I talked to an insider today

[PlumOriole]

I don't post here a lot but I wanted to pass along some information I heard today. I met a person in the Oriole organization this summer and had a really good conversation about what they were doing as an organization. This was "before" McPhail was hired. Anyway, this is the first time I've talked to him since then and here is what he had to say.

1. He was at the organizational meeting and really likes McPhail. He said he seems to really want to here what everyone had to say and was open to different ideas of how to improve the organization.

2. I mentioned Tejada and Bedard possibly being traded and he said Bedard is not going anywhere.

3. He said they talked at the organizational meetings about players being signed that should not have. He said they were going to eat two contracts. He said Mora would not be one of them because they plan on moving him to LF.

4. The biggest statement and I hope he is wrong is he thinks they will be going after ARod. I was very surprised when he said this. He said they want a big name to build around and to identify with.

You can take this for what it's worth.

[Baroquen131]

Expect to get lots of grief, but then, you've been here awhile. You know the OH drill. Some interesting bolded tidbits in there. Should be fun to see if they come to fruition (primarily the eating of contracts).

Thanks for sharing.

[scOtt]

I'm betting the two contracts are the two Jays. Especially if Mora is going to LF.

[Moose Milligan]

Mora to LF? Blech.

Anyway, thanks for your inside info, always good to have another insider on the board

[Fan4Life]

I don't post here a lot but I wanted to pass along some information I heard today. I met a person in the Oriole organization this summer and had a really good conversation about what they were doing as an organization. This was "before" McPhail was hired. Anyway, this is the first time I've talked to him since then and here is what he had to say.

1. He was at the organizational meeting and really likes McPhail. He said he seems to really want to here what everyone had to say and was open to different ideas of how to improve the organization.

2. I mentioned Tejada and Bedard possibly being traded and he said Bedard is not going anywhere.

3. He said they talked at the organizational meetings about players being signed that should not have. He said they were going to eat two contracts. He said Mora would not be one of them because they plan on moving him to LF.

4. The biggest statement and I hope he is wrong is he thinks they will be going after ARod. I was very surprised when he said this. He said they want a big name to build around and to identify with.

You can take this for what it's worth.

Hey thanks for the info..... it wouldn't hurt my feelings to acquire ARod.. in fact, I think it would be great to followup Cal at SS with ARod, the future HR champ... obvioulsy he won't be free, but if you ship out Tejada for Cedeno/Pie, send Hernandez +pitching to the Mets for Milledge, eat Gibbons and Payton's contracts, collect insurance for Baez, then adding ARod won't be a franchise killer. I presume BRob isn't going anywhere either... If they aren't trading Bedard or BRob, then we aren't getting any of Hu, LaRoche, Loney, etc etc... This basically echos what Bigbird said..

[Crazysilver03]

I'm betting the two contracts are the two Jays. Especially if Mora is going to LF.

Jay Gibbons is definitely going to be one of the two.

I could see Jay Payton but that doesnt make much sense if you can trade him, even for nothing. But I guess it has to be Payton since the only other people would be Hernandez, Mora, or Roberts and those dont make sense.

[Moose Milligan]

Jay Gibbons is definitely going to be one of the two.

I could see Jay Payton but that doesnt make much sense if you can trade him, even for nothing. But I guess it has to be Payton since the only other people would be Hernandez, Mora, or Roberts and those dont make sense.

Yeah, it's gotta be Payton if we're sticking Mora in LF. I doubt Payton gets the CF job and we're not paying 5 mil for our 4th outfielder.

Ick, Payton in CF. *shudder*

[Elbren]

Not sure I like that Bedard comment. Hopefully, this means they're already looking into an extension and not holding true to the Oriole status quo of waiting until the end of a contract to talk to him. I would hate for Bedard to walk and only get draft picks for him.

[Crazysilver03]

An interesting question is:

If Mora is being moved to LF, who is our 3B? Will it be Moore or are we going to try to acquire someone else. A-Rod would be better at SS.

[El Gordo]

The best two contracts to eat would be Gibbons and Payton IMO. Don't see why they would waste their time going after ARod.

[MikeAD]

Shame there wasnt a 5th point.

5. The team is re-signing Corey Patterson.

[Elbren]

An interesting question is:

If Mora is being moved to LF, who is our 3B? Will it be Moore or are we going to try to acquire someone else. A-Rod would be better at SS.

Tejada?

[soxhotcorner14]

4. The biggest statement and I hope he is wrong is he thinks they will be going after ARod. I was very surprised when he said this. He said they want a big name to build around and to identify with.

You can take this for what it's worth.

Now, I've been telling people I know who are very interested in the Orioles that I see them making a push for A-rod. The reasons are as follows:

a. His idol is Cal Ripken

b. He can play SS here

c. He's a big name

d. He's chasing a record (will fill seats at CY)

e. They will have money for him if they trade Tejada and Bedard (if they go that route)

f. By trading those two you'll bolster your position player/pitching 70% because you're going to get major league ready talent for those two

If they go that route they won't be far away from competing position player wise with those trades and picking up A-rod and salary will be in the same ballpark they are already forecasting in extending Bedard.

I would personally like to see the O's go this direction. If they can do Bedard and A-Rod all the better. But I don't see that happening.

[Baroquen131]

I so hope this thread doesn't devolve into another A-Rod thread. There is no chance that he'll be in an Orioles uniform next season. Speculate all you want, and the O's may even make some kind of deluded push for him, but they won't get him.

I'm much more interested in whether we eat contracts. That's something that hasn't been brought up before (to my knowledge) and that's not something the club has done in recent memory.

[Frobby]

The tidbit I was most interested in was the one that says no chance we trade Bedard. That may turn out to be a very bad move -- but at the same time I'll still look forward to watching every game the man pitches. He was a lifeboat of enjoyment in a sea of misery this year.