O's claim 2B/SS Alexi Casilla from Twins

[VeveJones007]

Let me clarify that I'm not necessarily against the move--I'm just calling Casilla a "meh" player at a position where the team already has "meh" players. But if you can't get quality, get quantity and hope someone has an above average year.

This could be a precursor to DFA'ing Andino.

[Singleton]

Given our options at 2b, it's a reasonable flier and a very DD like move that seemed to work more often than not in 2012. While a waiver claim certainly doesn't preclude a bigger move at 2b, it may indicate that the front office doesn't see something brewing (FA or trade) in the near future.

[TGO]

But he only attempts 23 steals per 150 games. So 21 steals and 2 caught means he's creating about 5-6 runs per full season on the basepaths. And he never plays anything like a full season. I guess it would be nice to have an Andino with a bit more basestealing ability.

Yeah, I didn't mean to overstate it. This isn't Brian Roberts in his prime we're picking up. He's a nice-to-have piece. Basically, he's an improved Quintanilla to platoon with Andino if Roberts is done and Flaherty isn't ready for prime time.

[Brendan25]

Let me clarify that I'm not necessarily against the move--I'm just calling Casilla a "meh" player at a position where the team already has "meh" players. But if you can't get quality, get quantity and hope someone has an above average year.

I'm on the same board as you. I think that DD never planned on getting Keppinger, and wanted to bring in one more player to compete with Roberts/Flaherty/Andino/Schoop/Kelly at 2B next year. Casilla seems to be that guy.

[skanar]

Don't like hearing that, though.

None of the FA 2Bs this year are any good, besides Scutaro, and he's 37 and will cost a lot. Unless someone like Maicer Izturis falls into the O's lap, it doesn't make a ton of sense to get a FA 2B this offseason.

Casilla's a reasonable pickup. He steals a few bases, at least; he should be a better PR option off the bench than Endy Chavez.

[sfosfan]

So far so good. Looking forward to the next moves.

[CA-ORIOLE]

Perfectly fine with the pickup, and he could take Andino's place. Good to have a sure-handed UTI infielder.

Dan Connolly: Dan Duquette says Casilla acquisition means he's not going to actively pursue another 2B.

Just wow if the above is true. Since Casilla is arb elgible I'm guessing it may be.

[Coker]

Other then Keppinger there was noone that made sense anyway. So they are saying that they'd rather go into next year with Roberts, Andino, Flaherty, Casilla, Schoop, and Kelly at the cost they are then to put the money out there that it'll cost for Keppinger.

None of the FA 2Bs this year are any good, besides Scutaro, and he's 37 and will cost a lot. Unless someone like Maicer Izturis falls into the O's lap, it doesn't make a ton of sense to get a FA 2B this offseason.

That's fine. I'm not necessarily advocating for a FA pickup though. I just like it's silly for DD to claim Casilla and be done with trying to upgrade second base.

[SrMeowMeow]

Casilla is projected to make about 1.8M in arbitration. I'd probably mark him down for 1.5 WAR over a full season, which is I guess tolerable, although not what you want starting for a contender. He's also played a lot of SS, a little 3B, and even three innings of CF in the majors, so he provides some flexibility, and I suppose some nice speed off the end of the bench.

I can imagine a future where Casilla puts up a decent 2013, but I would have liked to see a more aggressive or creative attempt to upgrade 2B, which is our biggest hole right now. There's a very good chance we get a re-enactment of that whole Luis Hernandez-led shortstop merry-go-round from a few years ago, and I don't want that happening on a good team.

[Brendan25]

That's fine. I'm not necessarily advocating for a FA pickup though. I just like it's silly for DD to claim Casilla and be done with trying to upgrade second base.

There really aren't any other options at 2B.

[Frobby]

Seems to me Casilla is a clear upgrade over Andino.

Andino: .235/.296/.323 in 1382 PA, 1.6 rWAR

Casilla: .250/.305/.334 in 1764 PA, 2.7 rWAR

Having seen Casilla a few times, my impression is that he does the "little things" much better than Andino, which is important when you are a sub-.700 OPS guy. He steals bases, he hits behind runners, he strikes out less frequently than Andino, and I think he is better defensively, too (though Andino was pretty solid defensively).

So, while this isn't an eye-popping move, it upgrades the current roster at virtually no extra cost, and makes it a little more plausible to see whether BRob can make a comeback or Flaherty can develop, with Casilla as the fallback instead of Andino.

[exist10z]

Well, since every second baseman we rolled out there in 2012 had a negative WAR, and Roberts is never going to produce a positive WAR again, and Casilla had a +2, it's an upgrade. I'd like to think Flaherty could produce some positive results eventually and will get a shot, but a Flaherty/Casilla spring competition in 2013 appears to be an improvement over last year.

Probably as good a result as we could have hoped for to fill one of our greatest needs, as trading our excess young pitching for Cano, Kinsler, etc. wasn't going to happen in reality.

[Frobby]

These are the kinds of small upgrades that don't get anyone excited but can make a big difference over 162 games.

[Bulgaria]

Not a bad start of the day. Let's trade for Haren now. He's better than every free agent option (well, Greinke is mission impossible for us, i don't even count him as a option).

[Roll Tide]

This is just another sign that Mr. Angelos is holding out hope (less than 1% imo) that Roberts can return, stay healthy, and produce as he did several years ago.