Dan Duquette can't get the financial go-ahead from owner Peter Angelos to meet Morales' asking price

[weams]

So just out of curiosity, if you guys HAD to guess, what would you put the odds at of us still signing morales? Also what are the odds it's Cruz?

Or is it more than likely neither? Anyone have a bold prediction on this?

Neither. But maybe Morales if his price drops. I still predicted that he would have to wait until June for a deal. Only sacrificing a second round pick makes that a bit more of a possibility.

[DrungoHazewood]

Petty much. We may have great SP but we won't have much offense. Who do we have in our system to replace Wieters, Davis, Markakis, and Hardy?

In 2008 or 2009 where were Nate McLouth, Mark Reynolds, Hardy, Davis, Machado, Chen, Hunter, Hammel, Strop, O'Day... Man, 2012 is going to be a debacle with so many holes!

[Ripken]

Petty much. We may have great SP but we won't have much offense. Who do we have in our system to replace Wieters, Davis, Markakis, and Hardy?

Because you know they're all leaving? Hardy will very likely be here and if not Schoop looks to hit well. Markakis hasn't done much of late. It's not hard to find OFs that hit as well and Urrutia may out perfom Nick this year. I fully believe Chris Davis will stay here. So, Wieters may be gone by 2016. One guy, who struggled at the plate last year, has to be replaced. We have a bunch of C's in the org and/or the $8M that Matt is making now to sign someone else.

[crawjo]

In 2008 or 2009 where were Nate McLouth, Mark Reynolds, Hardy, Davis, Machado, Chen, Hunter, Hammel, Strop, O'Day... Man, 2012 is going to be a debacle with so many holes!

Completely agree. El Gordo's argument seems to be that for the next two years Duquette is going to pull his hair out fretting over losing all these players and not actually do anything to improve the team. It is only a bit less ridiculous than saying, man, the Orioles in 2020 are going to suck. No players at all!

[OFFNY]

.

He didn't get it for Morales, but he got it for Cruz.

[mcpd]

.

He didn't get it for Morales, but he got it for Cruz.

DD must be using his own money.

[OFFNY]

He didn't get it for Morales, but he got it for Cruz.

D.D. must be using his own money.

Yeah, like Don King.

He probably just walked up to Cruz with a shoebox stuffed with $100 bills, and said, "Nelson, if you sign with me, this is yours."

[weams]

I guess the OP was right. We took the road less monied.