Orioles Reach Out To Prince Fielder's Representatives

[Sports Guy]

What happens if Smoak continues to hit .227 with an OBP of .316 and Walker never reaches the majors?

Then the trade will have not worked out for us. Isn't that kind of obvious?

[Pickles]

Really...Since you are treating this as a fact, I am sure you can back that up with actual evidence, right?

I'm just telling you what most observers of Rangers baseball saw over the last two years, and what was widely reported on game casts coinciding with mgmt's opinions of their defensive play.

[TonySoprano]

1) Davis isn't a better defensive first baseman than Smoak. Smoak ha always been looked at as a future GG caliber first baseman.

I used to hear that a lot around here years ago....about a guy named Kotchman

[DrungoHazewood]

What most of you are missing is the discussion of surplus value. Jones and Guthrie are good players, but they're also into their arb years. Guthrie is only under team control for one more season, Jones for two. Both of them will make a significant percentage of their open market value over their remaining time under contract.

Smoak isn't even arb eligible until 2014, and isn't a free agent until 2017. Gutierrez is signed through 2014 at a pretty reasonable $5M a year. Walker's clock hasn't even started, and won't for a while. It's not a stretch to think the package SG is proposing has more surplus value than a year of Guthrie at $7M-ish, and two years of Jones at maybe $13M total.

[Roll Tide]

Ok, what is the MUCH better deal out there?

If we can get a MUCH better deal, great, let's do it.

Id argue that the deal could be done with Guthrie/Jones and a lesser second player.

[Sports Guy]

I used to hear that a lot around here years ago....about a guy named Kotchman

And he is.

[MikeAD]

I'm just telling you what most observers of Rangers baseball saw over the last two years, and what was widely reported on game casts coinciding with mgmt's opinions of their defensive play.

This seems to say otherwise. http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/news/story?id=5127848

Even though Davis might have good/better MILB numbers, I can't fathom a scenario where Smoak only gets you half or 3/4 of Koji.

[Sports Guy]

Id argue that the deal could be done with Guthrie/Jones and a lesser second player.

Your argument would be very poor if Guthrie was the first player..MAYBE it could be done for Jones and the other prospect wasn't involved.

[24fps]

Smoak's OPS at home last season was almost .100 higher than on the road. .771 to .674. in 25 fewer PA's.

[MikeAD]

On a related note: Exactly how much would it take to sufficiently wine and dine Prince Fielder? On the one hand, our budget from the dinner alone would put us over 100 million but on the other hand the local economy in Balmer would see a boost.

[Pickles]

This seems to say otherwise. http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/news/story?id=5127848

Did you read the article? Hahaha. I mean, seriously, it in no way, shape, or form, gives any insight into their respective defensive abilities, or even the percetption of them.

Even though Davis might have good/better MILB numbers, I can't fathom a scenario where Smoak only gets you half or 3/4 of Koji.

Smoak's got more pedigree than Davis, and I think he's a better player ultimately. But that doesn't have much of a bearing on the conversation we're having.

[DrungoHazewood]

Id argue that the deal could be done with Guthrie/Jones and a lesser second player.

That would be quite a deal. One year of Guthrie at ~$7M, plus a lesser player, for many years of Smoak at league minimum, Gutierrez at $5M, and Walker at league minimum. Depending on the throw in the Orioles would arguably be getting more immediate MLB talent and salary relief, not to mention the years of those players long after Guthrie has gone to free agency.

[Pedro Cerrano]

I love how this thread has devolved the last 4-5 pages based on the supposition of Fielder going to Seattle.

[MikeAD]

Smoak's OPS at home last season was almost .100 higher than on the road. .771 to .674. in 25 fewer PA's.

Well, his home OPS should be pretty good at OPACY, which is a much more hitter friendly park than Seattle. In addition, that's just weird, really only because he hit more HRs at home.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/parkfactor

[Dipper9]

Wow, this thread is still going strong huh?

Let me help out a bit. Pujols is staying in St. Louis and Fielder will be a Cub or Ranger.