Talks with the Dodgers centered around Kemp/Ethier

[ChaosLex]

In case you were wondering.

As for why the Orioles "settled" for infielder Jemile Weeks, that was the best available deal. They talked to the Dodgers about Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier, but again, the money didn't work. Offers were pulled back. Johnson is a pending free agent with another big raise on the horizon. The Orioles weren't dealing from a position of strength.

In hindsight, it would have made more sense to trade Johnson back in July at the non-waiver deadline, but the Orioles were in playoff contention.

http://www.masnsports.com/school_of_roch/2013/12/more-random-thoughts-and-ramblings.html

[Ruzious]

So because we didn't want to spend, we end up with Weeks instead of Kemp or Ethier? If that's true, why waste our time rooting for the O's?

[TonySoprano]

In case you were wondering.

http://www.masnsports.com/school_of_roch/2013/12/more-random-thoughts-and-ramblings.html

the money didn't work

He forgot to add "resource allocation."

[bt12483]

So because we didn't want to spend, we end up with Weeks instead of Kemp or Ethier? If that's true, why waste our time rooting for the O's?

Good question. The money will never "work" becuse the amount of money available to spend is unworkable in the current baseball environment.

We are bringing pennies and nickels to a dollars only party.

[Dipper9]

I am now fully on board the "This team will not win with Angelos as owner" train.

[orioles4lyfe]

This is getting ridiculous. If PA doesn't want to put money into this team then why doesn't he just sell it? He has made enough money. Is he really that selfish?

[TiredofLosing20]

I would have liked Kemp but I would not want to be obligated to pay him $128mm. I am reluctant to judge this non-move without understanding how much (if any) the Dodgers were willing to send with him.

That said, just knowing (without context) that we could have had Kemp and ended up with Weeks is pretty disappointing.

[bt12483]

I would have liked Kemp but I would not want to be obligated to pay him $128mm. I am reluctant to judge this non-move without understanding how much (if any) the Dodgers were willing to send with him.

This "dont want to pay" mentality...I don't get it. Might as well say you don't want to win.

[canonfaz]

Ugh. This is crazy. If we aren't willing to push up payroll a little (we basically get $25million free) when we are this close to the playoffs, then I see no hope of ever winning the world series with this group of players.

I'm now fully on board with the trade Chris Davis, Hardy, and Matt Wieters for prospects camp (trade Jones too while your at it)!

[clapdiddy]

Ugh. This is crazy. If we aren't willing to push up payroll a little (we basically get $25million free) when we are this close to the playoffs, then I see no hope of ever winning the world series with this group of players.

I'm now fully on board with the trade Chris Davis, Hardy, and Matt Wieters for prospects camp (trade Jones too while your at it)!

Jones might be all for a trade if he was really ticked off about what happened with Johnson.

[TiredofLosing20]

This "dont want to pay" mentality...I don't get it. Might as well say you don't want to win.

The "don't want to pay" mentality stems from the realization that there is indeed a budget they are dealing with. Given the apparent budget of around $100mm, I am not sure how you justify paying 1/5 of it to Matt Kemp for possibly the next 6 years.

[canonfaz]

I try to stay level headed about the payroll, but at some point you have to go for it!!! If not now, when?

I realize that it's still early in the off season, but I see absolutely ZERO indication that we have the backing of the ownership that we need.

[Dipper9]

The "don't want to pay" mentality stems from the realization that there is indeed a budget they are dealing with. Given the apparent budget of around $100mm, I am not sure how you justify paying 1/5 of it to Matt Kemp for possibly the next 6 years.

Where does this budget come from is the question? If we were around $95 million last year, with the $25 million TV deal our budget should be around $120. Instead Peter is pocketing it and not spending it on the team, AND holding Duke to a tight budget ceiling. Oh, and all the while, he expects his sheep (us) to keep coming back.

[Dipper9]

Where does this budget come from is the question? If we were around $95 million last year, with the $25 million TV deal our budget should be around $120. Instead Peter is pocketing it and not spending it on the team, AND holding Duke to a tight budget ceiling. Oh, and all the while, he expects his sheep (us) to keep coming back.

One more thing. I owe Big T, Tony Soprano, a big apology. I have fought him all these years while I defended Angelos, and yet here we are, 20 years later, and Angelos is still the same terrible owner he has always been. I like Peter Angelos the man, and I will never shy away from that, but he just needs to sell this team and leave us alone!

[epic]

Unbelievable. Well, I guess it's not really...

Just..I don't even know what to say. It's just incredibly frustrating to read that. We're in a position to take the next step forward and become an elite team in this league for the first time since the late 90's and I'm picturing Angelos with his arms folded, staring down DD and shaking his head.

Shell out a few extra bones and get one of the most dynamic players in the game in Kemp, or curl in a ball and accept Jemile Weeks because we're "small-mid market", "poor", and on a tight "budget". It's a joke. And the worst part is that there is no end in sight.

I'm not sure why this move has set me off about Angelos but I think it's just the sheer difference in talent between Kemp and Weeks. They aren't even in the same stratosphere. And we end up with the weaker link because our billionaire owner who received a cool $25M on a silver platter from MLB this offseason is cheap.

/end rant