Rosenthal says deal done Jimenez (4/$50M - Official)

[Stotle]

Sure. They paid big bucks for a developed major league veteran with upside rather than say, Saunders.

But I guess you're right - they could have one more player if they signed a guy like Saunders for that rotation spot. I guess my scenario involved no FA pitcher being acquired.

I'm not helping myself on the stupid angle...

Right. It's a moot point right now, but the actual comparison is maybe someone like Garza, or Kazmir, or Colon, or whomever. All FAs have their own risk profiles and costs. The fun part is we get to see which FOs made the right wagers over the coming years!

[flyhighbirds]

You are confusing the decision with the expressed rationale. And actually, you are also proving my point.

The rationale was presented by the media. That is not the exact rationale the orioles were using in this process. The orioles tried to

sign several pitchers without giving up a first round pick. They did not want to give up the pick obviously.

[Stotle]

Here's the question: would the O's have signed Baldo if they weren't successful in landing those two international players?

Wow, I would hope so. MLB roster decisions shouldn't hinge on the orgs ability to sign foreign teenagers!

[Frobby]

Right. It's a moot point right now, but the actual comparison is maybe someone like Garza, or Kazmir, or Colon, or whomever. All FAs have their own risk profiles and costs. The fun part is we get to see which FOs made the right wagers over the coming years!

Yep. If Jiminez produces, say, 12 WAR over the 4 years, and the Orioles make the playoffs a couple of times, I doubt we'll be bemoaning the draft pick. But if he produces 4 WAR and we're a .500 team (or worse), then we'll rue the day. Either way, there will be posters who cherry pick the FA pitchers who did better than Jiminez and didn't cost a pick, and ignore the ones who did worse who we also might have chosen.

[Stotle]

The rationale was presented by the media. That is not the exact rationale the orioles were using in this process. The orioles tried to

sign several pitchers without giving up a first round pick. They did not want to give up the pick obviously.

I agree with this. Dan hasn't come out yet with this rationale. Although he probably will, because that's how he rolls. Buck mentioned it in passing during an interview, but that's about it.

Oh, I didn't see that Sherman's quote wasn't based on anything said by the organization. It sure reads as if that was an explanation given to him. He's just speculating?

[isestrex]

Goodness knows you don't want to add too much talent into the system in a single calendar year.

All hell could have broken loose if the O's had added four 1st-round talents that close together.

Every time I see a team use that excuse I think it's stupid.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h367/isestrex/Gifs/really-good-point.gif" border="0" alt=" photo really-good-point.gif"/></a>

[flyhighbirds]

Oh, I didn't see that Sherman's quote wasn't based on anything said by the organization. It sure reads as if that was an explanation given to him. He's just speculating?

It may have been the explanation given to him, but it doesn't totally explain the orioles line of thought, and sequence this all went

down. There was some crafty and smart maneuvering here by the orioles.

[Stotle]

It may have been the explanation given to him, but it doesn't totally explain the orioles line of thought, and sequence this all went

down. There was some crafty and smart maneuvering here by the orioles.

It was good of them to get a nice arm with teams a team like Toronto still out there and looking. I don't see anything particularly crafty, but closing the deal on Jiminez rather than standing pat going into the season definitely makes the Birds a better team.

[flyhighbirds]

It was good of them to get a nice arm with teams a team like Toronto still out there and looking. I don't see anything particularly crafty, but closing the deal on Jiminez rather than standing pat going into the season definitely makes the Birds a better team.

Well I thought it was crafty that they signed a few good international players knowing they might get stuck and have to give up a first

round pick.

[Can_of_corn]

Well I thought it was crafty that they signed a few good international players knowing they might get stuck and have to give up a first

round pick.

I would feel better about the international program if they hadn't traded away international pay slots last year.

[Stotle]

Well I thought it was crafty that they signed a few good international players knowing they might get stuck and have to give up a first

round pick.

See, I think they should want to sign those international players regardless of what might or might not happen to their first round pick.

[weams]

Wow, I would hope so. MLB roster decisions shouldn't hinge on the orgs ability to sign foreign teenagers!

Projectable at age 16 or not.

[Stotle]

Projectable at age 16 or not.

I do not understand your meaning, but I do love me some upside and projection!

[Can_of_corn]

Didn't they gain a slot also in one of the trades?

They did. They still ended up with less then they started with. Make take at the time was that the O's budget was less then the max allowed under the new agreement so Dan traded the excess for whatever he could get.

[waroriole]

See, I think they should want to sign those international players regardless of what might or might not happen to their first round pick.

It's the Orioles. I'm pleased that they're actually aware of an Intl market.

Baby steps.