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After a paradoxical 2009, the Orioles enter this offseason in a curious position.
They equaled their worst win-loss record in 20 years and trailed only the infamous 1988 season and the inaugural 1954 campaign as most futile in the club's modern history.
Yet there is a sense that the future has promise because of the emergence of young starting pitchers Brian Matusz, Chris Tillman and Brad Bergesen, catcher Matt Wieters and outfielders Nolan Reimold and Felix Pie.
It can be argued that the Orioles have fewer holes to fill for 2010 than they have had entering an offseason in recent memory. What can't be argued is that those holes are monstrous, and any chance the Orioles have of not repeating as the residents of the American League East basement hinges on what personnel moves are made this winter.
Further complicating things is that this free-agent class is uninspiring, top free agents routinely avoid the struggling Orioles, and Andy MacPhail, club president of baseball operations, is still in the building, not buying, phase of roster construction.
Still, it could be an interesting hot-stove season for the Orioles. Here are some smoldering questions, in no particular order, that face the team:
Will the Orioles spend their extra cash?
The Orioles began this season with roughly $77 million owed in salary - including more than $9 million due to ex-Orioles Jay Gibbons and Ramon Hernandez.
By shedding expiring contracts, the club has dropped approximately $46.6 million from the 2009 payroll. Heading into 2010, they have about $30 million tied up in six players. They'll pay incremental raises to many of their youngsters and will face arbitration hikes with several more. But the payroll will start significantly below what it was in 2009 - meaning there should be money to tap this winter.
The sense within the front office is that they'll have the flexibility to spend, and MacPhail believes he'll be more aggressive than in past years. But this isn't a bumper free-agent crop. Its unrestricted group is led by few legitimate stars, such as outfielders Jason Bay and Matt Holliday and starting pitcher John Lackey.
There is the usual collection of solid veterans ( Bobby Abreu, Miguel Tejada, Chone Figgins) and injury risks ( Carlos Delgado, Vladimir Guerrero, Rich Harden).
The best bet is that the Orioles dip into the free-agent pool for one or two veterans and attempt to trade for other pieces, perhaps ones deemed too expensive by other clubs. So an increase is expected, but the Orioles' 2010 payroll likely won't exceed $75 million.
Will they pursue a power bat?
Yes. At least that's what MacPhail and the rest of the brain trust pledge is the top priority. When Aubrey Huff was traded in August, it made an already obvious weakness even more glaring. The club has no one who can - or has, anyway - hit 30 home runs. It has no true cleanup hitter to protect Nick Markakis.
The preference is to find a right-handed or switch-hitting first baseman in his prime, such as the New York Yankees' Mark Teixeira. But there's no one who fits that profile in this year's class. The best free-agent options might be left-handed-hitting first basemen Russell Branyan and Hank Blalock or right-handed do-it-all Mark DeRosa.
The best trade option could be left-handed-hitting Prince Fielder, whom the Milwaukee Brewers are considering dealing because of cost. He'll make $11 million in 2010, is set for arbitration in 2011 and then becomes a free agent.
It would take an impressive package of young players to get Fielder, however.
Will they add a veteran starter?
The Orioles would like to get a veteran who could eat innings and win games - something that's been lacking in recent years - while serving as a good influence to the young staff. The assumption is that Matusz, Tillman, Bergesen and Jeremy Guthrie will constitute four-fifths of the staff, leaving an open spot for someone else.
It's unlikely they would target Lackey - or that he would come here - but a lesser option or an injury risk with something to prove could be pursued. Otherwise, they'll fill the fifth spot from within. One free agent who shouldn't be forgotten is Erik Bedard, who was comfortable in Baltimore and surely would listen to a pitch from his first team.
They equaled their worst win-loss record in 20 years and trailed only the infamous 1988 season and the inaugural 1954 campaign as most futile in the club's modern history.
Yet there is a sense that the future has promise because of the emergence of young starting pitchers Brian Matusz, Chris Tillman and Brad Bergesen, catcher Matt Wieters and outfielders Nolan Reimold and Felix Pie.
It can be argued that the Orioles have fewer holes to fill for 2010 than they have had entering an offseason in recent memory. What can't be argued is that those holes are monstrous, and any chance the Orioles have of not repeating as the residents of the American League East basement hinges on what personnel moves are made this winter.
Further complicating things is that this free-agent class is uninspiring, top free agents routinely avoid the struggling Orioles, and Andy MacPhail, club president of baseball operations, is still in the building, not buying, phase of roster construction.
Still, it could be an interesting hot-stove season for the Orioles. Here are some smoldering questions, in no particular order, that face the team:
Will the Orioles spend their extra cash?
The Orioles began this season with roughly $77 million owed in salary - including more than $9 million due to ex-Orioles Jay Gibbons and Ramon Hernandez.
By shedding expiring contracts, the club has dropped approximately $46.6 million from the 2009 payroll. Heading into 2010, they have about $30 million tied up in six players. They'll pay incremental raises to many of their youngsters and will face arbitration hikes with several more. But the payroll will start significantly below what it was in 2009 - meaning there should be money to tap this winter.
The sense within the front office is that they'll have the flexibility to spend, and MacPhail believes he'll be more aggressive than in past years. But this isn't a bumper free-agent crop. Its unrestricted group is led by few legitimate stars, such as outfielders Jason Bay and Matt Holliday and starting pitcher John Lackey.
There is the usual collection of solid veterans ( Bobby Abreu, Miguel Tejada, Chone Figgins) and injury risks ( Carlos Delgado, Vladimir Guerrero, Rich Harden).
The best bet is that the Orioles dip into the free-agent pool for one or two veterans and attempt to trade for other pieces, perhaps ones deemed too expensive by other clubs. So an increase is expected, but the Orioles' 2010 payroll likely won't exceed $75 million.
Will they pursue a power bat?
Yes. At least that's what MacPhail and the rest of the brain trust pledge is the top priority. When Aubrey Huff was traded in August, it made an already obvious weakness even more glaring. The club has no one who can - or has, anyway - hit 30 home runs. It has no true cleanup hitter to protect Nick Markakis.
The preference is to find a right-handed or switch-hitting first baseman in his prime, such as the New York Yankees' Mark Teixeira. But there's no one who fits that profile in this year's class. The best free-agent options might be left-handed-hitting first basemen Russell Branyan and Hank Blalock or right-handed do-it-all Mark DeRosa.
The best trade option could be left-handed-hitting Prince Fielder, whom the Milwaukee Brewers are considering dealing because of cost. He'll make $11 million in 2010, is set for arbitration in 2011 and then becomes a free agent.
It would take an impressive package of young players to get Fielder, however.
Will they add a veteran starter?
The Orioles would like to get a veteran who could eat innings and win games - something that's been lacking in recent years - while serving as a good influence to the young staff. The assumption is that Matusz, Tillman, Bergesen and Jeremy Guthrie will constitute four-fifths of the staff, leaving an open spot for someone else.
It's unlikely they would target Lackey - or that he would come here - but a lesser option or an injury risk with something to prove could be pursued. Otherwise, they'll fill the fifth spot from within. One free agent who shouldn't be forgotten is Erik Bedard, who was comfortable in Baltimore and surely would listen to a pitch from his first team.
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I hear through the grapevine Angelos is thinking about moving the team to Jacksonville and building a museum where Camden yards sits.
itisjustChris (10/13/2009, 4:41 PM )