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Michael Bourn signs with Cleveland 4 year 48 million


OsnRavensallday

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If you're going to lose a pick, the Orioles should have done it this year when they are picking in the mid-20s. The whole "losing a pick" thing is dreadfully overrated on this board.

I don't like the idea of losing a first round pick, but I do tend to agree with this a bit.

I enjoy baseball slightly more than football, but when it comes to the draft, baseball can't compare. Football teams grab guys who can provide immediate help, only a few months after the draft. Picks are very important.

In baseball, lots of scouting is involved, but it's still a crap shoot. There's a decent chance that a first round pick will never amount to anything, and it's not even surprising if not a single player taken in one given year ever makes it to the big league team.

So, again, as a whole, baseball > football, but when it comes to draft day...it's not even close.

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I would rather have the first round pick. Bourn is a good player but his skills are such that swift decline is more likely because his skills are dependent on speed, which are the first to go. Also, the Orioles already have a center fielder. Whether you think he should be playing centerfield or not, Adam Jones is a face of the franchise and wouldn't be moved at this point in his career.

Actually I think foot speed is one of the most durable skills. Think of how long Darrell Green was able to play cornerback at an elite level in the NFL, or of how long Brett Butler or Tim Raines or Rickey Henderson were able to remain elite players. My guess is that speed players age better than players with power, health being held equal.

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Actually I think foot speed is one of the most durable skills. Think of how long Darrell Green was able to play cornerback at an elite level in the NFL, or of how long Brett Butler or Tim Raines or Rickey Henderson were able to remain elite players. My guess is that speed players age better than players with power, health being held equal.

Tim Raines never played a full season after age 33, elite or otherwise. Rickey's last elite season was at age 34. And those are two of the best speed guys to ever play the game.

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Its pretty interesting reading all the criticism of the offseason moves, or lack thereof. As if people posting here know more than the people that put together the amazing team last year. Don't you think the leaders of our team know what they are doing? Look at all the great moves made last year. We have a great manager and a great GM. I love our players from last year and many of them are young and should improve. I didn't want Hamilton and I would rather have our existing outfielders over Bourn. I guess nobody remembers Swisher in the playoffs against us? I think we are better this year than last year, even with all the luck that supposedly went our way last year evening out.

By the way, I think most of that "luck" was due to great managing and a great bullpen. Can't wait for the season.

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I would have absolutely signed Bourn to that deal... he'll have to have a very swift decline to not be worth $48M over the next four years.

This is the first time this offseason that I can really look at a major FA signing somewhere else and feel disappointed that the Orioles didn't at least offer the same. Baltimore is a preferable landing spot to Cleveland at the moment so I'd guess we could have had him for the same cost.

I'd have to disagree with the bolded. Bourn makes CLE a better destination. With whom else they signed this year and an easier division. Detroit is a PRIME team but Cleveland doesn't have the logjam of a division we do. Really, anything could happen and any of the 5 could win the East this year. Not so in the Central.

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Cleveland's lineup is not good enough to compensate for their poor starting pitching. I'd be surprised if they finished above 3rd in the division.

At least when Kansas City sold their best prospect, they got some good starting pitching in return. That's a much smarter play than depending on Nick Swisher, Michael Bourn and Mark Reynolds to carry you to the playoffs.

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Frustrating that Cleveland can be a major player in free agency but the O's can only sign McClouth.

Cleveland has some nice pieces

Reynolds 34HR, 95 RBI, .807 OPS (career averages) for 6 million

Swisher .830 career OPS

Bourn, statistically best defensive CF'er in baseball, 50 SB/year

Cabrera at SS

Starting pitching is still weak but they will score more runs than the O's

It changes but never changes.

Sigh.

MSK

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It changes but never changes.

Sigh.

MSK

So, fair question MSK et al... You REALLY think we should have signed Bourn for this deal (or slightly better...)? Given up the pick AND crowded more our crowded outfield? Possibly make our most recent signee acquiesce and move to left? "Face of the Franchise" move to "Faceless Franchise." ???

I've done a LOT of drugs in my time. And have still never spouted anything this stupid. Never. Seriously.

Come back down here to Earth with all the rest of us. Back to reality. I only mean this post for your all own good. Reality is real. Dreams and pipe dreams will drive you over the edge.... make you lose it all.

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They overpaid for Swisher and went too long on the contract to Bourn. I agree they "won the offseason" in comparison to the Orioles but they'll be regretting those deals in a few years.

The triumph of DD's offseason was that he didn't do anything stupid... like sign Bourn to 4 years...

Hard to do anything stupid when you don't do anything at all.

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I understand everyone's frustration with such a quiet off-season. I was hoping the O's could get a Butler type without touching a Bundy or Schoop. But if you read Weams comments in the hot stove thread it seems fairly clear that outside of Bundy and Schoop no other player was going to fetch a significant offensive upgrade. Via free agency Hamilton was the only massive upgrade over what the Os were already working with. And signing a 32 year old with a history of injuries and off the field issues to a massive six year deal probably isn't in the Os best interest. In the post roid era I like staying young and banking on improvement.

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Frustrating that Cleveland can be a major player in free agency but the O's can only sign McClouth.

Cleveland has some nice pieces

Reynolds 34HR, 95 RBI, .807 OPS (career averages) for 6 million

Swisher .830 career OPS

Bourn, statistically best defensive CF'er in baseball, 50 SB/year

Cabrera at SS

Starting pitching is still weak but they will score more runs than the O's

It changes but never changes.

Sigh.

MSK

Would you guys rather sign free agents, or win games? Not that those things are mutually exclusive, of course, but considering that we just won 93 games, I'm having a hard time feeling too jealous about Cleveland. And by the way, even with the additions of Bourn and Swisher, our payroll is still higher than the Indians'. We're projected to have the 8th highest payroll in the AL, 16th in MLB. The way you guys act, you'd think we were the cheapest team in baseball.

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