Possible Tejada scenario?

[RZNJ]

I'm not saying Tejada is untradeable. If I was offered Oswalt, Ensberg, Everett I would have been all over that deal.

And Oswalt, who was only signed for one more year at the time, would have been dealt for Milledge & ??. So, you like Milledge, Ensberg & Everett but don't like Santana/Aybar? That's fair.

[Fan4Life]

Sorry we disagree but we need more players like Tejada to beat Boston and NY, not suspects who can't contribute of one of baseballs most anemic offenses.

APPLAUSE.... dont back down BB... I think you have it right... there maybe some difference in perspective here that creates the difference in direction... I think BB and I and many others, want to comepete NOW, not 3 years from now.. and even with prospects and young guys, competing 3 years from now isn't a given... the Yanks and Redsox etc will constantly be trying to improve along the way as well... so unless they make some huge mistakes.. we have alot to overcome.. I prefer we continue to make half-a$$ decisions and continue to falter so this fan base will stay angry and continue to do something to TRY and get some real change. If we make trades for young guys that show promise down the road, that could temper the current fan frustration for awhile... I don't prefer that option..

[geschinger]

APPLAUSE.... dont back down BB... I think you have it right... there maybe some difference in perspective here that creates the difference in direction... I think BB and I and many others, want to comepete NOW, not 3 years from now.. and even with prospects and young guys, competing 3 years from now isn't a given... the Yanks and Redsox etc will constantly be trying to improve along the way as well... so unless they make some huge mistakes.. we have alot to overcome..

If you get prospects that are ready it doesn't take 3 years. We need quantity of quality more than 1 stud SS. The biggest fear I have is that the team thinks they can compete now and goes out and makes some stupid signings to make a huge splash. We could make a lot of moves that make the fanbase appreciative only to finish in 3rd or 4th place again. Then when the young pitching has developed into a playoff caliber staff we can't improve enough in other area because we went build via the albatross contract route this offseason.

[Fan4Life]

If you get prospects that are ready it doesn't take 3 years. We need quantity of quality more than 1 stud SS. The biggest fear I have is that the team thinks they can compete now and goes out and makes some stupid signings to make a huge splash. We could make a lot of moves that make the fanbase appreciative only to finish in 3rd or 4th place again. Then when the young pitching has developed into a playoff caliber staff we can't improve enough in other area because we went build via the albatross contract route this offseason.

I prefer that to starting over... sounds like Angelos speak...any excuse not to invest into this team... we have the resources to fill the holes we have.. if ownership continues to try to win on the cheap, I am not going to support it.. to me, trading Tejada to get younger and possibly better is giving up on contending anytime soon and supports winning on the cheap. I would agree with your point if the FO signs Soriano for 6 years at $16 per, or similar type signings.. but that doesn't have to happen... we don't need to trade Tejada to compete now.. we need to add 3-4 pieces..

[geschinger]

I prefer that to starting over... sounds like Angelos speak...any excuse not to invest into this team... we have the resources to fill the holes we have.. if ownership continues to try to win on the cheap, I am not going to support it.. to me, trading Tejada to get younger and possibly better is giving up on contending anytime soon and supports winning on the cheap. I would agree with your point if the FO signs Soriano for 6 years at $16 per, or similar type signings.. but that doesn't have to happen... we don't need to trade Tejada to compete now.. we need to add 3-4 pieces..

Don't get me wrong, I don't think we must trade Tejada. I just think it's the quickest way to get from where the team is at now to one that is a legitimate contender. However, what three of four pieces can we add that will make us a legitimate contender in 2007?

I still believe Loewen, DCab and Penn are going to be above average major league starting pitching with Loewen and DCab maybe developing into the truly special pitcher category. I just don't thik there is any chance that they'll all develop quick enough to legitimately contend in 2007. Obviously I hope I'll be proven wrong but I don't think I will be. If I am right, wouldn't it be better to plug 2 or 3 high potential prospects in the lineup in 2008 to get some experience and be ready to make a major push in 2007? Add some new life, energy and excitement to a team that is somewhat listless. Let's play it like it's 1989 all over again.

[Sports Guy]

APPLAUSE.... dont back down BB... I think you have it right... there maybe some difference in perspective here that creates the difference in direction... I think BB and I and many others, want to comepete NOW, not 3 years from now.. and even with prospects and young guys, competing 3 years from now isn't a given... the Yanks and Redsox etc will constantly be trying to improve along the way as well... so unless they make some huge mistakes.. we have alot to overcome.. I prefer we continue to make half-a$$ decisions and continue to falter so this fan base will stay angry and continue to do something to TRY and get some real change. If we make trades for young guys that show promise down the road, that could temper the current fan frustration for awhile... I don't prefer that option..

And what BB and many others fail to realize is that you can contend without Tejada.

[erb8472]

And what BB and many others fail to realize is that you can contend without Tejada.

Prime Example of getting younger and still competing......THE FLORIDA MARLINS.

[Fan4Life]

Don't get me wrong, I don't think we must trade Tejada. I just think it's the quickest way to get from where the team is at now to one that is a legitimate contender. However, what three of four pieces can we add that will make us a legitimate contender in 2007?

I still believe Loewen, DCab and Penn are going to be above average major league starting pitching with Loewen and DCab maybe developing into the truly special pitcher category. I just don't thik there is any chance that they'll all develop quick enough to legitimately contend in 2007. Obviously I hope I'll be proven wrong but I don't think I will be. If I am right, wouldn't it be better to plug 2 or 3 high potential prospects in the lineup in 2007 to get some experience and be ready to make a major push in 2007? Add some new life, energy and excitement to a team that is somewhat listless. Let's play it like it's 1989 all over again.

Trade for Huber/Shealy/Kotchman/Carter/Duncan at 1B
All of these guys show some promise and would be cheap


Sign CLee $13-15 mil for LF or Trade for Ensberg and put Mora in LF
Have to add a big bat and OBP

Trade for Burrell for DH, if he will not come sign Sheffield/Thomas or platton Marrero/Gibbons

Again, a power bat with OBP

Sign Mussina if 2@20 will get him, If we get Mussina, sign one of Lilly/Meche/Padilla/Armas Jr/Estes w/o Mussina, sign 2.

Use extra pitching after FA signings to get Burrell, Ensberg, and Huber/Shealy/Kotchman/Carter/Duncan

Depending on whether Benson and Gibbons are part of trades, that would be adding between $30-40 mil in payroll. And we would having something like:

2b Roberts
Rf Markakis
ss Tejada
LF Lee
C Hernandez
3b Mora
dh Burrell/ Gibbons/Marrero Sheffield/Thomas
1b Huber/Shealy/Kotchman/Carter/Duncan
cf CPat

Or

2b Roberts
Rf Markakis
SS Tejada
DH Burrell/ Gibbons/Marrero Sheffield/Thomas
3b Ensberg
1b Huber/Shealy/Kotchman/Carter/Duncan
C Hernandez
Lf Mora
Cf CPat

Bedard
Mussina
Benson/Lilly/Meche/Padilla/Armas Jr/Estes
DCab
Loewen

Or

Bedard
Benson/Lilly/Meche/Padilla/Armas Jr/Estes
Benson/Lilly/Meche/Padilla/Armas Jr/Estes
DCab
Loewen

[Sports Guy]

So, your solution is to sign a bunch of 35+ year old players, mediocre/average starters and a hitter in Carlos Lee who we will be lucky to get a 820 OPS out of in 3 years, who can't play the field and is always out of shape?

Yea, i will pass.

[erb8472]

Tejada won't be traded, but I think as early as next year we will wish we had traded him in that Ervin Santana package.

I see Santana being a top of the rotation starter within two years. Hopefully it's not for the Yanks in an ARod deal.

[erb8472]

So, your solution is to sign a bunch of 35+ year old players, mediocre/average starters and a hitter in Carlos Lee who we will be lucky to get a 820 OPS out of in 3 years, who can't play the field and is always out of shape?

Yea, i will pass.

Sounds like a pretty familiar plan doesn't it.

[Sports Guy]

Sounds like a pretty familiar plan doesn't it.

Yea, like the plan the Orioles may try to implicate and that is scary.

[erb8472]

Yea, like the plan the Orioles may try to implicate and that is scary.

I was thinking more like the plan we've been following for a while now.

[Fan4Life]

So, your solution is to sign a bunch of 35+ year old players, mediocre/average starters and a hitter in Carlos Lee who we will be lucky to get a 820 OPS out of in 3 years, who can't play the field and is always out of shape?

Yea, i will pass.

Hmm.. seems to me you were hot on Ensberg and Burrell? So your only beef should be whether Thomas/Sheffield signed for a year is a better option than keeping Gibbons. Ok, tha's a fair point and I'm open to a different solution... as to CLee, I prefer ARam but dont think he will be an option, so, since we need a power bat and Soriano isn't alikely choice, yes I'll gamble with Lee. And I suppose the alternative is to trade Tejada to the Angels for a possibility that in 2-3 years we might be able to compete. No thank you, I'll pass.

[erb8472]

Hmm.. seems to me you were hot on Ensberg and Burrell? So your only beef should be whether Thomas/Sheffield signed for a year is a better optin than keeping Gibbons. Ok, tha's a fair point and I'm open to a different solution... as to CLee, I prefer ARam but dont think he will be an option, so, since we need a power bat and Soriano isn't alikely choice, yes I'll gamble with Lee. And I suppose the alternative is to trade Tejada to the Angels for a possibility that in 2-3 years we might be able to compete. No thank you, I'll pass.

If we traded Tejada for Santana we would be upgrading our Pitching tremendously.

Look at the Tigers now they don't have anyone on there roster that's as good as Tejada. Yet they are looking like the team to beat.

Why?

Because of there pitching. They have great young pitching. Santana would instantly upgrade our rotation.