NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Orioles left town yesterday still at least one good arm shy of a load, a situation that may be remedied by week's end. In the meantime, general manager Frank Wren defended the organization's spending on eight free agents as part of a sweeping December renovation.
Asked about criticism that the Orioles have overspent in order to eliminate competition for players such as second baseman Delino DeShields, closer Mike Timlin and first baseman Will Clark, the first-year GM responded as someone subject to second-guessing regardless of his chosen course.
"At the end of the day you're not judged upon standing on principle," he said. "You're judged on putting a team together."
Thus far, Wren has committed $118.5 million to five free agents, with the signings of relievers Xavier Hernandez and Ricky Bones and utility player Rich Amaral still pending. Wren signed Clark to a two-year, $11 million deal before any other club had presented him with an offer. Likewise, committing $16 million over four years to Timlin raised eyebrows throughout the industry, including some corners of the B&O; warehouse.
"If you drag your feet, you lose," the former Florida Marlins assistant general manager said yesterday while awaiting an airport shuttle. "If I learned one thing in Florida the year we won, you can sit back and say, 'Well, we wanted him, but they did this and we didn't want to go that far.' You can do that and get nothing.
"But the team that eventually gets the player has to do a little more than the other guys. That's how it works."
Signing Belle to a five-year, $65 million deal obliterated the Orioles' long-standing policy against creating a $10 million-per-season player. Once the barrier fell, majority owner Peter Angelos authorized the pursuit of free-agent pitcher Kevin Brown and incumbent first baseman Rafael Palmeiro, who rejected packages averaging $11 million and $10 million per season, respectively.
Timlin has served as closer for an entire season only once, and Wren subsequently pursued Kansas City closer Jeff Montgomery with a two-year offer and the possibility of serving as "co-closer" with Timlin. (Montgomery accepted a lesser offer to return to the Royals.)
Wren ardently defends his push to make Timlin the first Orioles reliever to receive a four-year deal, insisting two unnamed teams were willing to go that far.
"I could have stood on principle and said I'm not going to give Timlin more than three years. But then we don't get Timlin," Wren insisted.
What the Orioles did obtain, Wren believes, is the chance to contend for a postseason berth next season while waiting for prospects Calvin Pickering, Jerry Hairston, Matt Riley and Ryan Minor to develop further. After entertaining thoughts of promoting Hairston next season, Wren decided instead to overwhelm DeShields, who did not receive a counteroffer to remain with the St. Louis Cardinals.
"The risk-reward [of pushing prospects] is very great. If you have the ability to let the players tell you when they're ready, the reward is much greater and the risk is less," Wren said.
By all accounts, the last five days at the sprawling, Southern-fried Opryland Hotel lacked the edge previous winter meetings engendered. Only two trades involving major-league players were finalized. Wren described the week as frustrating but thought the meetings' return was a sound idea.
"I've always looked at the winter meetings as the completion of the year," Wren said.
Wren returned home yesterday awaiting a call from Tampa Bay general manager Chuck LaMar regarding a possible trade for a reliever. The Devil Rays can offer right-handers Jim Mecir, Albie Lopez or former Oriole Esteban Yan or left-hander Scott Aldred. The Orioles shopped left-hander Jesse Orosco at the meetings but drew only lukewarm response because of his age (41) and contract status.
The Orioles plan to address several loose ends later this week, including a potential trade for a fifth starter. DeShields and Clark will visit. The 40-man roster will be reconfigured to create room for Hernandez, Bones and Amaral.
Reflecting on the sweeping changes he has affected, Wren said, "It will be a merrier Christmas."
Pub Date: 12/16/98