MLB Trade Rumors latest 2014 Free Agent List.

[atomic]

I just don't think they will pay Bud Norris $3 million-plus a year to be our 5th starter. He makes sense as our #4 with internal options filling #5. If our internal guys don't pan out, maybe you see them make a run at Cliff Lee or Iwakuma a year from now. I would take Iawkuma over Garza in a second.

I think Norris is better than Gonozalez. But who cares. You pick 5 guys as starters, you don't have to rank them.

[jamalshw]

I just don't think they will pay Bud Norris $3 million-plus a year to be our 5th starter. He makes sense as our #4 with internal options filling #5. If our internal guys don't pan out, maybe you see them make a run at Cliff Lee or Iwakuma a year from now. I would take Iawkuma over Garza in a second.

I, too, would take Iwakuma, but Lee would be a no go for anything over a year as he'd be quite old by then.

I don't think Bud Norris' contract has ANY influence over the other starters or whether he is #4 or #5 in the rotation. Heck, $3 million is a BARGAIN for a #5. Heck, Joe Blanton is making like $6.5 Million this year.

[jamalshw]

There isn't a lot of healthy TORs on the list, and those that are, are probably getting maxed deals somewhere, which probably leaves the Orioles out of the running.

Agreed....which is why I called it a dream.

[Aristotelian]

I, too, would take Iwakuma, but Lee would be a no go for anything over a year as he'd be quite old by then.

I don't think Bud Norris' contract has ANY influence over the other starters or whether he is #4 or #5 in the rotation. Heck, $3 million is a BARGAIN for a #5. Heck, Joe Blanton is making like $6.5 Million this year.

I meant they would more likely do a midseason trade for one of those guys than to go after a 2014 free agent this summer.

Regarding Bud, you are right, he is a good deal regardless of where he pitches, but if he is our 5th pitcher, a) he will not get as many starts as the top 4 and b) he will be blocking any of our prospects from getting opportunities. It makes more sense to do what we have done this year, fill that spot from within, then make a trade if we have exhausted our options. Just one reason among many that I would be shocked to see Garza on the O's next year.

Iwakuma would be sweet, either in a sign-and-trade in 2014 or as a 2015 free agent. Actually the 2015 group looks much stronger, including Iwakuma, Scherzer, Kershaw, Cueto, Gallardo, and our own Wei-Yin Chen. Just another reason to hold off on Garza.

By the way, Blanton arguably proves my point. His numbers this year are PAINFUL. 2-13, yikes.

[DrungoHazewood]

He can't hit left handers.

Wow, he really does. Although it looks like it's mainly just that his power disappears against lefties. Still has nearly a .340 OBP. You could bat him 1st or 2nd against lefties and 4th against righties.

[jamalshw]

I meant they would more likely do a midseason trade for one of those guys than to go after a 2014 free agent this summer.

Regarding Bud, you are right, he is a good deal regardless of where he pitches, but if he is our 5th pitcher, a) he will not get as many starts as the top 4 and b) he will be blocking any of our prospects from getting opportunities. It makes more sense to do what we have done this year, fill that spot from within, then make a trade if we have exhausted our options. Just one reason among many that I would be shocked to see Garza on the O's next year.

Iwakuma would be sweet, either in a sign-and-trade in 2014 or as a 2015 free agent. Actually the 2015 group looks much stronger, including Iwakuma, Scherzer, Kershaw, Cueto, Gallardo, and our own Wei-Yin Chen. Just another reason to hold off on Garza.

By the way, Blanton arguably proves my point. His numbers this year are PAINFUL. 2-13, yikes.

I think we are looking at this from different perspectives and thoughts, which is fine (and what forums like this are all about).

I agree that the 2015 list is appealing, though I would be shocked if several of those names made it to free agency. I expect Kershaw and likely a couple others to get extensions this off-season.

I would rather sign a player in the off-season, have him for 20 or so more starts AND not give up any top prospects then to wait, hope a young gun can handle it and then trade away the farm for a guy to pitch a dozen games and HOPE to sign him in the off-season at market price.

I don't think the idea of 'blocking' a prospect applies to contending teams. I think on contending teams the prospects have to earn their way to the majors and by the time that happens, I would expect at least one starter to go down with a injury. After all, I think you can never have too many qualified starters.

As far as not getting as many starters in the 5 slot, that all depends on how Buck chooses to operate. He can go with 5 and let days off push back his starters and keep them fresher or he can choose to skip the 5th guy (which may and/or may not be Norris). You only skip the 5th guy if the 1-4 guys are better and give the team a better chance to win.

As to Blanton, he has been terrible and is a prime reason not to sign an #5 pitcher to fill the spot, but does not speak to top tier guys (be it #1 or #2 type starters). I don't support signing a Blanton type to fill our #5 spot and if that is our only option, I agree that we should let Britton or Gausman have it, but I do support signing a #1 or #2 and sliding the others down.

Now, this is all based on after the season. For now, all I have to say is GO Os!!!