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What FA would make you happy?


Bahama O's Fan

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Correct. That's right where I'd want him.

Then why does one preclude the other? Are you advocating Urrutia as the starting LF'er? I said McLouth would be a logical target.

Maybe? But that has nothing to do with my post, which advocated a strict platoon for Jones. So this seems irrelevant.

My post left 12-15 MM to spend on pitching. I think that leaves every FA option open except (possibly) Garza. If Baltimore actually wants to make a serious run at Garza, sure, leave every last million available. But I highly doubt they will.

Who is that, in your opinion, and what contract would it take?

If I can sign a Beltran, Granderson, or even a Cruz, over McLouth I'd do it and take my chances with Henry. Like wise, if I could sign an Arroyo, Burnett, or Garza over a Feldman or Hammel, I'd stick with Henry.
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You really think that Urrutia is going to be that good, right out of the gate next year? Because Jones is rocking a .271/.337/.489 line vs. RHPs over the course of his career. Henry, on the other hand, had one XBH in 58 MLB PAs late last year and exactly zero walks. To my eye, it looked like he could use a little more time at AAA.
I like what I see from Henry, I like his AFL numbers, I like what he did in Cuba. I think his ML numbers were a SSS and a result of being rushed. I think this guy is a natural hitter. And a better OF than we have seen because of the time he lost fleeing Cuba.
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I like what I see from Henry, I like his AFL numbers, I like what he did in Cuba. I think his ML numbers were a SSS and a result of being rushed. I think this guy is a natural hitter. And a better OF than we have seen because of the time he lost fleeing Cuba.

I'm pretty high on him too but I'm not quite sure he's ready for an almost everyday role at the big league level. I agree that last year was definitely a SSS but he's just didn't look ready to my eye.

I just think that the team has a reasonable chance of contending again next year and would rather go with the proven option in Jones rather than give Urrutia the benefit of the doubt only to find out that he's not actually ready and be left scrambling midseason for a solution. If he is ready, he'll force his way up soon enough.

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I'm pretty high on him too but I'm not quite sure he's ready for an almost everyday role at the big league level. I agree that last year was definitely a SSS but he's just didn't look ready to my eye.

I just think that the team has a reasonable chance of contending again next year and would rather go with the proven option in Jones rather than give Urrutia the benefit of the doubt only to find out that he's not actually ready and be left scrambling midseason for a solution. If he is ready, he'll force his way up soon enough.

Our primary needs are OBP from a position player. and IP from a SP.
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If I can sign a Beltran, Granderson, or even a Cruz, over McLouth I'd do it and take my chances with Henry. Like wise, if I could sign an Arroyo, Burnett, or Garza over a Feldman or Hammel, I'd stick with Henry.

Beltran will get more money than I'm comfortable giving him, Granderson is intriguing but carries red flags and is looking for a potentially regrettable contract, and Cruz is an awful option for many reasons. Under the constraints of the hypothetical, signing Beltran or Granderson makes it impossible to sign any of the pitchers you listed.

If I have 20 MM to spend, I'd take Garrett Jones, Nate McLouth, and Burnett/Feldman over Cruz and Arroyo or Beltran and no additional starting pitching. You?

EDIT: I should add, I don't think the Orioles are serious contenders in 2014 under either of our scenarios. There's just too much dead weight and not enough flexibility.

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Beltran will get more money than I'm comfortable giving him, Granderson is intriguing but carries red flags and is looking for a potentially regrettable contract, and Cruz is an awful option for many reasons. Under the constraints of the hypothetical, signing Beltran or Granderson makes it impossible to sign any of the pitchers you listed.

If I have 20 MM to spend, I'd take Garrett Jones, Nate McLouth, and Burnett/Feldman over Cruz and Arroyo or Beltran and no additional starting pitching. You?

I'd take Burnett, Arroyo, Granderson, Beltran, over McLouth , Jones, Feldman or Garza,

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My plan given a 20M limit would be Beltran, Benoit, and Hammel.

3/48 is the number that's been floating around next to Beltran's name. Even if it's high, I don't think you get him for an AAV lower than 13 MM. Fangraphs' contract crowdsource puts Hammel at 2/15. Tim Dierkes predicts 2/16 on Benoit. So you've spent about 28 MM in 2014 if we're conservative on Beltran. Maybe 30.

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Our primary needs are OBP from a position player. and IP from a SP.

I think that a strong argument could be made that using Jones as the LH DH instead of Urrutia would likely give you a better result in terms of both OBP and overall offensive production. Granted, we're both talking about hypotheticals but Jones does have a verifiable track record which Urrutia does not.

I'd take Burnett, Arroyo, Granderson, Beltran, over McLouth , Jones, Feldman or Garza,

You'd really give the Yankees our first round pick to sign Granderson rather than employ a McLouth/RHH platoon in LF? Granderson has posted OBPs of under .330 in 4 of the last 5 years, OBPs under .320 in both of the last two seasons, and he's heading into his age 33 season so I can't imagine that trend reversing.

McLouth posted a .342 OBP vs. RHPs last year and Steve Pearce, as an example of an in-house candidate for RH LF, has a career .351 OBP vs. LHPs. That seems like it would be a fairly productive platoon. And if we could convince ol' Uncle Pete to open up the purse strings and let DD sign Rajai Davis? Oh buddy, look out- he posted a .383 OBP vs. LHPs last year(.354 for his career). I'd much rather do that than give the Yankees our first round pick and give Granderson a 3-4 year deal that will almost certainly work out horrendously.

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Our primary needs are OBP from a position player. and IP from a SP.

I agree on the OBP, I hate when people say we need a starter that can throw alot of innings. We should we saying we need a starter that can throw alot of quality innings. If it's just innings you want, use anyone, when they wear out, pick up another one.

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Sounds like Beltran might be higher than that but I'm going to guess that Hammel has to settle for less than 2/15, even in this market.

That's fair. Maybe Beltran gets 14-15 MM per year and Hammel 5-6. We're still talking about 28 MM with Benoit, and the point stands that signing Beltran prohibits you from getting any FA pitcher that's not in the bargain bin.

I could live with that

Unfortunately, it's not possible under the supposed financial constraints.

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