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MLBTR: O's Offseason Outlook


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I wasn't advocating for a Pedroia trade, I was saying we need someone LIKE him on our team.

MSK

I'd say Jonesy occupies that role for the Orioles.

The O's need more star power to win the AL East, but it's not as though they lack some kind of rah-rah leader.

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This part right here is what I'm most concerned about:

For years we've waited for the "right moment" to splurge in order to get our team to the next level. No one is asking for a true spending spree where we sign people "just to sign free agents" but something has got to be done.

Something.

We can't stand pat and I believe we should let BRob go, let Nate walk, explore a trade for Matt W. and perhaps even Markakis. We could find some really solid pieces once we get rid of some players who are fan-favorites but kill us when it comes to OBP and/or hitting with RISP.

We have GOT TO pick up a solid bat. Period. No more short-cuts. We need a solid bat like Billy Butler. We could even use a guy like Dustin Pedroia! This off season is the one where we see how serious the FO is about winning it all.

MSK

If they trade Matt W. who is the catcher? I want the team to improve as much as

anyone but I believe they have to be careful.

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If they trade Matt W. who is the catcher? I want the team to improve as much as

anyone but I believe they have to be careful.

I'm starting to think either way with Wieters we are in a lose/lose situation with him. We either get two more seasons similar to last year or he has one not big but good year in the next two. Either way he's going to hit FA. Ideally if we upgrade DH and Markakis has a bounce back year Wieters should realistically only be hitting at best 7th in the lineup or probably 8th. I know catcher is one of the thinnest positions in baseball but that works in our favor. The Tigers just let go of Brayan Pena, who is a Switch Hitter, and put up a .713 OPS last year, while putting up a .801 OPS against RH's. He'd be a good guy to pick up even without trading Wieters. A platoon of Pena and Geovany Soto would be ideal. And it would be way cheaper. My thinking is it would be better to be really good 1-7 in the lineup and just average at 8-9 than how we were last year and just average 5-9.

Like I've said in other threads Wieters to the LAD for OF Joc Pederson and an arm would make sense.

Link to Brayan Pena below

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/penabr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.typepad.com

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I'm starting to think either way with Wieters we are in a lose/lose situation with him. We either get two more seasons similar to last year or he has one not big but good year in the next two. Either way he's going to hit FA. Ideally if we upgrade DH and Markakis has a bounce back year Wieters should realistically only be hitting at best 7th in the lineup or probably 8th. I know catcher is one of the thinnest positions in baseball but that works in our favor. The Tigers just let go of Brayan Pena, who is a Switch Hitter, and put up a .713 OPS last year, while putting up a .801 OPS against RH's. He'd be a good guy to pick up even without trading Wieters. A platoon of Pena and Geovany Soto would be ideal. And it would be way cheaper. My thinking is it would be better to be really good 1-7 in the lineup and just average at 8-9 than how we were last year and just average 5-9.

Like I've said in other threads Wieters to the LAD for OF Joc Pederson and an arm would make sense.

Link to Brayan Pena below

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/penabr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.typepad.com

I had very high hopes for Matt W. but he hasn't really lived up to the promise of his minor league years. Maybe we (as O's fans) over-hyped the man before he wore an Orioles uniform?

It's becoming apparent that Matt will not be the guy we expected and we're in a position to make some moves that can set us up for the future. We've got to be willing to take chances and the two chances we need to take are letting go of Roberts and Wieters. BRob isn't going to become the guy we've known and loved all these years and Matt is Matt. Great on defense, lousy on offense. He needs to be plugged into a lineup that already has a high OBP instead of being expected to contribute when it counts.

I have a horrible feeling the Orioles will remain conservative and not make the moves to transform the team into a championship contender.

MSK

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I had very high hopes for Matt W. but he hasn't really lived up to the promise of his minor league years. Maybe we (as O's fans) over-hyped the man before he wore an Orioles uniform?

It's becoming apparent that Matt will not be the guy we expected and we're in a position to make some moves that can set us up for the future. We've got to be willing to take chances and the two chances we need to take are letting go of Roberts and Wieters. BRob isn't going to become the guy we've known and loved all these years and Matt is Matt. Great on defense, lousy on offense. He needs to be plugged into a lineup that already has a high OBP instead of being expected to contribute when it counts.

I have a horrible feeling the Orioles will remain conservative and not make the moves to transform the team into a championship contender.

MSK

My source said again today "He's not going anywhere. He's staying. Him and CD."

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I'm starting to think either way with Wieters we are in a lose/lose situation with him. We either get two more seasons similar to last year or he has one not big but good year in the next two. Either way he's going to hit FA. Ideally if we upgrade DH and Markakis has a bounce back year Wieters should realistically only be hitting at best 7th in the lineup or probably 8th. I know catcher is one of the thinnest positions in baseball but that works in our favor. The Tigers just let go of Brayan Pena, who is a Switch Hitter, and put up a .713 OPS last year, while putting up a .801 OPS against RH's. He'd be a good guy to pick up even without trading Wieters. A platoon of Pena and Geovany Soto would be ideal. And it would be way cheaper. My thinking is it would be better to be really good 1-7 in the lineup and just average at 8-9 than how we were last year and just average 5-9.

Like I've said in other threads Wieters to the LAD for OF Joc Pederson and an arm would make sense.

Link to Brayan Pena below

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/penabr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.typepad.com

To the Orioles, it's not about Matt's bat. Matt is who he is. He isn't high average, his OBP isn't high, but he is a catcher who has 20 HR power and can drive in runs. Whether you think that's valuable or worth the cost it's besides the point.

The Orioles like what Matt brings, and with all of the emphasis on pitching, you best believe Buck and Dan don't want to mess with the continuity and familiarity they have between Matt and the pitchers. He caught most of these guys in the minors.

I will continue to say it, look for Matt to stay with the Orioles.

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My source said again today "He's not going anywhere. He's staying. Him and CD."

I really feel like it'd be worth it to shop at least one of them. They're both with Boras and will be premium players come free agency and the Orioles most likely won't pay and if they do, expect it to be a handicap in the long run. You could probably get a pretty nice haul for Davis this off-season. I know, he is now an Oriole legend after all those home runs but think logically...it's not just a 2 year window that should be built to contend.

I'd like to see if the Mariners would bite at a Davis for Walker and Paxton type of deal.

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My source said again today "He's not going anywhere. He's staying. Him and CD."

Unless your source is Peter, Dan, or Brady... he can't actually know that. Not that the player would not have a good sense of the team's opinion of ach of those players. The changes that his guess is right is very, very, high.

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I don't think you will see the O's trading for Kendrick. He is owed 9.35m in 2015 and 9.5m in 2015. Schoop is on the glide path to take over 2nd base and the O's will save close to 18M by not trading for Kendrick. Who ever backs up Flaherty until Schoop is ready will be cheap, cheap, cheap.

The O's will spend to sign their own and for whoever is added as pitchers, LFer and maybe DH. JMO.

I'm not so sure Schoop is headed for 2B. Most scouts who saw him last year thought he was better suited for 3B but he could be there as a temporary solution.

You don't think they bring back Roberts? Because here you're saying they'll have an inexpensive back up for Flaherty. I think that would work but I don't think it happens. Roberts will be back on a deal for under $5 million.

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I'm not so sure Schoop is headed for 2B. Most scouts who saw him last year thought he was better suited for 3B but he could be there as a temporary solution.

You don't think they bring back Roberts? Because here you're saying they'll have an inexpensive back up for Flaherty. I think that would work but I don't think it happens. Roberts will be back on a deal for under $5 million.

I don't think Roberts will get a 5m offer from anyone in baseball. I think if he is an Oriole next year it will be for between 1 and 2m. If he wants more than that I think they let him go and resign Casilla until Schoop is ready.

As far as Schoop playing 3B, its not that he can't. Its that he can't as well as Manny. 2B is where the opening is for the O's and Schoop is likely to fill it sometime next year.

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Unless your source is Peter, Dan, or Brady... he can't actually know that. Not that the player would not have a good sense of the team's opinion of ach of those players. The changes that his guess is right is very, very, high.

Right, and who is to say one of those guys isn't my source?

FYI, this guy WOULD know, and that is all I will say.

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