Per Rosenthal: Balfour (FINALLY) to Orioles...

[CA-ORIOLE]

Yes with Davis in front of him. He's gonna see a lot of pitches to hit.

Yes of course, the protection nonsense.

[Jon]

Yeah i get that feeling too.

I'm with you regarding Cruz. Having an off-season of Cruz, Burnett/Jimenez and Balfour and/or Benoit would make me ever so happy.

[waroriole]

Yes with Davis in front of him. He's gonna see a lot of pitches to hit.

It doesn't work that way.

Even if you buy into the protection theory, he'd get better pitches to hit hitting BEFORE Davis, not after.

[waroriole]

Instead of Cruz, I would rather have had a McLouth/Rajai Davis platoon, the $40 million dollars saved that could be used for pitching, and the first round draft pick, thank you very much. And any GM with half a brain would agree with that logic, or at least I would hope so.

So, you're saying Cruz goes to Philly?

[sportsfan8703]

DD: "Mr. Cruz, we had to take the entire year-to-date production output of a large glass factory in northern Pennsylvania to make it possible, but the Baltimore Orioles are prepared to offer you 60 million actual marbles over 4 years if you'll play for us. What do you say?"

I think it tells you how clean baseball really is. It's not a big deal. Peralta, Colon, Cabrera, Cruz they all get busted in contract years and still get paid. Wake up.

[TonySoprano]

Baltimore is believed to be willing to make Cruz a four-year offer in the range of the $60-million deal Curtis Granderson got from the Mets, perhaps a bit higher. It isn't known what the offer is to Balfour, but various reports have suggested a two- or three-year deal is possible.

Cruz has drawn interest from the Mariners, his old Rangers teams and some others. There was a report Cruz turned down $75 million from the Mariners, and while that couldn't be confirmed, word out of Seattle is that a deal with Cruz isn't necessarily likely at this time. Texas seems more focused on another free-agent outfielder, Shin-Soo Choo at the moment.

source - Jon Heyman

[Rene88]

4/60 for a 32 year old, PED user, who is reaching the the end of his peak performance years would be downright silly. That kind of money could be spent on a decent pitcher or two.

This! Go get Garza!

[Scrat1]

That's gonna bit Cruz in the ass. I'll be totally shocked if he matches 75 million.

[waroriole]

source - Jon Heyman

I wonder if it bothers Heyman that he has no integrity at all, and is just a schill for agents?

[centralpaosfan]

IMO another 5 million a year is worth it when you're talking Cruz or Choo. Choo gives us a leadoff hitter who gets on base at a high rate. We already have plenty of guys who can hit the ball "where the grass doesn't grow."

The offer to Axford is interesting. I don't think the O's want both Axford and Belfour. I'm wondering if the offer to Axford is an effort to push Belfour to sign the deal.

[Os84]

An offer to Cruz does not necessarily mean he is the Orioles' first choice. I'm guessing there could be an offer to Choo and some trade proposals on the table. The Orioles need to give themselves options.

[clapdiddy]

I would rather give 4/68 to Garza than to give 4/60 to Cruz.

[Guest]

I would rather give 4/68 to Garza than to give 4/60 to Cruz.

Orioles don't go 4 years with pitchers.

[cnmilton]

II want no part of Cruz, he's damaged goods. Being caught taking PED's in a contract year is never a good thing. I bet whoever signs him sees a significant decrease in his numbers this year. NO THANKS TO CRUZ.

[Rene88]

I wonder if it bothers Heyman that he has no integrity at all, and is just a schill for agents?

You seem to know a lot about WAR. In your opinion, who are the most valuable OF options and starting pitching options available? Who do you like?