Feliz Signs with Astros

[Agent0]

I really like this move because it forces the O's hand a little bit here. It had been rumored that Feliz was their primary target as pretty much an all glove, no bat kind of

3B. Well now that he is off the board, the Orioles are going to have to upgrade 3B offensively. If we look at who is left via FA or trade the O's are probably going to end up with one of: Atkins, Kouzmanoff, DeRosa, or Uggla. And I think all of those options are better than Feliz was so I see this as a blessing in disguise and would think the O's will have their 3B signed before Christmas.

Like El Gordo said, I think you have it backwards. It doesn't force the O's hand...it simply is indicative of the fact that we didn't want him that badly (which is good news).

[Ruzious]

Houston really paid 4.5 mil for Feliz? I would have though he'd cost maybe half that. Gotta figure Crede is now the most likely candidate - since they're focusing on D - though if they can get a good deal on Kouz, it's possible. I don't see them entrusting Uggla to 3B.

[Three Run Homer]

I'm not a big Pedro Feliz fan, but there are worse options out there, such as letting Wigginton "play" 3B full time, signing Adrian Beltre to a big contract, or touching the remains of Garrett Atkins with a 100-foot pole.

The best remaining choices seem to be Crede and Kouzmanoff. I don't think the case for Kouz is clear cut:

(1) Offensively, both have some power, but poor OBPs. Kouz' numbers are hurt by playing in Petco, but they are helped by playing in the NL. Overall I'd give Kouz an edge but it's not large.

(2) Crede is a very good defensive player; Kouz has improved but Crede still has an edge.

(3) Kouz is more durable. That's his biggest edge in my opinion.

(4) Crede will sign cheap. Kouz is not expensive but we'll have to give up something of value to get him. The Padres turned down Glen Perkins, so they certainly aren't going to give us Kouz for Jason Berken, and they probably would want more than Hernandez.

If the cost was the same I'd take Kouzmanoff, but given the talent we have to give up to get him, I might well prefer Crede. If we have to give up Pie to get Kouzmanoff, then I'd definitely prefer Crede.

[tom smith]

What are our options for 3B now? Just Wigginton?

Maybe Crede?

Alex Gordon

[Sports Guy]

I've laid out the argument before, and I'll probably be accused of having a man crush, but whatever.

PetCo Park kills Kouzmanoff. He has a career .801 OPS away from San Diego.

He has worked hard to turn himself into an above average defender (+7.5 last year, positive trend).

He will be only 28 next year, making only ~2 MM, and will be under control for three more seasons.

Even with his offense suppressed by Petco, he has managed to be worth around 12 MM per year (~2.7 WAR) in each of his three full seasons in the majors.

He is a very solid stop gap on the cheap, and if one of Bell or Snyder does not develop as we hope, he is a good mid-term solution. Should Bell and Snyder both develop, Kouz will still be an attractive trade chip.

He just makes a ton of sense, with a good amount of upside, and is pretty undervalued IMO.

If, as it seemed from early rumors, he could be had for something like D. Hernandez, we should be all over it.

Yea, DH for him is a no brainer...Plus, Hernandez gets to go back home, which I am sure would make him happy.

Now, I wouldn't be excited about losing DH but adding Kouz would be nice.

[Three Run Homer]

I should have said that Uggla is another choice...he's obviously got a better bat than the other two, but his defense is not likely to be good; his attitude will be a problem if he's forced to play a position other than 2B; and he's going to cost quite a bit in terms of talent. The Marlins don't seem to be in full fire sale mode this year.

[scottbbfm]

To take the home/away splits a step further:

Over the course of his career:

hitting in the parks in the top 18 of park factors* Kouz has had 571 plate appearances and has hit .290/.319/.503/.822

In the bottom 12 he's had 1252 plate appearances and hit .249/.276/.337/.612

That's a huge difference.

* http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/parkfactor

[El Gordo]

Aren't the Pads thinking of non tendering Kouzmanoff, to move Headley to 3B and Blanks to LF?

[Shopay]

The O's could have signed Feliz if they wanted him IMO. The fact that they didn't tells me they are confident they can get someone better. Perhaps Kouzmanof or maybe a surprise? I wouldn't put anything past AM. Remember our Cognoscenti have been telleing us we are getting Garland, Feliz, and Blalock. So far they are wrong 2 out of three.:rofl:

I agree. I think AM was talking to Feliz strictly as a back up plan.

[Agent0]

I should have said that Uggla is another choice...he's obviously got a better bat than the other two, but his defense is not likely to be good; his attitude will be a problem if he's forced to play a position other than 2B; and he's going to cost quite a bit in terms of talent. The Marlins don't seem to be in full fire sale mode this year.

This issue of not wanting to play certain positions is counterproductive, for the most part. If people don't consider you a good 2B, they aren't going to treat you like one just because you call yourself a 2B.

"I'm a power hitting 2B."

"No, you're a power hitter who stands to the right field side of second base with a glove in his hand."

I think Uggla will come around. Via the Soriano decision, players don't have the right to oppose moves like this. C and P would be different of course, but if someone tells him to move from 2B to 3B, he's gotta do it.

[scOtt]

This issue of not wanting to play certain positions is counterproductive, for the most part. If people don't consider you a good 2B, they aren't going to treat you like one just because you call yourself a 2B.

"I'm a power hitting 2B."

"No, you're a power hitter who stands to the right field side of second base with a glove in his hand."

I think Uggla will come around. Via the Soriano decision, players don't have the right to oppose moves like this. C and P would be different of course, but if someone tells him to move from 2B to 3B, he's gotta do it.

This. Plus Uggla has MiL experience at third.

It was rumored DeRosa is looking for 3/27...

[Ruzious]

Aren't the Pads thinking of non tendering Kouzmanoff, to move Headley to 3B and Blanks to LF?

I'd be shocked if they nontendered him. Then they'd get nothing for him.

[Mackus]

I'd be shocked if they nontendered him. Then they'd get nothing for him.

I agree its unlikely they nontender him.

But, they do have some financial concerns and they have options at 1B and 3B other than him, so he shouldn't be too difficult to acquire in a trade.

I wouldn't really like to deal Hernandez or Erbe for him, though. I'm still really high on both of those guys.

[bobmc]

This issue of not wanting to play certain positions is counterproductive, for the most part. If people don't consider you a good 2B, they aren't going to treat you like one just because you call yourself a 2B.

"I'm a power hitting 2B."

"No, you're a power hitter who stands to the right field side of second base with a glove in his hand."

I think Uggla will come around. Via the Soriano decision, players don't have the right to oppose moves like this. C and P would be different of course, but if someone tells him to move from 2B to 3B, he's gotta do it.

As an "Agent", I thought you might side with the player . He probably has the right, but if he wants a nice contract he might want to consider what Soriano did. Jayson Werth stood his ground with the O's early on but changed his mind later with the Jays.

[Mike B]

Alex Gordon

That has been my dark horse candidate all along.

I think he still has upside and would be an interesting choice.