Rosenthal reports Wieters might be traded, O's going after Salty

[TradeAngelos]

Link coming...

[TradeAngelos]

Never mind, he is just speculating.....delete this

[weams]

...

What's next for the Orioles?

The Orioles are at least exploring the market for backup catchers Matt Wieters, a switch-hitter, batted only .214 with a .628 OPS from the left side last season. The question is whether they also might aim higher, pursue someone like Jarrod Saltalamacchia and seek to move Wieters, who is two years away from free agency.

Wieters, represented by Scott Boras, is unlikely to sign an extension; Boras generally prefers his clients to determine their values in free agency. It also might not be the right time to trade Wieters, whose value likely is down considering that his OPS has dropped from .778 to .764 to .704 over the past three seasons. Manager Buck Showalter, who greatly values Wieters defense, might even oppose such a move.

The Orioles also face an interesting decision on shortstop J.J. Hardy, who is a free agent at the end of the season. Trading Hardy might have made sense if Manny Machado were healthy and ready to move to shortstop from third base. But Machado underwent surgery in mid-October to repair a torn ligament in his left knee, and his recovery could extend into April.

The team's long-term plan is for Machado to go back to short, where his defense could be otherworldly. Infielder Jonathan Schoop, a top prospect, could play second or third. The Orioles routinely reject trade offers from teams intrigued by Schoop's power potential.

Hardy, though, could be part of the future, too; Showalter and the front office view him similarly to the way they do Wieters, as a critical part of the club. Hardy has won two straight Gold Gloves and also was the American League Silver Slugger winner at short for 2013. An extension is possible, but there are no current talks, sources say.

...

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/hot-stove-texas-rangers-ian-kinsler-elvis-andrus-face-squeeze-out-matt-garza-jason-vargas-matt-wieters-max-scherzer-110913

[Can_of_corn]

Such a move would possibly cause a major rift between the Manager and GM.

[weams]

Such a move would possibly cause a major rift between the Manager and GM.

Then it would not occur. These guys are working together for four more seasons.

[section18]

Buck was interviewed on the radio recently and when asked about the off season and moves the team might make said he and DD were talking and they will do what's best for the team in the future. Buck knows what Boras is capable of. There is no way the Orioles will pay Wieters 100 million in his next contract. Not for a catcher whose offense is suffering and in spite of being called a good defensive catcher does not call a good game behind the plate. This opinion has been expressed by former players. Wieters should be traded this offseason and not during the season. What can we get for him in a trade? If we sign Saltalamacchia to replace him we will not suffer as much as some may think. He did a nice job with the Red Sox staff this year and calls a good game. I'm sure Wallace has some thoughts on catchers who might be available and how the game should be called. We can replace Wieters offense. We cannot pay him 100 million+. The money can be spent in better ways.

[Pickles]

Buck was interviewed on the radio recently and when asked about the off season and moves the team might make said he and DD were talking and they will do what's best for the team in the future. Buck knows what Boras is capable of. There is no way the Orioles will pay Wieters 100 million in his next contract. Not for a catcher whose offense is suffering and in spite of being called a good defensive catcher does not call a good game behind the plate. This opinion has been expressed by former players. Wieters should be traded this offseason and not during the season. What can we get for him in a trade? If we sign Saltalamacchia to replace him we will not suffer as much as some may think. He did a nice job with the Red Sox staff this year and calls a good game. I'm sure Wallace has some thoughts on catchers who might be available and how the game should be called. We can replace Wieters offense. We cannot pay him 100 million+. The money can be spent in better ways.

If Weiters is delusional to hold out for that kind of money trade him because he's not getting that here or anywhere else.

I'd hope that Matt has a more realistic opinion about what he's worth, and will take it to stay here.

[weams]

Matt Wieters has made it easier for us to say goodbye.

[wildcard]

Matt Wieters has made it easier for us to say goodbye.

Not when he is compared to other catchers that might replace him. The O's would not be happy with Salty. The O's may have to say goodbye to Wieters but it will not be easy.

[weams]

Not when he is compared to other catchers that might replace him. The O's would not be happy with Salty. The O's may have to say goodbye to Wieters but it will not be easy.

It's easier than if we had started a religion about him. I like him, but I think we say goodbye to this one.

[weams]

Why didn't the Red Sox offer Jarrod Saltalamacchia the one-year, $14.1 million qualifying offer they made to Mike Napoli and Stephen Drew? The answer may have only partly reflected the team's feelings about Saltalamacchia himself as opposed to a bigger-picture reality, namely that the team likely isn't in a position to drop that kind of coin on three players this offseason, and thus couldn't afford the risk that all three would accept.

Background: Since the new collective bargaining agreement was negotiated after the 2011 season, this coming season has been the target year for getting under the luxury tax threshold. Both the Red Sox and the Yankees have made no secret of the central importance they've affixed to staying under the $189 million mark that represents the payroll line of demarcation for 2014.

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/alex-speier/2013/11/08/how-much-can-red-sox-spend-winter-2014-payroll

[stomperspc]

Buck was interviewed on the radio recently and when asked about the off season and moves the team might make said he and DD were talking and they will do what's best for the team in the future. Buck knows what Boras is capable of. There is no way the Orioles will pay Wieters 100 million in his next contract. Not for a catcher whose offense is suffering and in spite of being called a good defensive catcher does not call a good game behind the plate. This opinion has been expressed by former players. Wieters should be traded this offseason and not during the season. What can we get for him in a trade? If we sign Saltalamacchia to replace him we will not suffer as much as some may think. He did a nice job with the Red Sox staff this year and calls a good game. I'm sure Wallace has some thoughts on catchers who might be available and how the game should be called. We can replace Wieters offense. We cannot pay him 100 million+. The money can be spent in better ways.

Who has said this? Do you have a link?

[waroriole]

Then it would not occur. These guys are working together for four more seasons.

Maybe Buck's comments about Matt heading to the MFY in a couple of years may have been more directed at Matt than we thought. He's obviously showed no inclination to extend here, so I think Buck may be coming to the realization that we need to get what we can for him. It just would have been a lot easier to do that if he wasn't horrible at the plate this season.

[Frobby]

There seems to be a core of posters here who think Scott Boras will be incapable of realizing that Wieters did not turn out to be a great offensive player. Nobody's giving Wieters $100 mm or anything close, and Boras knows this as well as you and me. The real issue is how many years he'll push for and how many the Orioles will be willing to give.

[Can_of_corn]

There seems to be a core of posters here who think Scott Boras will be incapable of realizing that Wieters did not turn out to be a great offensive player. Nobody's giving Wieters $100 mm or anything close, and Boras knows this as well as you and me. The real issue is how many years he'll push for and how many the Orioles will be willing to give.

Some baseball fans have built up this image of Boras in their heads which is much more impressive then the reality.