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

[adamwolff11]

Betemit is 30?

If you had asked me to guess I would have said 33 at youngest, more like 35 or so.

[MrOrange82]

Betemit is 30?

If you had asked me to guess I would have said 33 at youngest, more like 35 or so.

He's like Andruw Jones, but less successful. Been around for forever.

[24fps]

Oh, Betemit's story is the opposite. He was signed by the Braves as a supposed 16-year old. Years later, when he switched agents, it was revealed that he was actually only 14 1/2 when the Braves signed him. His new agent (Shapiro) used this to try to claim his contract was illegal and get him to become a free agent. The Braves were fined $100,000 and banned by MLB from signing Dominicans for six months.

http://savannahnow.com/stories/02290...vesnotes.shtml

Excessively punitive IMO; we all know Jesuits can't hit a curve...

[GoldGlove21]

So you are saying we are taking the cheap option, with limited upside. Gee there is something new for this organization.

I'm not saying Betemit is a bad signing, it just doesn't make me warm and fuzzy inside.

Betemit is not a sexy name like Fielder, but he is a smart signing IMO. On a one year deal he is a guy who could be moved at the deadline for a decent-good prospect. Every time the Orioles make one of these deals it will push a starter to the bench which essentially upgrades two spots at once.

Example:
Chen signing solidifies Eveland as a reliever.
Betemit signing moved Davis to the bench.

Chavez provides OF depth over a guy like Pie.
Miller provides OF depth over a guy like Pie.
Teagraden is an upgrad to the backup catcher position.
Wada is an upgrade at to the SP/BP.
Flaherty is a better option off of the bench than anyone we had outside of Andino.
Antonelli is an upgrade to the bench.

A trade has to be coming because we now have Miller, Flaherty, Chavez, Teagarden and Davis on the bench. I doubt we go with a 5-man bench, but part of me hopes that we could if need be. My point is that the Orioles are getting stronger without splurging for a guy like Fielder. If they were to land Fielder than they would be in a nice position to move some of these guys for decent prospects or another arm.

[dan-O]

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?co...15175&c_id=mlb

[dan-O]

[weams]

Wilson!

[SrMeowMeow]

Wilson!

[MrOrange82]

Wilson!

Thanks in large part to his struggles with alcoholism and red-melty-face, Bizarro Wilson never achieved the notoriety of his Hollywood-based cousin.

[dan-O]

I just realized the best part of this signing is that it rules out Damon. Huzzah! I'm officially on board.

[Lucky Jim]

Thanks in large part to his struggles with alcoholism and red-melty-face, Bizarro Wilson never achieved the notoriety of his Hollywood-based cousin.

I'd move both Wilsons for Fuzzy Dunlop.

[dan-O]

Simon remembers Wilson.

[SrMeowMeow]

I'd move both Wilsons for Fuzzy Dunlop.

I dunno, man. It just can't stand up to the modern urban crime environment.

[MrOrange82]

I'd move both Wilsons for Fuzzy Dunlop.

lol...must spread rep.

[MrOrange82]

I'd move both Wilsons for Fuzzy Dunlop.

Besides, why pick just one?