Orioles have agreed to terms, pending physical, with INF Wilson Betemit

[clapdiddy]

JIM BOWDEN @JimBowdenESPNxm
Wilson Betemit can hit a FB and play below avg defense..but where's the fit with Chris Davis, Mark Reynolds and Josh Bell? July trade piece?

Josh Bell....not THAT'S funny!

[crawjo]

I'm okay with this signing. It's another good depth move, that will give us much more flexibility with our defensive alignment. The two years don't bother me. I do think this is a pretty good sign the front office doesn't think it will be able to land Fielder, though.

[33rdst]

Josh Bell....not THAT'S funny!

Yea this is rich, isn't it? The more I listen to MLBNetwork on XM the more I'm convinced they know very little about the O's. (Jim Duquette excluded of course)

They're all tuned into the big markets and we're kind of an after thought, which is probably justified given our record in recent years.

I like it this way though. It reminds me a little bit of the O's when they were great. The national press focused on the big markets, though obviously not with the level of media that exist today, and the O's would just surprise everybody, with all of the pundits asking; who are these guys?

[Sports Guy]

The Orioles are handing out multi year deals to mediocre players like its halloween candy.

Good to know that no matter who is in charge, this won't stop.

[Frobby]

The Orioles are handing out multi year deals to mediocre players like its halloween candy.

Good to know that no matter who is in charge, this won't stop.

Other than Chen and Wada, who has signed a multi-year deal with the O's this winter? I'm not ready to decide whether Chen and Wada are "mediocre," but you certainly weren't going to be able to bring them over here for one year.

As to Betemit, I'd like to know what we're paying him.

[Bazooka Jones]

Other than Chen and Wada, who has signed a multi-year deal with the O's this winter? I'm not ready to decide whether Chen and Wada are "mediocre," but you certainly weren't going to be able to bring them over here for one year.

As to Betemit, I'd like to know what we're paying him.

Agreed.

[Sports Guy]

Other than Chen and Wada, who has signed a multi-year deal with the O's this winter? I'm not ready to decide whether Chen and Wada are "mediocre," but you certainly weren't going to be able to bring them over here for one year.

As to Betemit, I'd like to know what we're paying him.

Wada and Betemit..and I am pretty sure they aren't done handing out the poor contracts.

What a bunch of garbage they have added this offseason thus far.

[Tony-OH]

Basically, Wilson Betemit today is what Ty Wigginton was when we acquired him for 2 yrs, $6 mm.

Wigginton pre-2009: .270/.330/.460
Betemit though 2011: .269/.336/.448

Both play a lot of positions, but aren't really good defensively at any of them.

Let's hope Betemit's numbers hold up better than Wigginton's did (.258/.313/.409 as an Oriole). Wiggy had 1,085 PA as an Oriole. I'd be hoping Betemit is more in the 600-800 PA range.

I think this nails it on the head. Betemit hits righties pretty well and hangs in there in most seasons on lefties. As long as he's an platoon guy at DH/1B and an occasional super utility guy, he should have some value. If he ends up around 350 PAs I'll be fine with this if the price tag is around five million or less.

[LookitsPuck]

Wada and Betemit..and I am pretty sure they aren't done handing out the poor contracts.

What a bunch of garbage they have added this offseason thus far.

Is it a poor contract regardless of price?

[NewMarketSean]

Betimit reeks of the Fa signings this team has made over the course of the last 15 years. Chris Singleton. Jay Payton. Marty Cordova. Ty Wigginton. Two year deals for players who could easily be outperformed by the next Jai Miller or Matt Antonelli-type signing or trade.

Until now, DD has avoided singing these middling offensive FA's. So maybe this move is Buck's decision.

[dan-O]

Wada and Betemit..and I am pretty sure they aren't done handing out the poor contracts.

What a bunch of garbage they have added this offseason thus far.

To me, this reads as a gross overreaction. I just don't think Wada warrants being called "garbage", especially since we haven't seen him throw one pitch yet and he's not that expensive anyway. Betemit is a useful player if he utilized correctly, and if he's only costing a couple million/year, that's certainly better than signing Wigginton for $6. I'm not seeing much to get up in arms about yet. There's no Kevin Gregg signing. There's no Johnny Damon or Vlad-type signing.

[Birds08]

I am only judging this offseason by:

a) how DD builds the FO
b) whether DD trades or extends Jones

These one to two year deals don't phase me either way, because they will have zero impact on our path to contention (which doesn't really exist over the next few years).

[NewMarketSean]

To me, this reads as a gross overreaction. I just don't think Wada warrants being called "garbage", especially since we haven't seen him throw one pitch yet and he's not that expensive anyway. Betemit is a useful player if he utilized correctly, and if he's only costing a couple million/year, that's certainly better than signing Wigginton for $6. I'm not seeing much to get up in arms about yet. There's no Kevin Gregg signing. There's no Johnny Damon or Vlad-type signing.

DD or Buck or whoever is signing these MLB players is spending a considerable amount on risky players. It could work, it could flop, and we'd have spent $XX million on very little once again.

[Tony-OH]

Looking at Betemit's pitch value's, he's become a better offspeed hitter over the last two years and still handles the good fastball. It's reasonable to believe that he could continue to hit at last year's level, especially if the Orioles limit his at bats right-handed where he's traditionally a below average hitter. Defensively I don't want him anywhere up the middle unless it's in an emergency situation. Honestly he does bring a lot of the same skills as Ty Wigginton but with a little less power, but a little more on base ability.

[dan-O]

DD or Buck or whoever is signing these MLB players is spending a considerable amount on risky players. It could work, it could flop, and we'd have spent $XX million on very little once again.

I'll take that versus doing that and not shoring up the FO and international effort. Because we can't just forget about those things.