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Man what is Dan thinking for real. Orioles will Tender all 9 players


Greg

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We'll see how the offseason runs. Right now, I think it's a tough sell to say Mr. Duquette is using best efforts to maximize the product on the field -- if you're spending $10MM on an "okay" closer, you're probably not doing all you can to maximize your team's ability to win on a limited budget.

True dat - the only thing I can come up with is JJ is Buck's guy (his nugget) and like BRob and Nickie, we may have several guys that are with us next year due to Buck's "allegiance" to some higher ideal. :scratchchinhmm:

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I wouldn't re-sign JJ but just because they offer him arbitration doesn't mean he is playing with the team next year. Guthrie was offered arbitration and he never played another game with the Orioles.
I agree. I think they offer him something like 3/21M and if he turns it down they trade him.
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We'll see how the offseason runs. Right now, I think it's a tough sell to say Mr. Duquette is using best efforts to maximize the product on the field -- if you're spending $10MM on an "okay" closer, you're probably not doing all you can to maximize your team's ability to win on a limited budget.

Yeah, I'm having the same problem with DD on this one. Hopefully it's all talk and he is trying to deal him.

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Honestly I agree with you in JJ. I don't think he's worth that value and I think they can find a closer for cheaper. Saying that, one move does not make a GM great or terrible. Duquette has been creative and active finding depth guys, but I agree that he will be judged by the talent that Orioles go into spring training with.

If JJ is the closer, Reimold the proposed left fielder, Phelps is the second baseman, our rotation remains the same except for Gausman expected to replace Scott Feldman, then I'll agree that was not a good off season.

It's time for the Orioles to step up this off season and make a splash either through a trade of free agency. If it doesn't happen though I think it will have more to do with DD's budget restraints than any lack of his ability to improve the club. Still, as the GM, the success or failure ultimately falls on him.

I would say one move does not make a GM great or terrible, but a single move can disprove the thought that a GM is great or terrible.

I disagree that any shortcomings in the roster on April 1 aren't indicative of "an inability to get things done." Having constraints doesn't alleviate a GM's responsibility to find a way to make things work. If there are specific restraints in place, he knows what those restraints are. Simply making small moves to tweak, as opposed to more impactful but surgical moves, would likely constitute a failure in process.

The counter to that thought, I think, is that the front office knows they cannot make impactful moves without sacrificing the "now" talent AND the FO has been instructed they need to be an above 500 team. But at that point, are you really a FO, or ringmastering a dog and pony show to keep ads and ticket sales high enough for the team to be profitable.

For the record, I think the Orioles FO has the desire to win a championship. My fear is that as smart as some of the decision makers are, they may not be able will their way past Boston, Tampa, NY, etc. through "creative upside" plays alone.

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What would be the point of not tendering JJ a contract at this stage. You can't get any thing for him then.

I'd rather have the money -- it can more impactfully spent elsewhere. Or, I'd rather eat a chunk of the money if it brought back cost controlled talent via trade. Just using him because you have him is lazy, in my opinion. And I'll reiterate that I think Baltimore should have gone through with the arbitration hearing last year -- it would have been shocking for JJ to win.

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I'd rather have the money -- it can more impactfully spent elsewhere. Or, I'd rather eat a chunk of the money if it brought back cost controlled talent via trade. Just using him because you have him is lazy, in my opinion. And I'll reiterate that I think Baltimore should have gone through with the arbitration hearing last year -- it would have been shocking for JJ to win.

So, if they can sign sign him for say 8.5 mil, do you think he'd have some value somewhere or not? I would think so. Maybe not much, but something.

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I'd rather have the money -- it can more impactfully spent elsewhere. Or, I'd rather eat a chunk of the money if it brought back cost controlled talent via trade. Just using him because you have him is lazy, in my opinion. And I'll reiterate that I think Baltimore should have gone through with the arbitration hearing last year -- it would have been shocking for JJ to win.
What makes you think they have decided to do this? At this point the only options they have are trade or non tender. You seem to be saying they can't trade him, and so they should just non tender him now to save the money. I think it's a little early to give upon a trade or a reasonable 2-3 year contract.
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So, if they can sign sign him for say 8.5 mil, do you think he'd have some value somewhere or not? I would think so. Maybe not much, but something.

I think probably, but might have to wait until mid-season and hope for a competitor looking to shore up the pen with an extra arm (or to cover an injury). Otherwise, who's the team out there with money to burn and looking for an $8MM pen arm?

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Can someone please explain the arbitration process? I know the O's come to the table with a number and JJ's agent comes with a number, they negotiate to try to reach a deal. I assume if a deal isn't struck the negotiator arrives at a number. Now...once that number is presented what options do the O's have?

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What makes you think they have decided to do this? At this point the only options they have are trade or non tender. You seem to be saying they can't trade him, and so they should just non tender him now to save the money. I think it's a little early to give upon a trade or a reasonable 2-3 year contract.

They should try to trade him. That's about it.

I think they are looking to be very much the same quality team they have been the last two years, and then hoping growth from Manny/Gausman/etc. and luck will maybe land them in contention. I am actually okay with that approach as a general rule if you are hamstrung in the payroll department, but it has to come with an additional focus on player acquisition and development.

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