Rank the order of importance for re-signing the following free-agents...

[Babypowder]

Depends on the terms, as always. I think Hardy could get something similar to Peralta on the market if he really wants to, and I don't want Hardy at 4/52. Nick is a decent player but I'm not paying a lot for an average corner OFer. If we can get him back on a cheap and short term deal then fine. I don't think I'm going to want any part of what Cruz might get after this season. 2 year deal max for me and I wouldn't even like that much. I think he does better than that with next years FA class.

If we aren't considering terms at all and just going by who is more important to next years team if they are on it? It's Hardy by a mile and then Cruz and Markakis are basically a toss up for me.

[wildcard]

As others have said, it's Hardy and it isn't close. Hardy is the best player of the three and he's playing at a position of scarcity. Even a year ago I was in favor of letting Hardy walk and moving Machado over to shortstop, partially because it would get the best value out of Machado but also because most of the reports on Schoop's 2B defense were mixed and I thought he was going to have to slide over to third. Now that Schoop has proven himself to be an above average second baseman and Machado continues to have knee issues, I think you have to leave them where they are. Obviously that means we have a hole at shortstop. We need to hang onto Hardy. There's also the fact that there is a very real possibility he winds up with the Yankees if we don't extend him. After watching Koji pitch for the Red Sox for the past couple of years, I'm just not sure I could handle watching Hardy club home runs to left field in pinstripes.

I think you hit both Markakis and Cruz with qualifying offers and try to extend Hardy. I'd put a 3/33 offer on the table tomorrow, but I'd be happy with another Roberts contract, considering Hardy doesn't hit himself in the head with bats or have a propensity to slide head first.

As much as I love Markakis, I think it's probably prudent to let him walk. He's still a productive player, and obviously he's meant a lot to Baltimore over the years, but the Orioles have limited funds and it isn't smart to tie up a lot of them to a 2 WAR outfielder. de Aza has actually been similarly productive over the past three years and could be a decent stop gap for 2015. Between Jones, Pearce, Lough and de Aza I don't think the Orioles have to keep Markakis around. It'll be a loss, for sure, but one much easier to absorb than if Hardy leaves. In many ways Hardy, along with Jones, has been the backbone of the resurgent Orioles.

You are offering what is fair to Hardy. FAs in demand don't get what is fair. They get much more. Add a year and about 2M a year to the highest figure you can stand and that is what it take to get a FA that is in demand.

[wildcard]

I think you might be surprised here. The average OPS in RF is only .733 this year, and .728 in LF. So, Nick is average. But, there are 11 teams who have a sub-.700 OPS in RF, and 10 with a sub-.700 OPS in LF. There are not a lot of good corner OF's on the market. So, this is a good year to be a free agent corner OF.

That said, Nick has been slumping lately, posting a .515 OPS in his last 20 games, after being red hot the first half of August. His numbers could sink or rebound in the final 23 games, and where he finishes will have some impact on his market value.

OK, Nick is an average RFer. What do you pay an average RF. If you count all the RFers including FA and all others then I think 8m/yr is about average.

[ShoelesJoe]

I seriously doubt Cruz gets 4/16, covering ages 34-37. By the way, he'll be an "old 34" next year, because his birthday is July 1, the day after the cutoff to be considered 35 next year for "baseball age" purposes.

Cruz will likely finish 1st or 2nd in HRs in the league this season, at a time when power is especially at a premium. If the past is any guide he also is likely to step it up during the post season, which could raise his price even higher. Somebody will pay the man, and it'll probably be significantly more than you think he's worth.

[foxfield]

This question will be where DD will earn his money. I think as to the OP you have to rank them Hardy, Nick and Cruz. I would love to have them all part of the club house because in addition to being good players, they fit. Also, they have the type of personality that may not be a fit say in NY or Boston.

All of that said, money will drive the answer and I think 15M/Yr is likely to miss on all of them with the possible exception of Nick. I just do not know what we will be able to do when the time comes. I do trust DD to make the call, but to my thought process, Hardy is by far the most complicated piece to replace, so I think his issue almost has to be priority one.

[webbrick2010]

You are offering what is fair to Hardy. FAs in demand don't get what is fair. They get much more. Add a year and about 2M a year to the highest figure you can stand and that is what it take to get a FA that is in demand.

Hit the nail on the head... FA get more than they are worth, some desperate, or just rich team will always pay more than the O's should even consider.

Let Hardy walk, and beat the bushes for a young plus defensive plus SS, like Jose Iglesias was for the Red Sox a couple years ago

[webbrick2010]

I wonder if Manny still wants to play SS.

I wonder if he is confident that he could still play SS

I wonder if the O's are still considering it.

If Manny at SS is still a possibility, then the O's have a lot more options going forward.

[DrungoHazewood]

OK, Nick is an average RFer. What do you pay an average RF. If you count all the RFers including FA and all others then I think 8m/yr is about average.

A win in free agency costs about $6M. An average player is maybe 2.0 wins over a full season. So acquiring a player you expect to be average over his contract should cost you $12M a year, give or take.

[DrungoHazewood]

Hit the nail on the head... FA get more than they are worth, some desperate, or just rich team will always pay more than the O's should even consider.

Let Hardy walk, and beat the bushes for a young plus defensive plus SS, like Jose Iglesias was for the Red Sox a couple years ago

Some free agents will get more than they are worth. But, on average, a free agent will get what the market (or what passes as a free market with regards to MLB free agents) will bear. About $6M per win right now. There aren't too many deals that wildly break with that mold. Now, sometimes a team will value a player more than other teams.

[Babypowder]

I wonder if Manny still wants to play SS.

I wonder if he is confident that he could still play SS

I wonder if the O's are still considering it.

If Manny at SS is still a possibility, then the O's have a lot more options going forward.

Manny absolutely still wants to play SS, and has said it to people close to the team. I've heard it many times on 1090 pre game shows and I believe Bordick was just talking about it during a game last week. Manny has played 3rd because the team asked but he said "he still looks over at JJ and wants to be there" was what I believe Bordick said. He still considers himself a shortstop.

[Redskins Rick]

Manny absolutely still wants to play SS, and has said it to people close to the team. I've heard it many times on 1090 pre game shows and I believe Bordick was just talking about it during a game last week. Manny has played 3rd because the team asked but he said "he still looks over at JJ and wants to be there" was what I believe Bordick said. He still considers himself a shortstop.

Not resigning Hardy and moving to Manny, doesn't solve anything. Except change the FA market from SS to Third.

It still gives us a whole "hole" to fill.

[Babypowder]

Not resigning Hardy and moving to Manny, doesn't solve anything. Except change the FA market from SS to Third.

It still gives us a whole "hole" to fill.

He asked if Manny still wants to play shortstop, I was only saying that he did. I wasn't advocating anything.

That said, I want no part of a Peralta-like deal for Hardy if that's what it is going to take.

[webbrick2010]

Manny absolutely still wants to play SS, and has said it to people close to the team. I've heard it many times on 1090 pre game shows and I believe Bordick was just talking about it during a game last week. Manny has played 3rd because the team asked but he said "he still looks over at JJ and wants to be there" was what I believe Bordick said. He still considers himself a shortstop.

If this is true, then it is the epitaph for JJ Hardy in Baltimore

If Manny wants it, he should get his shot at SS

If it fails you have that low cost defensive specialist in reserve.

[smoke1974]

Nick

Cruz

Hardy

Although I think all 3 are on the same level of importance

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Redskins Rick]

He asked if Manny still wants to play shortstop, I was only saying that he did. I wasn't advocating anything.

That said, I want no part of a Peralta-like deal for Hardy if that's what it is going to take.

Ok, I get ya, and agree with you.

I've am in the opinion camp, let's sign Hardy, if we can make the numbers work out for both side. Don't over spend.