Roch: Duquette doesn't expect any more trades today

[ChaosLex]

Executive vice president Dan Duquette doesn't anticipate making any more trades before he boards a flight for Boston this afternoon. He'll return to Baltimore over the weekend and hopes to complete a few more deals that were advanced at the Winter Meetings.

Duquette didn't make a big splash at the Hilton Anatole, unless you count the number of times he dumped cold water on speculation that he'd pursue a big-ticket item in free agency.

The Orioles were busy today, if not dynamic. The only trade this week brought left-hander Dana Eveland into the organization from the Los Angeles Dodgers for minor leaguers Jarret Martin and Tyler Henson.


"We have a number of discussions that we cultivated while we were here. I don't know if that will lead to additional players coming here, but we certainly hope so. We've had some other trade discussions," Duquette said.

"I think we added to our team. It's all added. We're building. I don't think we're giving up significant talent to add to what we're building at the major league level and we still have some opportunities to add some players from the free agent market.

"We added another infielder (Flaherty). He's a left-handed hitter. Good complement to what we're doing. Potential insurance in the event that (Brian) Roberts is not healthy and ready to go, which was an item that we were trying to address in terms of the depth of our infield, so we think we might have done that with Flaherty. I guess we'll find out in spring training. And we picked up a pitcher. That was all on our shopping list. Those were items we were trying to address in the offseason and we addressed a couple of those items at the winter meetings.

"We're still working on the free agents, but I don't know when any of that is going to come together. We'll sign some more players. We're working on the Chong (Tae-Hyon) situation. Hopefully, we'll have something before the holidays on that. We still like him and are trying to sign him, but obviously it's taking a little longer."

Duquette said he might make another front office hire by the first of the year.

http://www.masnsports.com/school_of_roch/2011/12/duquette-and-eveland-discuss-the-trade.html

[ChaosLex]

I think it's kinda funny Duquette regards Eveland as the kind of pitcher they were shopping for. Not his exact words, but I find it doubtful he didn't expect better.

[MrOrange82]

The above pretty much meshes with what I envisioned as the "worst case scenario" to kick-start this winter.

I'm not sure how much authority/room for maneuver DD has or doesn't have, but I'm also not sure he fully understands how far gone much of the Orioles' fanbase already is.

Horrendously underwhelming.

[BilboBaggins]

So when you boil it down, he's saying:

"I know we haven't done much, but just wait a little longer."

[TonySoprano]

They probably have to lay down after the rush of excitement the last 48 hours.

[G.O.A.T.]

This Franchise is a disaster. We have no direction at all. Pick a side and don't stand still and throw out the same team as last year. Either build on your core players, or trade them and start the rebuild by stocking your farm system with talent. How many losing seasons does PA have left in him?

[erb8472]

I'm waiting to hear the ol' "We had a lot of good conversations here with other teams, and we have a lot of options right now. See you back in Baltimore."

The wait is over.

[MrOrange82]

The wait is over.

Short wait.

[jaygdevil11]

So disgusting

[TonySoprano]

Why all the doom and gloom?

We made two more deals than the Red Sox and Yankees combined!!! *







wait for it


*I'm surprised the local media hasn't tried that spin angle yet. :D

[SilentJames]

Meh, not every deal is made at the Winter Meetings. MacPhail didn't get Jones until January. I'll take DD at his word that there are other deals that were started here that will work themselves out in the coming weeks.

I'm disappointed in the "big news" too. But whatever, it is a long offseason and I will wait to be angry when the offseason is over and this is all we have done.

[atomic]

Well he has a three year contract. I am guessing he just figures he will take the three years worth of salary and then go back to community theater and little league camps. On the way hiring all his over the hill buddies. I was willing to give him a chance but him actually acting like he did something to improve the club is comical.

[LookinUp]

This is where [insert poster] comes in and provides the reasoning for why it's not that big of a deal that we didn't do much of anything. A lot can and will happen in the coming days/weeks...yada yada yada.

To which I reply: Fine, but as it stands this franchise is giving me very little reason to even follow them online, much less buy single game tickets, much less buy a season ticket package.

[Edit: Lol...SJ beat me to it.]

[IrishOriole]

You'll get nothing and like it!

[SilentJames]

This is where [insert poster] comes in and provides the reasoning for why it's not that big of a deal that we didn't do much of anything. A lot can and will happen in the coming days/weeks...yada yada yada.

To which I reply: Fine, but as it stands this franchise is giving me very little reason to even follow them online, much less buy single game tickets, much less buy a season ticket package.

[Edit: Lol...SJ beat me to it.]

You're absolutely right. Not arguing with that at all. But what I said IS the truth. The Winter Meetings could still work out to be very good for us. People crapped the bed last year when Dunn signed early - looks kind of foolish in retrospect?

[MrOrange82]

You're absolutely right. Not arguing with that at all. But what I said IS the truth. The Winter Meetings could still work out to be very good for us. People crapped the bed last year when Dunn signed early - looks kind of foolish in retrospect?

Yes...the virtually unpredictable, total collapse of a then-slugger (not a regression, but a collapse) (i.e., a glaring exception to the general rule) makes it look foolish that so many people, myself included, were griping about his going to Chicago.

[TonySoprano]

Better to be thought a fool then sign a free agent and remove all doubt? More spin

[erb8472]

We should have known the weren't going to make a big trade at the Winter Meetings. After all this is what DD was carrying with him to each of the meetings with other teams.

http://adamomeara.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Laying-the-Foundation.jpg

[lint06]

This is where [insert poster] comes in and provides the reasoning for why it's not that big of a deal that we didn't do much of anything. A lot can and will happen in the coming days/weeks...yada yada yada.

To which I reply: Fine, but as it stands this franchise is giving me very little reason to even follow them online, much less buy single game tickets, much less buy a season ticket package.

[Edit: Lol...SJ beat me to it.]

Wait, it took you five minutes to write that post?

[erb8472]

Wait, it took you five minutes to write that post?

http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/045/f/5/hunt_and_peck_animation_by_fowlhunter-d39l6zc.gif

[jabba72]

When a trade didnt go down yesterday you just knew something wasnt going according to plan.

[LookinUp]

Wait, it took you five minutes to write that post?

Lol. I must have been multi-tasking.

[thiscat41]

Definitely like the deals so far. Hope there's more to come. Love my O's no matter what happens! :)

[Sports Guy]

Of course..Lots of time and effort put towards getting Dana "franchise saver" Eveland.

[SilentJames]

Yes...the virtually unpredictable, total collapse of a then-slugger (not a regression, but a collapse) (i.e., a glaring exception to the general rule) makes it look foolish that so many people, myself included, were griping about his going to Chicago.

I wasn't even talking about the collapse. I was talking about the subsequent deals for Reynolds and Hardy.

[NewMarketSean]

I'm disappointed in the "big news" too. But whatever, it is a long offseason and I will wait to be angry when the offseason is over and this is all we have done.

What are you talking about. Dana Eveland is big news. These are the Orioles.

[SilentJames]

Of course..Lots of time and effort put towards getting Dana "franchise saver" Eveland.

We don't really know how much "time" was really put into that. 90% of his time and energy could have been spent on deals that will be consummated in the coming weeks. Of course 10% is still too much time for this deal - it is a bad deal.

Still though, a lot of time left to make better ones. No one is saying that this move is for anything other depth, no one is calling him anything more than that.

[Sports Guy]

We don't really know how much "time" was really put into that. 90% of his time and energy could have been spent on deals that will be consummated in the coming weeks. Of course 10% is still too much time for this deal - it is a bad deal.

Still though, a lot of time left to make better ones. No one is saying that this move is for anything other depth, no one is calling him anything more than that.
LOL...Thank you for your predictable response to my obviously sarcastic, throw away post.

I will give you credit SJ...We could deal Adam Jones for Travis Driskill and you would attempt to find a silver lining.

[MrOrange82]

LOL...Thank you for your predictable response to my obviously sarcastic, throw away post.

His response was perfectly reasonable.

Unfortunately, it was uttered at what feels like 15 years post-apocalypse. "Maybe it'll be sunny tomorrow...maybe the Sheetz still has gas..."

The Orioles are practically rotting. I think the time for calm, detached, "let's see what happens in a few months" has long-since passed.

[xKHx]

DD 1 (Doing his job over seas so far) rest of the league 20 (Trades/FA/international) one step forward 19 steps back. Its the Oriole way!

[jamalshw]

LOL...Thank you for your predictable response to my obviously sarcastic, throw away post.

I will give you credit SJ...We could deal Adam Jones for Travis Driskill and you would attempt to find a silver lining.

Well, pitching is more valuable than hitting and we do need more depth for the bullpen. Besides, Driskill does have some experience starting back in 2002...

[SilentJames]

His response was perfectly reasonable.

Unfortunately, it was uttered at what feels like 15 years post-apocalypse. "Maybe it'll be sunny tomorrow...maybe the Sheetz still has gas..."

The Orioles are practically rotting. I think the time for calm, detached, "let's see what happens in a few months" has long-since passed.

All I am saying is this is exactly what happened last year after Dunn signed early.

[MrOrange82]

All I am saying is this is exactly what happened last year after Dunn signed early.

Well, right. The problem is, it keeps happening because it...keeps happening.

The O's have relegated themselves to the sidelines without taking any significant steps towards improvement for so long that "the norm" has become unpalatable and self-perpetuating.

[SilentJames]

Well, right. The problem is, it keeps happening because it...keeps happening.

The O's have relegated themselves to the sidelines without taking any significant steps towards improvement for so long that "the norm" has become unpalatable and self-perpetuating.

Yes we passed on Dunn, he signed elsewhere and everyone flipped out. we then went on to make two really great trades that have worked out pretty dang well for us. It is December 8. If on February 8 Dana Eveland is the biggest acquisition we have I will rage out it too, but it is far too soon to have this much emotion. We have made some decent minor moves prior to the meetings and we have no idea what other moves might be forthcoming because of the efforts laid out during the conferences.

I don't care when they happen so long as they happen.

we need to ask ourselves the following: 1) did anyone we were seriously pursuing come off the table due to inaction? 2) Were good deals discussed that simply haven't been finalized yet? 3) Is it February?

[OrioleWay27]

No other teams really did anything besides the Marlins and Angels, but I would honestly rather have made no trades than acquiring Dana Eveland, who is total garbage.

It really makes me question Duquette's evaluation skills, because as many people have mentioned, you can easily get trash like Eveland for free later on. If I'm the GM, it wouldn't be worth the criticism from my fanbase for giving up anything for such a poor player, regardless of what else I'm working on, how little I give up, and how little the opinion of my fanbase matters. I really believe making zero trades and saying there was nothing worth pursuing and that other trades are in the works is better than simply trading for Eveland.

[Nigel Tufnel]

Lol. I must have been multi-tasking.

Chances of trade are.... remote.

[orioles119]

No other teams really did anything besides the Marlins and Angels, but I would honestly rather have made no trades than acquiring Dana Eveland, who is total garbage.

It really makes me question Duquette's evaluation skills, because as many people have mentioned, you can easily get trash like Eveland for free later on. If I'm the GM, it wouldn't be worth the criticism from my fanbase for giving up anything for such a poor player, regardless of what else I'm working on, how little I give up, and how little the opinion of my fanbase matters. I really believe making zero trades and saying there was nothing worth pursuing and that other trades are in the works is better than simply trading for Eveland.

Idk... Duquette fleeced the Mariners for Varitek and Lowe (trading them Slocumb). I'm not comparing Antonelli, Eveland, or Teagarden to those 2, but anything can happen. With our luck, though Henry, Miclat, Martin, and the PTBNL will probably become our Lowe and Varitek.

[MrOrange82]

Yes we passed on Dunn, he signed elsewhere and everyone flipped out. we then went on to make two really great trades that have worked out pretty dang well for us. It is December 8. If on February 8 Dana Eveland is the biggest acquisition we have I will rage out it too, but it is far too soon to have this much emotion. We have made some decent minor moves prior to the meetings and we have no idea what other moves might be forthcoming because of the efforts laid out during the conferences.

I don't care when they happen so long as they happen.

we need to ask ourselves the following: 1) did anyone we were seriously pursuing come off the table due to inaction? 2) Were good deals discussed that simply haven't been finalized yet? 3) Is it February?

It's been 5,167 days since the Orioles last appeared in the playoffs, and 10,280 days since the O's last played in the World Series.

I don't give a damn if it's February.

[jamalshw]

Yes we passed on Dunn, he signed elsewhere and everyone flipped out. we then went on to make two really great trades that have worked out pretty dang well for us. It is December 8. If on February 8 Dana Eveland is the biggest acquisition we have I will rage out it too, but it is far too soon to have this much emotion. We have made some decent minor moves prior to the meetings and we have no idea what other moves might be forthcoming because of the efforts laid out during the conferences.

I don't care when they happen so long as they happen.

we need to ask ourselves the following: 1) did anyone we were seriously pursuing come off the table due to inaction? 2) Were good deals discussed that simply haven't been finalized yet? 3) Is it February?

There are serious issues with the Eveland move. We gave up WAY too much for a dime a dozen AAAA pitcher. That said, is it the end of the world? No.

The biggest problem is that DD did an epically horrible job of PR. He feed the media information that a trade was in the works and it kept getting pushed out so anticipation kept building. When a trade finally happened, it was for a guy that spent the majority of the previous year (his age 27 season) in AAA. He's also a guy with a career 1.690 WHIP, 4.5 BB/9, and a mere 5.9 K/9. His career ERA+ is 77.

All in all, does Eveland provide greater depth in the pitching staff? Yes. Is there reason to believe he may be improved over his previous major league performance? Yes. Is there reason to believe he could be anything more than a fill-in #5 starter, particularly in the AL East? No.

[jamalshw]

Idk... Duquette fleeced the Mariners for Varitek and Lowe (trading them Slocumb). I'm not comparing Antonelli, Eveland, or Teagarden to those 2, but anything can happen. With our luck, though Henry, Miclat, Martin, and the PTBNL will probably become our Lowe and Varitek.

MacPhail fleeced the Mariners for Adam Jones and company for Bedard, but that didn't ultimately save him from getting turned on. It also didn't help the Orioles get out of the cellar.

[MikeAD]

I was sort of hoping he would trade the older Bundy for a 1B coach and some parking attendants.

[SilentJames]

There are serious issues with the Eveland move. We gave up WAY too much for a dime a dozen AAAA pitcher. That said, is it the end of the world? No.

The biggest problem is that DD did an epically horrible job of PR. He feed the media information that a trade was in the works and it kept getting pushed out so anticipation kept building. When a trade finally happened, it was for a guy that spent the majority of the previous year (his age 27 season) in AAA. He's also a guy with a career 1.690 WHIP, 4.5 BB/9, and a mere 5.9 K/9. His career ERA+ is 77.

All in all, does Eveland provide greater depth in the pitching staff? Yes. Is there reason to believe he may be improved over his previous major league performance? Yes. Is there reason to believe he could be anything more than a fill-in #5 starter, particularly in the AL East? No.

The problem is we don't know if that was the trade he was talking about.