Orioles Sign INF/OF Tony Kemp

[Frobby]

1 hour ago, RZNJ said:

I wanted Holliday on the team.  He’s not.  Get over it.  Kemp is going to have a pretty minor role.

This. I question this decision but I’m not going to spend a lot of time thinking about it.   Play ball!

[Can_of_corn]

7 minutes ago, Too Tall said:

I have to give it to Elias. He knows how to stir the pot. 

IMO, they will bring up Holliday when THEY FEEL he is ready to play every day. There is little sense to have a 20-year-old as the 26th man. Kemp is this year's Frazier at one eighth the price. Last year it was said they wouldn't eat 8 mil so Frazier played. One mil is not a factor. Over/under on Kemp's tenure -30 days. I take the under. 

So you don't think it's a service time issue?

[sportsfan8703]

Kemp was worth 3.4 WAR and 1.2 WAR in the two years prior to last season. Some rebound potential. He also had 44 BB to 40 SO last season. He steals some bags too. 

He’s similar to Mateo in that if he puts up a .650 OPS then he’s probably going to rack up WAR. 

[interloper]

2 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

So you don't think it's a service time issue?

I personally don't. 

[Can_of_corn]

7 minutes ago, interloper said:

I personally don't. 

I think that if it isn't service time related you risk bringing him up to try and secure the pick.

I don't think anyone really thinks his psyche will be damaged if he struggles.

[Too Tall]

1 minute ago, Can_of_corn said:

So you don't think it's a service time issue?

I really don't know. I'm not as self-assured as some on here. I wanted to see him make the team, but it didn't happen. Do I think it was purely service time? No.  As I said, when he arrives, I think they want an everyday player, and they feel he still has some more work to do before they spend his service time.  

[Three Run Homer]

The reason I don't like this move is that it creates another barrier to Holliday being called up.  Nevin or McKenna at least wouldn't be competing for playing time at 2B.   I was worried that Wong would make the team, then I was relieved that he didn't.   Now we have another Kolten Wong, a veteran whose vetaranosity will keep him in the majors whether he deserves it or not.  

[Three Run Homer]

12 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

So you don't think it's a service time issue?

If the goal is to have a placeholder until they can get the extra year for Holliday, why bring in someone from outside the organization?  I don't think they are planning to DFA Kemp on May 1.  

[clapdiddy]

2 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

I think that if it isn't service time related you risk bringing him up to try and secure the pick.

I don't think anyone really thinks his psyche will be damaged if he struggles.

Yup.   He'd be fine.    Look at Gunnar...

[RZNJ]

34 minutes ago, waroriole said:

Don’t gatekeep. If I wanna whine in this thread about signing a useless player, I’m 100% gonna do that. 

Ok.  The gate is wide open.  Go for it.

[spleen1015]

Just now, RZNJ said:

Ok.  The gate is wide open.  Go for it.

[Punchandjudy]

When I heard the O’s signed Kemp, I thought it was Matt Kemp.  I didn’t think I could be more disappointed until I found out it was Tony Kemp.  

[Sports Guy]

This is so dumb.

If only they had a good left handed second baseman they could use.

[Ripken]

19 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

So you don't think it's a service time issue?

Wasn't asked of me... but of course it is.  All along, I was confident it would happen so it's hard to be mad about it.  Generally speaking, within the current MLB structure, that's smart business.  What I will run seriously out of patience on is if the absolute refusal to sign anyone continues with the new ownership.  That needs time to work itself out, so we continue to wait, but there is hope the new regime will spend some of the money rather than hoarding all of it.  Obviously, a team doesn't need clock games if someone has a long term contract.  I'd wager quite a bit that, if Holliday had an 8-10 year deal, he'd be the starting 2nd baseman right now.

[Can_of_corn]

Just now, Ripken said:

Wasn't asked of me... but of course it is.  All along, I was confident it would happen so it's hard to be mad about it.  Generally speaking, within the current MLB structure, that's smart business.  What I will run seriously out of patience on is if the absolute refusal to sign anyone continues with the new ownership.  That needs time to work itself out, so we continue to wait, but there is hope the new regime will spend some of the money rather than hoarding all of it.  Obviously, a team doesn't need clock games if someone has a long term contract.  I'd wager quite a bit that, if Holliday had an 8-10 year deal, he'd be the starting 2nd baseman right now.

Is it?

I wouldn't say it's the industry norm at the moment.