Feliz Signs with Astros

[jdouble777]

How upset would everyone be if Andy finds all 3b options not worth it and sticks with Wiggy? The main thing for me obviously is not blocking Bell.

Bell:

Joshua Bell, 3B, 6.06, 288/370/455

According to his website, Bell has “enchanted audiences worldwide with his breathtaking virtuosity and tone of rare beauty” for more than two decades. Apparently, he’s turned his attention to baseball as of late. Bell was acquired by Baltimore from Los Angeles (N) in the George Sherrill trade. He posted a wOBA of .397 in Double-A last year. He’s currently slashing .320/.404/.500 in the Arizona Fall League.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/five-surprise-hitting-projections-from-the-bill-james-handbook-2010

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=paS05009&position=3B

It sure seems like a safe bet, pop still limited, but the reviews seem prominent. Would it not be more logical to sign Beltre and if Bell makes the leap have trade chips? I have seen so many prospects hit Triple A and stall for a lifetime. I'm not terribly disappointed if the idea is to wait with Wiggy, I do think Bell will pan out, but just better safe than if sorry if possible. Bell could add some clout to a trade later for a need when it is "go time," ummhmmm Felix.

[srock]

How upset would everyone be if Andy finds all 3b options not worth it and sticks with Wiggy? The main thing for me obviously is not blocking Bell.

I'm cool with it.

If there aren't any good options, don't spend any money. Someone will come along, be it Bell, a 2010 FA, or a opportunistic trade scenario.

[GoldGlove21]

Bell:

Joshua Bell, 3B, 6.06, 288/370/455

According to his website, Bell has “enchanted audiences worldwide with his breathtaking virtuosity and tone of rare beauty” for more than two decades. Apparently, he’s turned his attention to baseball as of late. Bell was acquired by Baltimore from Los Angeles (N) in the George Sherrill trade. He posted a wOBA of .397 in Double-A last year. He’s currently slashing .320/.404/.500 in the Arizona Fall League.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/five-surprise-hitting-projections-from-the-bill-james-handbook-2010

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=paS05009&position=3B

It sure seems like a safe bet, pop still limited, but the reviews seem prominent. Would it not be more logical to sign Beltre and if Bell makes the leap have trade chips? I have seen so many prospects hit Triple A and stall for a lifetime. I'm not terribly disappointed if the idea is to wait with Wiggy, I do think Bell will pan out, but just better safe than if sorry if possible. Bell could add some clout to a trade later for a need when it is "go time," ummhmmm Felix.

I have said this before, good teams try to work within their budgets but they also strike if an opportunity presents itself. Gaining Beltre would be a major blow to the Red Sox who seemed to put all of their eggs in the Beltre bandwagon. Even if we drive up their price for Beltre, we have done a thing that aid in stopping them from making additional moves. They still have to keep enough funds to extend Beckett. If i were the GM of the Orioles I would look at next year's thirdbase free agents and decide if Beltre was the best third baseman likely to hit the open market in the next 24 months. If he is then I do my best to land him. Bell has to have very good trade value and if I could land Bell I would be tempted to try and deal Bell, Snyder, Pie, and a pitching prospect for Fielder or Gonzalez. I would even try to pry Votto from Cincy for Bell, Snyder, and Pie as long as we could extend any of our trade options.

Adding Beltre and a guy like Fielder could really go a long way to giving our young pitchers some tremendous run support. Or we could hope that Bell pans out and try to sign stop gaps at first year after year in hopes that a first baseman in his prime become available.

[oriolesacox]

I like Beltre but not at the years and money he's asking for. If Bell busts certainly it would be a blow but if he pans out we get him much cheaper and longer.

[jdouble777]

I have said this before, good teams try to work within their budgets but they also strike if an opportunity presents itself. Gaining Beltre would be a major blow to the Red Sox who seemed to put all of their eggs in the Beltre bandwagon. Even if we drive up their price for Beltre, we have done a thing that aid in stopping them from making additional moves. They still have to keep enough funds to extend Beckett. If i were the GM of the Orioles I would look at next year's thirdbase free agents and decide if Beltre was the best third baseman likely to hit the open market in the next 24 months. If he is then I do my best to land him. Bell has to have very good trade value and if I could land Bell I would be tempted to try and deal Bell, Snyder, Pie, and a pitching prospect for Fielder or Gonzalez. I would even try to pry Votto from Cincy for Bell, Snyder, and Pie as long as we could extend any of our trade options.

Adding Beltre and a guy like Fielder could really go a long way to giving our young pitchers some tremendous run support. Or we could hope that Bell pans out and try to sign stop gaps at first year after year in hopes that a first baseman in his prime become available.

Though I'm sure Shack is going to find a way to make this illogical, implausible, and likely irrational I'm all-in on this ideation. The only chance we have of landing a top tier player is via trade, at least in the near future, so why not did everything possible to stack up trade chips. Most major trades only cost two Grade A chips, maybe three, if we are able to amass 2-3 pitchers, 2-3 outfielders, and 2-3 corner infielders that could fit that description, I'm thinking we snag who we want when we want. :mwahaha: :scratchchinhmm:

[El Gordo]

Though I'm sure Shack is going to find a way to make this illogical, implausible, and likely irrational I'm all-in on this ideation. The only chance we have of landing a top tier player is via trade, at least in the near future, so why not did everything possible to stack up trade chips. Most major trades only cost two Grade A chips, maybe three, if we are able to amass 2-3 pitchers, 2-3 outfielders, and 2-3 corner infielders that could fit that description, I'm thinking we snag who we want when we want. :mwahaha: :scratchchinhmm:

He needn't bother. You've done pretty well, all by yourself.:laughlol:

[GoldGlove21]

Though I'm sure Shack is going to find a way to make this illogical, implausible, and likely irrational I'm all-in on this ideation. The only chance we have of landing a top tier player is via trade, at least in the near future, so why not did everything possible to stack up trade chips. Most major trades only cost two Grade A chips, maybe three, if we are able to amass 2-3 pitchers, 2-3 outfielders, and 2-3 corner infielders that could fit that description, I'm thinking we snag who we want when we want. :mwahaha: :scratchchinhmm:

I am not saying give up the farm, but 4 years of Beltre means that he is not a stop gap and if he is good enough for teams like the Red Sox, Angels, Twins and Mariners he should be good enough for the Orioles as well. If you call the Brewers, Reds, and Padres offering a package of Bell, Snyder, Pie, and a pitching prospect like Erbe for their star first baseman then I would bet one of those teams would jump at the offer.

[jdouble777]

I am not saying give up the farm, but 4 years of Beltre means that he is not a stop gap and if he is good enough for teams like the Red Sox, Angels, Twins and Mariners he should be good enough for the Orioles as well. If you call the Brewers, Reds, and Padres offering a package of Bell, Snyder, Pie, and a pitching prospect like Erbe for their star first baseman then I would bet one of those teams would jump at the offer.

Undoubtedly the way to go in my opinion. Take a stab at it at least, if nothing else we drive the price up and force teams that we are probably going to be facing a lot of to shorten their pull on the market. If there is not a no-trade clause and Bell goes wild, there is no reason we cannot use Beltre as the trade chip. :beerchug1:

[Leitch]

According to his website, Bell has “enchanted audiences worldwide with his breathtaking virtuosity and tone of rare beauty” for more than two decades. .

I have actually seen Bell play and this is absolutely true.

[boog26]

I am not saying give up the farm, but 4 years of Beltre means that he is not a stop gap and if he is good enough for teams like the Red Sox, Angels, Twins and Mariners he should be good enough for the Orioles as well. If you call the Brewers, Reds, and Padres offering a package of Bell, Snyder, Pie, and a pitching prospect like Erbe for their star first baseman then I would bet one of those teams would jump at the offer.

Uhm, if you start offering players like Bell, Snyder, Pie, and Erbe aren't you actually starting to give up the farm??? We've been down this road before, with much less talent, and it ended very badly. There IS a time for trading prospects but now is NOT the time.

[Boy Howdy]

According to his website, Bell has “enchanted audiences worldwide with his breathtaking virtuosity and tone of rare beauty” for more than two decades. Apparently, he’s turned his attention to baseball as of late.

http://www.joshuabell.com/biography

You are trying to be funny, right?

[El Gordo]

http://www.joshuabell.com/biography

You are trying to be funny, right?

I think Fangraphs was.:laughlol:

[GoldGlove21]

Uhm, if you start offering players like Bell, Snyder, Pie, and Erbe aren't you actually starting to give up the farm??? We've been down this road before, with much less talent, and it ended very badly. There IS a time for trading prospects but now is NOT the time.

I wouldn't call Pie, Bell, Snyder, and Erbe the farm. What is the point of a prospect? A prospect can help in three ways:

1.) They turn into cheap, but viable alternatives to big named free agents.

2.) They are used to obtain big named free agents.

3.) They can be used as leverage to get key players to extend.

Let's look at the package of players I proposed.

Pie: Pie is a 4th outfielder at the moment and we obtained him for Olson.

Snyder: Expendable in a deal for a first baseman.

Erbe: Could be working out of the pen in the future.

Bell: A real prospect at a position of need for us. Beltre gives us the room to make this deal.

You say we are not at a point where we trade prospects for players, but we will likely be in that position next offseason. I see the Orioles as needing four players from being really good. First, third, short, and closer. In a dream scenario Snyder, Bell, one free agent signing, and Mickolio fill those voids long term, but it is a long shot things play out that way. That is not likely to happen and I see the Orioles using prospects as currency sooner rather than later.

[hoosiers]

Uhm, if you start offering players like Bell, Snyder, Pie, and Erbe aren't you actually starting to give up the farm??? We've been down this road before, with much less talent, and it ended very badly. There IS a time for trading prospects but now is NOT the time.

First, in this market, if we are dealing Bell, Snyder, Pie and Erbe, we'd be getting some pretty spectacular players back.

Second, WHEN have we been down that road before? When have we dealt three of our top six to eight prospects plus a guy like Pie?

I believe AM could ramp this up to a surprisingly competitive team by dealing a couple prospects and ramping up the payroll into the mid-$90Ms. If he wants to wait a year, sort through a few more players, let more talent develop on the farm, I'm okay with that.