O's looking for RH 1B

[Dipper9]

There are so many better options for 1B. I would hope they would look at going after a RH 1B man via trade then sign any of those guys...

I could live with Wigginton I suppose because he could slide over to 3B when Mora leaves, but anybody else is just a waste of $.

Find a LT option!

I want Millar back as a part timer, maybe getting 1-2 starts a week. I want him for two reasons. One, I like the dude, and if we are gonna stink, we should at least have some fun guys to root for. Two, and most importantly, I am dying to see JTrea's reaction if we bring back Big Kev!

[Dr. FLK]

If we're looking for a RH 1B, can we assume that means Salazar won't be getting a legit chance?

[Moose Milligan]

I really want to see them bring back Millar just for JTrea's reaction. Seriously, it'd be worth an entire summer of watching Millar's career slide further down.

[lovetoaster]

Part of me wonders if Joe Crede is something worth taking a risk on.

I thought about that yesterday for about half of a second. I don't think that would be a good call for the Birds.

[lovetoaster]

Anyway, Crede is injury-prone and surely he would be willing to take a one-year deal for something like $4 million

Scott Boras may disagree. We'll see, but up to now, he has been looking for more than that.

[lovetoaster]

I also think he'll do better than 1/4. San Fran has been after him.

San Fran says those reports have been overblown. Who knows...everyone is blowing smoke this time of year.

From MLB.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- While a report Tuesday charged that the Giants' alleged interest in left fielder Manny Ramirez and third baseman Joe Crede has been overblown, the club is still mindful of another issue farther down on its agenda: re-signing Rich Aurilia.

If ESPN's Jayson Stark is correct, the Giants won't maintain that kind of communication with Scott Boras, who represents Ramirez and Crede. Stark cited sources who insisted that payroll limitations would dissuade the Giants from signing either free agent -- particularly Ramirez, as MLB.com mentioned last weekend.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090106&content_id=3734773&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp

[Nick The Stick]

Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't Adam Dunn throw with his right hand? He may bat left-handed, but I am pretty sure that he fields as a righty.

I honestly would rather just see Salazar assume a platoon role with Huff at 1B, but if we went out and signed a 1B now as a free agent, Dunn could definitely fit.

[PaulFolk]

Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't Adam Dunn throw with his right hand? He may bat left-handed, but I am pretty sure that he fields as a righty.

I honestly would rather just see Salazar assume a platoon role with Huff at 1B, but if we went out and signed a 1B now as a free agent, Dunn could definitely fit.

Dunn does throw right-handed, but he bats lefty. The O's are reportedly looking for a right-handed hitting first baseman. I don't see why they'd care what hand he throws with.

[DrungoHazewood]

Dunn does throw right-handed, but he bats lefty. The O's are reportedly looking for a right-handed hitting first baseman. I don't see why they'd care what hand he throws with.

New research that shows the quicker tag on a pickoff by a lefty is worth 8-12 wins a year.

[SrMeowMeow]

I'd prefer Salazar. I guess a bench/platoon type wouldn't be the end of the world, but why not just let Salazar have a full season to lay it all out?

[trueoriolesfan]

Evans was only moved because he was blocked by Delgado and Wright. He was a 3B man orginally.

He's an above average defender at 1B...

We should look into him at least. He play 1st base this year and next year after Mora is gone go back to third.

[AZOriole]

We should trade for Billy Butler.

I 100% agree with this. Or a trade similar to that. The Royals' system is flooded with 1B, too, so I could see that as a realistic scenario.

[JBugaboo]

I agree with the rest of the Salazar pushers. If the team gets a RH hitting 1B it probably boots him down to AAA again. The team is (justifiably) concerned about his defense. But is Kevin Millar or Richie Sexson really going to save the team a lot of runs with their 1B gloves?

Look, Salazar probably won't post a 128 OPS+ if he gets more than his 94 PAs from '08 this season. But I think he can put up a 115-ish OPS+ with 350-ish PAs. Millar and Sexson won't give you that in '09.

Here's the weird thing though, look at Salazar's R-L splits from last season:

vs RHP - .349/.431/.674 in 43 ABs

vs LHP - .211/.302/.316 in 38 ABs

Is this guy a LH hitter in a RH hitter's body? Is that why they want to bring in another RH bat?

[mweb]

Baldelli, Gomes, and Crede are guys that I'd like to get(not all 3). The first two have good potential and our still young, while Crede brings plus defense and a decent bat as has been discussed.

Of course I'd like Reimold/Montanez to get a lot of playing time as well.

[DrungoHazewood]

Here's the weird thing though, look at Salazar's R-L splits from last season:

vs RHP - .349/.431/.674 in 43 ABs

vs LHP - .211/.302/.316 in 38 ABs

Is this guy a LH hitter in a RH hitter's body? Is that why they want to bring in another RH bat?

Small sample size fluke.

Over the past two years his minor league splits are .953 vs. lefties, .819 against righties.