Stark ranks O's as having 4th worst offseason in MLB at 1/2way point.

[El Gordo]

No one said to spend on an insane contract. I am saying that we need to add pieces to become a better squad. We haven't done that, clearly.

A few baseball writers have pointed this out while folks on the OH keep thinking standing pat will propel us into the 2013 WS.

It won't. Why all the hysterics man?

MSK

What were the non insane FA contracts we missed out on in your opinion?

[24fps]

Because someone or some team hasn't done something stupid doesn't automatically mean they're smart. I could simply mean they're inert, or perhaps their attention is elsewhere, or they're phlegmatic by nature and their behavior is normal. Perhaps they're asleep...

...or dead and nobody's noticed.

Except Jayson Stark.

[luismatos4prez]

Moves I'd pull the trigger on:

Strop and Avery for Porcello

Saunders at 2/14

Marcum at 3/35

Arrieta for Smoak

Edit: Dumped Lohse. He's one of the FAs that would cost a 1st round draft pick. Not worth it.

[scOtt]

Moves I'd pull the trigger on:

Lohse at 2/26

Strop and Avery for Porcello

Saunders at 2/14

Marcum at 3/35

Arrieta for Smoak

Don't know that much about Marcum but 5 thumbs up.

[mark_beckens]

In DD we trust.

Btw... to refresh everyone's memory about winners of the offseason...

<a href="http://s1106.photobucket.com/albums/h367/isestrex/?action=view&current=2011offseasonmovesgrid_WallStreetJournal.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h367/isestrex/2011offseasonmovesgrid_WallStreetJournal.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

2011 Wall Street Journal

I think what that shows is sometimes subtraction is better then addition.

[markakis8]

In DD we trust.

Btw... to refresh everyone's memory about winners of the offseason...

<a href="http://s1106.photobucket.com/albums/h367/isestrex/?action=view&current=2011offseasonmovesgrid_WallStreetJournal.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h367/isestrex/2011offseasonmovesgrid_WallStreetJournal.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

2011 Wall Street Journal

Wow, it doesn't surprise me that the O's were on top but it definitely surprises me that the Rays were on the bottom. They didn't really make a big enough splash to be on the bottom I thought.

[kyleott]

To start, let me give a disclaimer that what I type should be taken with a grain of salt due to my BAC.

It seems to me that every analyst in the country holds one of two opinions about the Orioles and their offseason. Those two being, (i) the Orioles are negligently casting away the success they had (luckily so) from the past season, and are doing nothing to improve their chances for the next season; or (ii) the Orioles have been one of the 'winners' of the winter meetings by avoiding the proverbial albatross of a contract and not committing too much of whatever their payroll will allow.

Realistically, this team is what it is. By Duquette not resigning Reynolds, we have some sort of perspective of either his perception of Mark, or Chris' ability at 1B. At the same time, Hammel was acquired in February of this year, so it isn't unreasonable to still be hoping/expecting some sort of shift in the roster. That being said, I think that while many are lamenting this apparent complacency, it is probably the right decision regarding the talent available combined with the contracts those players would demand.

If in fact PA did tell DD to get in on the Hamilton negotiations, that can only be interpreted as a good thing. I am only concerned with our willingness to spend; not whether or not we do. As many have said before, this is very possibly Duquette simply exercising his will in not buying into the talent available.

Naturally, we are going to be skeptical. It is in our nature as Orioles fans. However, I am cautiously optimistic about the future of our organization, and for the first time in a while, I'm feeling a sense of direction with our front office.

While everybody is busy complaining about the lack of impact moves, we steadily have bolstered our minor league system. We were unbelievably lucky to have experienced the 2012 season that we did. As a loyal fan, it was the single most amazing experience of my fandom. However, I would prefer us to accumulate depth in our system before we hand out unjustifiable contracts. Maybe that is just my opinion. Like I said, I'm a little bit under the influence.

I do know this much, I personally feel as though Duquette has earned at the very least my patience to see what his final product is. Until then, all this negativity serves no purpose other than conjecture and ruffling feathers.

Wake me up when the Ravens are done imploding, and the blossoms of spring are blooming alongside the Orioles' future road.

[scOtt]

To start, let me give a disclaimer that what I type should be taken with a grain of salt due to my BAC.

It seems to me that every analyst in the country holds one of two opinions about the Orioles and their offseason. Those two being, (i) the Orioles are negligently casting away the success they had (luckily so) from the past season, and are doing nothing to improve their chances for the next season; or (ii) the Orioles have been one of the 'winners' of the winter meetings by avoiding the proverbial albatross of a contract and not committing too much of whatever their payroll will allow.

Realistically, this team is what it is. By Duquette not resigning Reynolds, we have some sort of perspective of either his perception of Mark, or Chris' ability at 1B. At the same time, Hammel was acquired in February of this year, so it isn't unreasonable to still be hoping/expecting some sort of shift in the roster. That being said, I think that while many are lamenting this apparent complacency, it is probably the right decision regarding the talent available combined with the contracts those players would demand.

If in fact PA did tell DD to get in on the Hamilton negotiations, that can only be interpreted as a good thing. I am only concerned with our willingness to spend; not whether or not we do. As many have said before, this is very possibly Duquette simply exercising his will in not buying into the talent available.

Naturally, we are going to be skeptical. It is in our nature as Orioles fans. However, I am cautiously optimistic about the future of our organization, and for the first time in a while, I'm feeling a sense of direction with our front office.

While everybody is busy complaining about the lack of impact moves, we steadily have bolstered our minor league system. We were unbelievably lucky to have experienced the 2012 season that we did. As a loyal fan, it was the single most amazing experience of my fandom. However, I would prefer us to accumulate depth in our system before we hand out unjustifiable contracts. Maybe that is just my opinion. Like I said, I'm a little bit under the influence.

I do know this much, I personally feel as though Duquette has earned at the very least my patience to see what his final product is. Until then, all this negativity serves no purpose other than conjecture and ruffling feathers.

Wake me up when the Ravens are done imploding, and the blossoms of spring are blooming alongside the Orioles' future road.

I agree with pretty much everything you say but I feel the bolded, like every single day. Mark Reynolds is the very first example. DD and his ECON professor are waiting for the right contracts. They've signed a lot of minor ones. BTW btw... while we don't rank on Stark's list, we have made a LOT of MiL signings. Irons in the fire everywhere. Maybe not the most sexy expensive moves ESPN is looking for but probably more deals than most clubs. DD is active as hell, even if he can't finish that "big one".

[Orange_Crush]

Full disclosure: It appears this article was posted before the Greenberg signing.

Here

Well Greenberg doesn't add any strength to the offseason...

[Orange_Crush]

I think what that shows is sometimes subtraction is better then addition.

Thats about what I got out of it cause 6 of the 10 playoff teams came from the "losers" side

[wildcard]

Don't know that much about Marcum but 5 thumbs up.

Scott, you are a smart guy. I think patience is required at this moment. I think we have to realize that the O's are not standing pat. If the season started today the O's would have a full year of Machado and McLouth. Hopefully, Markakis is healthy and the O's get Reimold back though I don't expect a fully season out of Reimold or McLouth.

This team won 93 games last year. They won more games then anyone in the league in September after Machado and McLouth where added. Why trade away players from that team? I want to see what that team can do for a full season.

The signings and trades proposed here are mostly not good for the O's or their fans. Why would trading Strop be good for the team? He was a major cog in a superior pen that led the team to success last year. Terrible idea to trade Strop. Spending 11-13M on any of these players probably does not fit into the O's salary structure. That makes any of these players the 2nd highest player of the team. And they would not be close to the 2nd best player. All that does in change the dynamic of the clubhouse and doesn't help the team much.

13M and a draft choice for Swisher is a poor used of money and resources. Yes he has some nice numbers but he would change the clubhouse for the worse. Do you really want to show the young players on the team that his kind of showboating is rewarded with a 4 year 50some million dollar contract. I don't.

Saunders contract is the best on the list and it is probably still a little high. 1/6 or 7M is probably a good bridge to Bundy and Gausman. We will see how that plays out. If the O's can trade Patton and a minor leaguer for Morse and his 7M contract that is a decent deal. Its will take patience to get there though. LaRoche will not sign for a while and Morse trade will follow that.

How much do you think the O's are going to spend this off season. If they end up with at 100M payroll which is a 20M increase isn't that a big jump for them? 87M to sign their current players plus 6 or 7M for Saunders and 7M for Morse is about 100M. Why spend 13M for anyone? That would change the salary structure which changes the way the players of the team look at how they are rewarded.

The biggest contract of the winter will hopefully be the long team contract that is signed with Wieters. Now that would be a good move for the team. The other item that needs to be addressed is some kind of a more then one year deal with Hammel. Maybe one year plus an option, maybe two years but they can't let him walk after 2013 for nothing.

So this is a long winded way of saying that I think DD understands that the way he spends affect the culture and interaction of the team. The team is together right now and he doesn't want to make a big splash to change that culture for the worse.

Have patience. DD's time is coming. Lower price deals happen in the second half of the winter. Deals that fit where the O's want to go.

[UpstateNYfan]

Swisher is fine for his bat, but those that say he is the 1st base solution are insane. Davis is a better 1st baseman (and I shudder at his defense there).

[Orange_Crush]

Swisher is fine for his bat, but those that say he is the 1st base solution are insane. Davis is a better 1st baseman (and I shudder at his defense there).

Perhaps. But swish brings versatility to the picture!

[scOtt]

Swisher is fine for his bat, but those that say he is the 1st base solution are insane. Davis is a better 1st baseman (and I shudder at his defense there).

Not particularly worried about Davis at 1st or the occasional Swisher appearance there. Or in left. Or DH. Just so long as Nick is in the lineup every night.

[murph]

Not particularly worried about Davis at 1st or the occasional Swisher appearance there. Or in left. Or DH. Just so long as Nick is in the lineup every night.

..and allows Buck to play Davis at 1b fairly often like he has already told him he would. I think I am warming to the idea of Swisher as well, especially since his market has softened. I would just have to look away from the TV everytime they zoomed on his smug face that used to make me want to throw things....