Marlins, Dodgers, Brewers, Cubs and Angels in on Sherrill - Per Rosenthal

[scottbbfm]

WAAAAAY too many HRs....

That would be my concern as well.

[Frobby]

Are you fine with Huff next year at 8-10 million?

At this point, no chance he is declining arbitration and us end up with picks.

We have to hope that he shows signs of heating up the next 10 days or so and teams, knowing that he is a big second half hitter in his career, trade for him because of that idea.

I think it is very unlikely we are going to receive anything significant in exchange for Huff, no matter what he does in the next ten days. I am betting we keep him.

As to whether we offer him arbitration, I'd wait until the end of the year to make that decision. If he does heat up and finishes with reasonable numbers, then I'd say yes. I think someone will make a decent offer to a 1B who has knocked in 100+ runs two years in a row, even if his OPS is in the lower .800's this year, and we will get the draft picks. And if nobody does, and he accepts arbitration, that's not the end of the world.

[Enjoy Terror]

I thought there was an unwritten gentlemans agreement between players and clubs where if the Orioles ask Huff to decline arbitration that modern parlance would dictate that he doesn't accept. I could be wrong about that?

[Guest BrettMeister86]

Can I suggest we take a tally of potential prospects within these organizations that could fit the bill for what Andy is looking for? AKA a young 3B (MLB ready) - no Vitters of Dominguez's, and a top 100 pitching prospect?

[ejf1025]

I think it is very unlikely we are going to receive anything significant in exchange for Huff, no matter what he does in the next ten days. I am betting we keep him.

As to whether we offer him arbitration, I'd wait until the end of the year to make that decision. If he does heat up and finishes with reasonable numbers, then I'd say yes. I think someone will make a decent offer to a 1B who has knocked in 100+ runs two years in a row, even if his OPS is in the lower .800's this year, and we will get the draft picks. And if nobody does, and he accepts arbitration, that's not the end of the world.

Agreed. Getting rid of Huff now will be making a trade just for the sake of making a trade.

[Mackus]

I think it is very unlikely we are going to receive anything significant in exchange for Huff, no matter what he does in the next ten days. I am betting we keep him.

As to whether we offer him arbitration, I'd wait until the end of the year to make that decision. If he does heat up and finishes with reasonable numbers, then I'd say yes. I think someone will make a decent offer to a 1B who has knocked in 100+ runs two years in a row, even if his OPS is in the lower .800's this year, and we will get the draft picks. And if nobody does, and he accepts arbitration, that's not the end of the world.

I agree, if he has a worse 2nd half than his first half, then I don't offer him arbitration.

But if he has a somewhat typical 2nd half and is around a .780-.820 OPS, I offer it to him. Obviously he'd be overpaid on a 1/$8-10M deal, but its not like he'd be blocking anybody, and absolute worst case we could still cut him in ST and only owe him like $2M for the year. And I think if he's in that area that you said, he'll be able to find a deal better than 1/$8-10M. Probably not a higher per-year average, but more total guaranteed money. And the timing helps us out, he'd have to decide very early into the process whether to accept arbitration or roll the FA dice.

[TGO]

Why wouldn't Huff accept a deal with another team? He's pretty young in free agency, can hit for a solid average with some power, plays both corners, type A free agent... are we really that down on the Orioles to the point where we don't think anyone will sign our Type A's? I mean, did anyone honestly think a team would trade us for Steve Trachsel two years ago? At least Huff still has a lot of gas left in his tank!

I'd offer him arbitration and I don't think he'll accept it.

No one in the majors thinks Aubrey Huff can still play 3B. This is strictly a message board phenomenon. Next year he will be a 33 year old DH/below average 1B who, despite his great 2008, has shown a pretty obvious trend into .750-.800 OPS territory. He has to really have a great second half and get himself up to around .820ish at least to have any hope of a team giving up a pick and a multi-year deal for him.

[JTrea81]

Sherrill stays put IMO. Nobody will blow away MacPhail to get him.

[Mike B]

Let's just hope that Sherrill doesn't have some bad outings in the next 10 days.

I thought the same thing, and let's see we go to New York and Boston,,,,,nah, we are fine, nothing bad ever happens to us late in games against those teams.

[PHRESH]

Marlins - Could Uggla be a possibility?

Dodgers - I know SG likes Bell. Any chance we could land McDonald?

Brewers - Love to get Gamel but that's a pipedream. Anyone got some ideas?

Angels - Wood and a decent pitching prospect?

Cubs - Love to get Vitters but that's a pipedream as well. Doubtful that Samardzija would waive his no trade clause. Anyone got some ideas?

I'd rather have Dominguez than Uggla.

Bell has weight issues that may force him over to 1B where his bat would be a little light.

Gamel isn't happening. Taylor Green would be the guy. Great plate discipline, but will he hit for power?

Vitters would be awesome, but not happening. I would ask for a package including Starlin Castro.

[Greg Pappas]

I would think we'd be interested in 3B guys like Josh Bell (LAD), Matt Dominguez (FL), Brandon Wood (LAA), Taylor Green (MIL) as the main piece. I don't know if the Cubs really have anyone we would like. Vitters is too good to get for Sherrill.

Taylor Green isn't a main piece, but I agree that I'd love to have him.

A Cubs package could potentially be centered around 21-year old AA RHSP Jay Jackson along with someone like 2B/SS/3B'man Ryan Flaherty or SS Hak-Ju Lee.

[itsernst]

I'm fine with keeping Huff for an additional year.

I also wouldn't mind moving Guthrie to the pen as a potential closer, ESPECIALLY if Sherrill leaves. Has that been addressed anywhere?

Guthrie would never be moved to closer role. Johnson is definitely next of kin for the closer role if/when Sherrill is traded.

[backwardsk]

Can I suggest we take a tally of potential prospects within these organizations that could fit the bill for what Andy is looking for? AKA a young 3B (MLB ready) - no Vitters of Dominguez's, and a top 100 pitching prospect?

I'd like for them to get Gordon (SS) from the Dodgers.

[hoosiers]

Glad to see GS getting appropriate recognition. Disappointing that the Fish are moving from "buy" to "hold".

This is playing out as a typical AM scenario.

Somewhere between hope and expectation is the scenario where a team overpays.

[Guest BrettMeister86]

So far the best proposal I've seen was Wood and Reckling from the Angels. Reckling looks like a solid young pitching prospect and adding Wood to our already impressive list of 25 and under stars would be a nice move. I think we would have to add something to that deal though. I don't want to, but think we would have to.