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NEW YORK -
- President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said this week that he would like to add an impact bat to the Orioles' lineup for the 2010 season. He just has no plans to part with any of the organization's top prospects in order to do so.
"Personally, I don't see us giving up any key building blocks going forward at this stage of the game," MacPhail said. "I'm pretty optimistic that we're going to be able to acquire guys that are going to be meaningful improvements for us without having to sacrifice key guys."
MacPhail's comments should quiet any speculation that the Orioles will be in the thick of trade talks for the San Diego Padres' Adrian Gonzalez or another proven middle-of-the-lineup hitter who might be available to a team willing to trade a boatload of prospects.
If the Padres were interested in dealing Gonzalez this offseason, the Orioles would certainly have to part with some of their top young players to acquire him. Speaking only in generalities, MacPhail said that's a price he's unwilling to pay because of where the organization is in the rebuilding process.
"There are going to be plenty of options for us to help ourselves without giving up any key, core guys," MacPhail said.
The 2010 free-agent class is also expected to be thin on proven middle-of-the-lineup hitters, especially ones who play corner infield spots, one of the Orioles' primary needs.
Asked whether that makes it more likely that the Orioles will seek to find offensive help through trades rather than free-agent signings, MacPhail said: "It could come either way. You just don't know how the offseason is going to evolve. One trade might start a set of dominoes going in a direction that you really can't anticipate in September. We're going to take a look at what options are available to us in terms of a bat."
MacPhail said that process has already started as the club is scouting several players who could be available via trades or free agency.
"The important thing for us is pretty simple - you identify a pretty wide spectrum of players that are free agents or you think might be available, and you make sure you have adequate scouting coverage on them," MacPhail said. "But every offseason, there are things that come about that you just don't anticipate. Our job right now is to make sure we got our scouts in the right places."
"It's getting near the end," acknowledged MacPhail, declining to be more specific about Matusz's timetable.
Chris Tillman, who started Friday night's series opener, is expected to get at least one or two more turns than Matusz, who is in his first professional season.
Trembley said Mickolio, who has pitched in just two of the Orioles' past 10 games, will rejoin the club Monday.
"Personally, I don't see us giving up any key building blocks going forward at this stage of the game," MacPhail said. "I'm pretty optimistic that we're going to be able to acquire guys that are going to be meaningful improvements for us without having to sacrifice key guys."
MacPhail's comments should quiet any speculation that the Orioles will be in the thick of trade talks for the San Diego Padres' Adrian Gonzalez or another proven middle-of-the-lineup hitter who might be available to a team willing to trade a boatload of prospects.
If the Padres were interested in dealing Gonzalez this offseason, the Orioles would certainly have to part with some of their top young players to acquire him. Speaking only in generalities, MacPhail said that's a price he's unwilling to pay because of where the organization is in the rebuilding process.
"There are going to be plenty of options for us to help ourselves without giving up any key, core guys," MacPhail said.
The 2010 free-agent class is also expected to be thin on proven middle-of-the-lineup hitters, especially ones who play corner infield spots, one of the Orioles' primary needs.
Asked whether that makes it more likely that the Orioles will seek to find offensive help through trades rather than free-agent signings, MacPhail said: "It could come either way. You just don't know how the offseason is going to evolve. One trade might start a set of dominoes going in a direction that you really can't anticipate in September. We're going to take a look at what options are available to us in terms of a bat."
MacPhail said that process has already started as the club is scouting several players who could be available via trades or free agency.
"The important thing for us is pretty simple - you identify a pretty wide spectrum of players that are free agents or you think might be available, and you make sure you have adequate scouting coverage on them," MacPhail said. "But every offseason, there are things that come about that you just don't anticipate. Our job right now is to make sure we got our scouts in the right places."
Matusz done after today?
Neither MacPhail nor manager Dave Trembley have said specifically when Brian Matusz will be shut down for the rest of the season because they don't want to give the rookie left-hander anything more to think about. But it's very possible that Matusz will be making his last start of the season today against the New York Yankees."It's getting near the end," acknowledged MacPhail, declining to be more specific about Matusz's timetable.
Chris Tillman, who started Friday night's series opener, is expected to get at least one or two more turns than Matusz, who is in his first professional season.
Mickolio out for series
Orioles reliever Kam Mickolio is suffering from inflammation in his right biceps and will not pitch in this weekend's series against the Yankees. Mickolio complained of soreness in that area Wednesday in Boston, prompting the Orioles to send him home for a consultation with team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens.Trembley said Mickolio, who has pitched in just two of the Orioles' past 10 games, will rejoin the club Monday.
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See, this is why MacPhail is the worst gm in the game. I'm as a big a prospect guy there is but, at some point, you have to address a glaring weakness.
I'm sorry,Andy, Snyder isn't going to cut it as a major league first baseman.
OsPhan (09/12/2009, 2:22 PM )