We like Peralta for LF

[jamalshw]

If we are not going after a big guy for LF like Choo or Beltran (which we likely are not), then I want McLouth back and Rajai Davis to platoon with him. I think that gives you your best bang for your back and gives you an very good PR late in a game and 4th OFer.

I don't mind Peralta as an add to play 2B or serve as a roving guy. In that situation, he's essentially the DH, but he's playing some SS, 3B, 2B and possibly OF while giving others a partial day off.

I also don't mind Peralta as a guy we are adding with thoughts of a potential trade because he has flexibility to give you options.

[VeveJones007]

Peralta is a decent infielder. I think he could be a 3B for sure. But a LF? They'd be moving him from one of the hardest positions on the defensive spectrum to one of the easiest. That would kill his value.

They wouldn't be signing him to play LF long-term. He may play there for a bit, but he'd move back to the INF by 2015 at the latest.

[jamalshw]

The more I think about it, the more I think this is simply a "just in case" situation. Orioles want to get in this now in case they need a SS or 3B if a certain player with a year left is dealt for pitching.

[paulcoates]

Go after Braun. I bet the Brewers would love to move him and would definitely kick in a bunch of salary

Ryan Braun lf

8 years/$45M (2008-15)

5 years/$105M (2016-20), plus 2021 mutual option

5 years/$105M (2016-20), plus 2021 option

signed extension with Milwaukee 4/21/11

$10M signing bonus (paid in 4 equal installments each April 1 from 2012 to 2015)

16:$19M, 17:$19M, 18:$19M, 19:$18M, 20:$16M, 21:$15M mutual option ($4M buyout)

price of option may increase to $20M based on MVP, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove awards (if earned, award escalators are deferred without interest)

$18M in salary ($4M each in 2016-18 and $3M each in 2019-20) deferred without interest, to be paid in equal installments each July 1 from 2022 to 2031

no-trade protection

[isestrex]

Peralta would be an atrocious disaster playing LF every day. For those that whined incessantly at the prospect of Reimold starting in LF last year, they should be more concerned with a rangeless infielder manning a position he has played a total of 18 innings in his career.

I hope this is just some window shopping and nothing serious.

[Dipper9]

The more rumors I hear, the more elated I'll be when we have Nate and Nolan platooning in LF in 2014!

[RVAbird]

For those clamoring for McLouth over Peralta from a production standpoint, what exactly do you see in Nate's bat that you don't see in Peralta's? They are nearly identical in terms of overall offensive value.

[weams]

Am I the only one that really likes this?

Really likes? Probably.

[isestrex]

For those clamoring for McLouth over Peralta from a production standpoint, what exactly do you see in Nate's bat that you don't see in Peralta's? They are nearly identical in terms of overall offensive value.

I'm not huge on the McLouth bandwagon myself.... but only one of those two can play LF.

[weams]

I'm not huge on the McLouth bandwagon myself.... but only one of those two can play LF.

How about J.J. Hardy. Do you think he can play left field? Or Manny?

[Stotle]

I don't understand going after Peralta for LF specifically. He likes playing infield, and can play the infield, so aren't you going to end up paying a premium to convince him to 1) come to Baltimore, and 2) play left field?

Maybe he'll be worth 3/42, but again you're chasing value when you need to find surplus value.

[RVAbird]

I'm not huge on the McLouth bandwagon myself.... but only one of those two can play LF.

Right, I'll grant that McLouth is the only natural outfielder. He seems to be about average defensively. I have no idea whether Peralta can play LF, so I'd have to leave that up to evaluators. But Peralta does give some nice flexibility being able to handle the left side of the infield competently. I wonder if Baltimore is actually thinking of Peralta as a left fielder.

[isestrex]

How about J.J. Hardy. Do you think he can play left field? Or Manny?

Speaking hypothetically, it's possible but not something I think anyone could know until they tried it. Obviously Manny could probably adapt more easily while Hardy (if he did adapt) would probably take longer. But all that is irrelvant because you're talking about GG infielders who would be wasted at any position other than SS or 3B. Peralta doesn't fit that because he's horrible at SS and passable (or was 4 years ago) at 3B.

We didn't see much of Peralta in LF last year but what we saw wasn't good. Now, it's possible he gets better out there, but I can't see anyone making that distinction without seeing a lot of workout time... something a team isn't going to see until AFTER he's signed. Overall, I don't think his injury history/PED paggage justify that experiment.

[weams]

I don't understand going after Peralta for LF specifically. He likes playing infield, and can play the infield, so aren't you going to end up paying a premium to convince him to 1) come to Baltimore, and 2) play left field?

Maybe he'll be worth 3/42, but again you're chasing value when you need to find surplus value.

Why would it be hard to convince him to come to Baltimore?

[Number5]

Head scratcher here.

I read where Peralta is seeking 3 yrs/ $45 million. Maybe this is just a little ploy to get the Yankees to pay that much.