Orioles Sign Johnny Giavotella

[wildcard]

Giavotella sounds like the guy who is called up when Hardy goes on the DL.   Manny shifts to SS, Flaherty to 3B and Giavotella backs up 2B/3B.    I would expect Giavotella to play all over the infield at Norfolk.

I don't see any danger for Flaherty losing his UIF spot to Giavotella.

 

[weams]

Just now, MDtransplant757 said:

He can give Schoop some days off. Does he have options?

Does not look like it. He's been around for a while. Minor league deal. 

[MDtransplant757]

Just now, weams said:

Does not look like it. He's been around for a while. Minor league deal. 

Wouldn't be bad. I like him better than Sharlon in Norfolk

[wildcard]

5 minutes ago, MDtransplant757 said:

He can give Schoop some days off. Does he have options?

Nope.  He was optioned in the 2012, 2013 and 2014.

[Can_of_corn]

1 hour ago, backwardsk said:

I believe, and I'm sure that someone will correct me if I'm wrong, they'd have to pay Flaherty $180k if they give him the Gonzalez treatment.

Not sure if this changed in the latest CBA.

[oriolediehard]

Is there a possibility the O's in the future when Hardy leaves that Schoop moves to SS and Johnny Giavotella plays 2B?

[Can_of_corn]

2 minutes ago, oriolediehard said:

Is there a possibility the O's in the future when Hardy leaves that Schoop moves to SS and Johnny Giavotella plays 2B?

While I do think he can play third, I do not think he can be more than an emergency SS.

[wildcard]

1 minute ago, Can_of_corn said:

While I do think he can play third, I do not think he can be more than an emergency SS.

I agree.

[crawjo]

I don't think he'll be in competition with Flaherty because he doesn't have the same defensive flexibility. He will be in competition with Mancini or a fifth outfielder, I suspect. 

[mdbdotcom]

I don't expect him to make the team out of spring training. If he hits well in spring training and is not called up, he will opt out. 

[backwardsk]

1 hour ago, Stevie Janowski said:

Just a preemptive comment about how moronic it is to keep Flaherty over this guy.

Why is that?  Who plays 3rd if Hardy needs a day off?

[tntoriole]

2 hours ago, Frobby said:

Considering that Giavotella has never played 1B, 3B or OF in the majors, and has all of one inning at SS, he'd need to prove his versatility before we'd release Flash.   He did play some 3B and LF in the minors, but no 1B or SS.    So he's really a shorter (5'8"), less versatile, RH version of Flaherty.   I'd put his odds of making the team at 10%.

PS -- Should I feel bad that I've literally never heard of the guy?

I agree that he is probably insurance at Norfolk though he may end up beefing up his ss skills there.  Flaherty will likely get zero time at 1b this year given Trumbo and Davis  (and certainly gets zero if Mancini somehow makes the team)  so really Flash only gives us ss backup compared to Giavotella, though Manny could slide over.  Plus Giavotella at least knows what a bat is compared to Flaherty. 

[Roll Tide]

2 hours ago, MDtransplant757 said:

Huh. Not a bad idea

So he doesnt walk much and according to Mike S he is only a 2B. He could possibly replace Flaherty if that is the case.

[MDtransplant757]

34 minutes ago, Roll Tide said:

So he doesnt walk much and according to Mike S he is only a 2B. He could possibly replace Flaherty if that is the case.

Or give schoop some time off if need be

[Frobby]

1 hour ago, tntoriole said:

Plus Giavotella at least knows what a bat is compared to Flaherty. 

Really?

Giovatella - .256/.295/.361

Flaherty - .216/.284/.359

Giovatella is marginally better, but they're both pretty incompetent.