What do you *expect* this offseason?

[Enjoy Terror]

You want Valencia to play 2B?

That's what I expect, note the difference. I'm guessing your brilliant plan to win the world series is the Orioles signing Robinson Cano, and if that's the case I have some waterfront property in Arizona to sell you.

[jamalshw]

I expect the Orioles to make no real 'splash' moves this off-season. I expect the following:

1. The Orioles to resign several free agents from the 2013 team including: Scott Feldman, Nate McLouth and Brain Roberts.

2. I expect a couple serviceable players to be added with platoon roles in mind such as Rajai Davis (platoon at LF) and David Murphy (platoon at DH and depth in OF).

3. I expect one or two low-level trades, perhaps dealing Zach Britton to bring in more depth.

4. I expect several low level 'flyer' type signings for depth with a focus on pitchers that can be stashed at AAA for rotation and bullpen depth.

With these, I expect a team in 2014 that looks very similar to 2013. I expect a bit of an improvement in offense (with the platoon players allowing the players we had last year to not be over exposed or over used). I expect the pitching to improve only if the improvement comes from within (ie - Tillman continues to progress, Gausman breaks on the scene in a big way, etc).

[El Gordo]

That's what I expect, note the difference. I'm guessing your brilliant plan to win the world series is the Orioles signing Robinson Cano, and if that's the case I have some waterfront property in Arizona to sell you.

Why would you expect Valencia to play a position he never has before?

[Il BuonO]

That's what I expect, note the difference. I'm guessing your brilliant plan to win the world series is the Orioles signing Robinson Cano, and if that's the case I have some waterfront property in Arizona to sell you.

Why would you expect Valencia to play a position he never has before?

Exactly, not that he said that to begin with but since he changed his qualification even if that's what you believed, why would you ever EXPECT the Orioles to suddenly play a guy at a position he's never played before.

I think you are the guy who is selling the waterfront property in desert country.

[Bradysburns]

I have to agree with several posters.

The past is the best predictor of the future. So I would expect more of the same. Some trades, some overslot signings, maybe an import you never heard of before but about whom you become a sudden expert by reading one scouting report translated with Babelfish.

And even these "diamond-in-the-rough" imports are probably from some godforsaken land no one even imagined contained baseball players...

Add in plenty of rumors about the Orioles being a "perfect match" for so-and-so... and you got our upcoming offseason.

It's called the "hey, if everything goes perfect, we'll win the World Series" approach.

Actually, I much favor today's regime over those of the past. We've just come off two winning seasons in a row. We still have the core, and we have some new stars coming along. Gausman will be a beast at some point. Bundy will contribute. Urrutia will gain his power stroke. Davis will hit 30-plus. Jones will do something in that zone, barring injury. Tillman could mature even more. Johnson will continue his Houdini impersonation, night after night (he makes Randy Myers seem predictable by comparison). Same with Chen and Gonzo, and certainly Gausman. We don't need pitching!

But we really do need pitching, so I hope we go out and get at least one stud.

Whatever they do, I just hope they do more than the above. Another year of standing pat and the audience will start to lose interest

[crawjo]

Feldman seems like a good bet. But Beltran would not surprise me. I don't think PA is as stingy as people make him out to be. He's definitely not a free spender, but I don't think a Beltran acquisition is out of the question.

[Elbren]

What I expect to happen:

C - Wieters gets more than he should. Team continue's trend of no-hit/avg. defensive backups.

1B - big talk about trying to extend Davis. Nothing actually happens.

2B - if Roberts can be had for $2 Mil. per or less, I think he's a lock for next year. 2 year deal or 1 year w/ an option wouldn't shock me.

3B - set

SS - set

LF - McLouth or an equivalent type player if they can be had cheaply. If not, Uruttia is next years starter

CF - set

RF - set (unfortunately)

DH - continue's being a revolving door

SP - 1 league-average guy will be added. 5th spot in the rotation will continue being a revolving door.

RP - 1, maybe 2 league average guys will be added (i.e, no one expensive). A lot of whispers about Jim Johnson being traded but nothing comes of it. Johnson gets way too much money. I think both Britton (quickly falling down the depth chart) and Matusz (money) are gone/traded.

We'll hear about the Orioles "being in on" most/any player available through FA and trades. We'll continue to hear the company line of, "we liked him ... but not at that price." I also expect to see another bargain-bin shopping spree on 4A/Mi. League filler-type players.

In the lull before Spring Training, I expect fans' questions about why the team didn't spend more money in the offseason to be answered with, "We did spend money ... Wieters, Davis, Johnson, Markakis, etc. all got pretty hefty raises."

[Going Underground]

Travis Hafner or Jason Morneau to DH against righties. Perhaps a Hunter Pence or Corey Hart in the outfield. Michael Young to play a little third till Manny gets back. Feldman or another lower end rotation guy. Sign BRob cheap. Also maybe take a chance and go after Danny Espinosa. Would come cheap and play him in the minors to get his head straight.

[clapdiddy]

Travis Hafner or Jason Morneau to DH against righties. Perhaps a Hunter Pence or Corey Hart in the outfield. Michael Young to play a little third till Manny gets back. Feldman or another lower end rotation guy. Sign BRob cheap. Also maybe take a chance and go after Danny Espinosa. Would come cheap and play him in the minors to get his head straight.

Pence signed a significant deal to stay with the Giants. Hart wants to stay in Milwaukee and will likely stay there.

I could see a Michael Young deal possibly and Espinosa wouldn't be a bad thought if we were able to get him into the minors. I could see Morneau/Hafner happening as well.

I still think we're going to make a significant trade that will surprise some people.

[Redskins Rick]

Pence signed a significant deal to stay with the Giants. Hart wants to stay in Milwaukee and will likely stay there.

I could see a Michael Young deal possibly and Espinosa wouldn't be a bad thought if we were able to get him into the minors. I could see Morneau/Hafner happening as well.

I still think we're going to make a significant trade that will surprise some people.

I think that would shock the living heck out of me.

Sorry, I don't see any major trades this off-season, DD will work on resigning some and plugging in the gaps with his budget available finds, just like he usually does.

[birdsfever82]

Is Kendry Morales a realistic option? What would it take it get it done? He's gonna reject Seattle's qualifying offer of 14 mil. I'd love to see him behind Davis in the middle of the order.

Of course, I don't expect the O's to make this happen. More than likely, it will be more of the same. Valencia/Urrieta DH platoon is what I envision. Argh!

[Redskins Rick]

Is Kendry Morales a realistic option? What would it take it get it done? He's gonna reject Seattle's qualifying offer of 14 mil. I'd love to see him behind Davis in the middle of the order.

Of course, I don't expect the O's to make this happen. More than likely, it will be more of the same. Valencia/Urrieta DH platoon is what I envision. Argh!

If the Birds resign Davis, you wont see them go after Morales and because of budget constraints.

[wildcard]

Is Kendry Morales a realistic option? What would it take it get it done? He's gonna reject Seattle's qualifying offer of 14 mil. I'd love to see him behind Davis in the middle of the order.

Of course, I don't expect the O's to make this happen. More than likely, it will be more of the same. Valencia/Urrieta DH platoon is what I envision. Argh!

If Morales rejects a QO he would cost the O's a 1st round draft choice. I don't see the O's doing that.

[waroriole]

Feldman seems like a good bet. But Beltran would not surprise me. I don't think PA is as stingy as people make him out to be. He's definitely not a free spender, but I don't think a Beltran acquisition is out of the question.

I don't think he's likely to want to play here. Why leave STL, when were not going to offer much more money. Plus, we lose a pick.

[Tx Oriole]

Pence signed a significant deal to stay with the Giants. Hart wants to stay in Milwaukee and will likely stay there.

I could see a Michael Young deal possibly and Espinosa wouldn't be a bad thought if we were able to get him into the minors. I could see Morneau/Hafner happening as well.

I still think we're going to make a significant trade that will surprise some people.

I hope you are right.