejada. But where does Brandon Wood fit in? Or Chone Figgins? It is possible they would play Wood at short, Figgins at third, and play Tejada at DH. That would keep the team together and give Wood a spot to shine. The Angels nearly acquired Tejada from the Orioles back in 2006 for Ervin Santana and Erik Aybar, but that deal fell through. The Orioles hope they can trade Tejada before the end of the off season and this seems like a perfect fit. The Orioles could get Ervin Santana, Howie Kendrick, Chris Bootcheck, and maybe Sean O'Sullivan and shed some cash to spend elsewhere while the Angels get the big bat they need. "We're dealing from a position of strength, and we're confident that we'll be able to get the bat that we're looking for," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said from his California home last night. I expect something to get done around the Winter Meetings in two weeks.

UPDATE: According to MLB Rumors Corresponent Tim Wallace, the Orioles have opened talks with shortstop Cesar Izturis suggesting that they are in talks with the Angels.

Interview with Mike Flanagan

Yesterday, I went to the Orioles game in Fort Lauderdale. They played the Mets, but the main reason I went was to meet up with a former interviewee of MLB Rumors, Rocky Cherry, and interview long time Oriole and Executive Vice President Mike Flanagan. I got to talk with Rocky for a good ten minutes, and then I got to check out the Orioles offices. Flanagan won 1979 Cy Young award with the Orioles and now plays a big role in the Orioles decision making. I want to thank Mike for taking the time out of his busy day to do the interview with me, I really appreciate it. I also want to thank Scott Shapiro for setting the interview up for me, I really appreciate it.

ELI: When did you first realize you might be drafted?

MIKE: Well, I was drafted twice. I was first drafted by Pat Gillick of the Astros out of high school, but I had a bad elbow at the time so I went to the University of Massachusetts. When the next draft came around for me I was pretty confident I was going to be drafted and I went in the seventh round.

ELI: You won the AL Cy Young in 1979, looking back on it, what was working for you that year?

MIKE: A pitcher name Scott McGregor helped me early on. I was mostly a two pitch pitcher early on in my career and you cannot survive as a starter with two pitches. I tried all sorts of grips to develop a change, but McGregor had a great change-up and helped me find one. It made all the difference. I had pitched four hundred innings against everyone without a change, so the next time I pitched, no one had seen it, and that made all the difference.

ELI: You played alongside Jim Palmer, what was that like early on in your career?

MIKE: I came up with Jim Palmer, and looking back on it, I was fortunate to play with him. It is not always the case that pitchers give out tips, but Palmer helped me a lot with psychology of it, and finding strengths and weaknesses.

ELI: What was Earl Weaver like as a manager?

MIKE: I don't know if he have enough time to talk about it. [Laughs] Every game was a war. Every night he managed, it was a war. Even in Spring Training or Fantasy Camp - he was a high intensity manager.

ELI: While you were playing, did you ever think you would hold a Front Office position after you retired? What positions did you hold before you got to where you are now?

MIKE: I thought about it. I was a broadcaster twice, and their pitching coach. Being a broadcaster was a nice avenue to getting here. You stay in touch with the game by talking to scouts, players and coaches.

ELI: This past year, you traded Steve Trachsel to the Cubs for Rocky Cherry and Scott Moore. Was the negotiation process to bring him back easy, was there any hard feelings?

MIKE: Well, we talked to Trachsel when it happened, so it was not difficult to get a deal done. Either way, most veterans understand.

ELI: Several trades were made this offseason, did the players take longer to gel in Spring Training than normal?

MIKE: No. I think players understand that there is an opportunity here. Rosters are usually set coming into Spring Training, but I don't know of one major leaguer that doesn't want an opportunity.

ELI: You drafted Matt Wieters last year, how did he handle his first big league camp?

MIKE: Extremely well. He is a strong catcher and a switch hitter. We do not have much catching depth in our minor league system, so to add a switch hitter gives us the depth we need.

ELI: Is there one pitcher in camp that really turned heads this year?

MIKE: Chris Tillman. He came over in the Bedard trade. He is a big guy, and showed a lot of poise.

ELI: Daniel Cabrera has a hard fastball. Is there anything you told him to work on this spring?

MIKE: We had him work on a change-up. Daniel is a big guy, he just needs to slow things down.

ELI: There is a saying, "When you have a passion for your work, you never work a day in your life," do you feel that way?

MIKE: Absolutely. If you are concerned about your job and hours, this isn't the job for you. You are on call twenty-four hours a day, twelve months out of the year.

New Report: Astros Have Company for Lee

Jason Stark of ESPN is now saying that Carlos Lee is looking into the Orioles as a possible destination. The Orioles got serious about Lee this weekend when it appeared that Soriano was signed by the Cubs, and a report from Houston saying that the Astros and Lee were close. Even though those rumors were false, for now, the Orioles ignited their front office and began talks about bringing the the left fielder in. Carlos Lee is now arguably the most sought after free agent on the market, so the Orioles will have to face other possible suitors: Rangers, Giants, Dodgers, and Astros all appear very serious about signing the power hitter. I see this stretching out for a while, Lee will want more money now that Soriano was able to reel in so much. I expect him to command a 4-5 year deal, 13-14 million annually.

Source: ESPN

Update: Freel Traded to Cubs

The Orioles and Cubs have completed a trade that would send utility player Ryan Freel to the Cubs for outfielder Joey Gathright. It was originally reported that Gathright was being demoted, but the two teams were able to pull off a quick exchange after he cleared waivers. The deal is cash-neutral, a source told Foxsports.com's Ken Rosenthal. So the Orioles will pay Ryan Freel's 3.3 million dollar salary and the Cubs will pay Joey Gathright's 800,000 dollar salary.

Freel gives the Cubs someone familiar with the division, having played with the Reds for six seasons prior to be traded to the Orioles in the Ramon Hernadez deal. He is very versatile, and we'll fit right in with teammates Reed Johnson and Aaron Miles, who all are defensive minded and aggressive at the plate. The irony behind this trade is that Felix Pie, who was traded to make room for Gathright, and Gathright are now teammates on the Orioles.

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Indians and Roberts A Perfect Match

Last offseason, the Indians were the mystery team in on Brian Roberts. The Orioles backed out of multiple deals demanding more for Roberts, ultimately failing to get anything done. This offseason is a different story. Rather than pay Roberts 11-15 million dollars annually to stick around after 2009, they trade him for four or five prospects in hopes of having a competitive team in a couple years. Roberts will not make the Orioles any better next season. They need a power hitter to shape the lineup, a solid number one pitcher to work around, and a stronger bullpen. It looks like Nick Markakis is the guy to build around, considering he hit .306 with 20 HR in 157 games.

If the Orioles are able to acquire three solid pitchers, a combination of Jeremy Sowers, Zach Jackson, David Huff, Scott Lewis, Adam Miller, as well as position players like Ben Francisco, Wes Hodges, or maybe even Josh Barfield. Three pitchers, Josh Barfield, and Wes Hodges would certainly entice the Orioles, who could use the pitching and infield help.

The Cubs, White Sox, and Rockies are also known to be interested.

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Orioles Acquire Pie

The Orioles have traded Garrett Olson and Henry Williamson to the Cubs for top prospect Felix Pie. The Cubs are frustrated with Pie's performance in the major leagues, despite only giving him 287 at-bats. Olson will likely compete for the fifth spot in the rotation with Sean Marshall, but it is possible the Cubs will try to revive talks for Jake Peavy now that they have all the pieces the Padres originally asked for. Pie could start in left field for the Orioles, but might need to prove himself before the Orioles let that happen. 

Pie has the potential to be an All-Star player, combining speed, power, and excellent instincts. He is coming off a strong final month of the MLB season, and a solid Winter League season, so he could hit the ground running in 2009. Olson might fare better in the National League, but he has a high WHIP and is a fly ball pitcher, so pitching coach Larry Rothschild has some work to do. As for Williamson, he has solid strikeout numbers and has the makings of a decent reliever, but he is a long way away from reaching the majors. 

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Orioles Place Rich Hill On DL

Orioles pitcher Rich Hill has been placed on the disabled list, orioles.com is reporting. Hill was acquired from the Cubs earlier this offseason, but is still behind dealing with a sore left elbow. The lefty, who has shown better command this spring, will likely rejoin the team in the second or third week or April.

Mark Hendrickson will likely fill in for the time being. 

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Orioles Making Late Push For Looper, Redding

Foxsports's Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Orioles are making a strong push to land both Braden Looper and Tim Redding. Both pitchers have solid work ethics, durable arms, and the veteran mindset that the Orioles rotation currently lacks. Redding is probably looking at a two year deal worth about 3.2-3.5 million dollars annually while Looper is looking at a deal worth about 6.0-6.3 milion dollars annually. 

Redding and Looper are both being pursued by the Rockies, but Redding is also drawing interest from the Mets and Pirates.

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White Sox Discussing Roberts?

MASN Sports is reporting that the White Sox and Orioles are discussing a trade that would send Brian Roberts to the White Sox for Gavin Floyd. Floyd, who went 17-8 with a 3.84 ERA in thirty-three starts for the White Sox, has the makings of a top of the rotation starter. His numbers did fluctuate some towards the end of the season, but nothing that raised a red flag. The Orioles are obviously struggling to lock up Brian Roberts, so a trading him for something they desperately need would help them in the long run. Not only that, but the Orioles might be able to land one of their second baseman, considering the White Sox have a surplus of them now.

Roberts hit .296 with 9 HR in 155 games and scored 107 runs. Acquiring Roberts and making him their leadoff hitter would make them a force in the division, but it would hurt their pitching. Buehrle and Danks would man the top two spots, but they do not have much support beyond that. Lance Broadway is a question mark, but he was solid in his lone start this past season. There are pitchers available on the market for the White Sox to sign, but Roberts will make eight million next season, and it might not be in their budget. It's a tough decision for the White Sox. 

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Orioles Land Wigginton

The Orioles and Ty Wigginton have agreed to a two year deal worth six million dollars. It was surprising to see the Astros release Wigginton after he hit .285 with 23 HR with 58 RBI in 111 games for the Astros last season. Wigginton will play multiple positions for the Orioles, including 1B, 3B, DH, and outfield. He can even play second base if necessary. 

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Orioles Sign Hendrickson

The Orioles and Mark Hendrickson have come to terms on a one year deal, according to the Baltimore Sun. The deal is pending a physical, which is set for next week. Hendrickson, who went 7-8 with a 5.45 ERA, compiled a 2.63 ERA in his final 14 appearances last season. While the Orioles will probably use him in the rotation, they may find out that his success is in the bullpen. 

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News and Notes: Braves Talking With Teixeira

The Braves and Mark Teixeira agreed to a one year deal today worth 12.5 million dollars, but talks of a long-term deal continue. Both sides confirm that they are moving towards a deal, but no deal appears imminent just yet. I think Teixeira could earn 20 million on the open market if he puts up similar numbers to last year and I think the Braves are hoping he will take a discount. In 132 games last season, Teixeira batted .306 with 30 HR and 105 RBI. Personally, I think Teixeira will stay in Atlanta. Interest will definitely be high for Teixeira, especially from teams like the Mets, Giants, and Orioles, all of whom are looking for first baseman.

Dodgers May Trade Pierre: The Dodgers have four outfielders capable of starting and may look to trade Juan Pierre. Pierre signed a huge deal in 2006 but with the acquisition of Andruw Jones, he is the odd man out. I think the Dodgers will have trouble trading him, mostly because of his high salary.

Cubs Eying Marlon Byrd: The Cubs Convention started this weekend with the big suprise being the signing of former White Sox closer Shingo Takatsu. However, rumors are flying that they are looking to bring in a right handed outfielder to platoon with Felix Pie. A trade for Marlon Byrd might cost them something like Kevin Hart, but that at the most.

Phillies Begin Talks with Howard: The Phillies have begun preliminary talks with Ryan Howard about a long term deal. However, they are expected to table discussions before Spring Training and wait till next offseason.

Rockies Talking with Tulowitski: The Rockies and Troy Tulowitski are working to complete a long term deal that could lock him up through 2013.

Coco Crisp Still On Block: The Red Sox have yet to trade outfielder Coco Crisp but plan to do so before Spring Training. A lot have teams have already filled the void in center so it might be hard to trade him, but I think it will get done. If the Rangers trade Marlon Byrd to the Cubs, there will be an opening for Coco Crisp. Also, the Padres are a possibility if they can get a good deal.

Orioles trades dead?: Despite reports from ESPN 1000 that said a Brian Roberts trade would be done this weekend, it appears that talks have stopped. Once source said both trades are slowing down because of the Orioles 'unwillingness' to make these deals happen. However, Roch from the Baltimore Sun believes there is still a 50-50 chance a deal gets done.

Nationals Remain Interested In Benson: A source close to Kris Benson confirmed that the Nationals have remained interested in Kris Benson since his workout down in Arizona.

Orioles Have Interest In Fogg

The Orioles reportedly have interest in right handed pitcher Josh Fogg, the Denver Post is reporting. Fogg's opt out date was Friday, but he can still opt out if he a team shows interest. The Orioles interest is "mild," but they may look to add Fogg considering they have three question marks (Eaton, Hendrickson, and Alfredo Simon) rounding out their rotation.

If nothing comes together, Fogg said he would report to Triple-A Colorado Springs.

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Orioles Should Consider Young

The Twins are upset with the performance of Delmon Young and will look to trade him this offseason. Young hit .290 with 10 HR in 152 games, but the Twins were hoping he would be a power hitter, and he has failed to show he can do that. However, I agree with a select few of scouts who think Young is on the verge of stardom. He is getting his timing down, hitting his stride consistently, and it showed in the second half of the season when he hit .300 in the second half of the season.

As for teams that could make a move on him, the Orioles make sense. Acquiring Young would allow the team to dump Melvin Mora, a player the Twins have pursued before. The Orioles have players to fill in in the role, or he could look to the market.

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