TUCSON, Ariz. - The trade front has been very quiet two days into baseball's general managers' meetings, but Orioles vice president of baseball operations Syd Thrift remains open to moving most of the team's players.
He has only two exceptions: Rodrigo Lopez and Jorge Julio.
"Nobody's off-limits at the right price," Thrift said. "Except our two big rookies."
Lopez, who went 15-9 as a starter last season, finished second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting, and Julio finished third after posting 25 saves.
Thrift and his associates have been meeting with four or five teams a day but haven't come close to making a deal. The Orioles would like to move center fielder Chris Singleton, who is eligible for arbitration and will likely make more than $2 million next season.
Based on the talk around the hotel lobby here yesterday, other teams are much more interested in Orioles starting pitcher Sidney Ponson, utility player Melvin Mora and left-handed relievers Buddy Groom and B.J. Ryan.
Thrift said it is hard making deals right now because many teams, including the Orioles, are awaiting developments on the free-agent front.
The Orioles have expressed interest in Cleveland Indians first baseman Jim Thome, Boston Red Sox outfielder Cliff Floyd, Texas Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez and New York Mets third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo. Teams could make financial offers yesterday, but the Orioles plan to wait until the market is more established.
"I don't see how a big move will be done [at the GM meetings]," Thrift said.
Paradis, at last
The Orioles have been waiting for Mike Paradis to blossom since they made him a first-round pick (13th overall) in the 1999 amateur draft. After two mediocre years at Double-A Bowie, Paradis is finally showing signs of reaching his potential in the Arizona Fall League.
Entering last night's start for the Maryvale Saguaros, Paradis was 1-0 with a 2.28 ERA in 27 2/3 innings. He had pitched in seven games, including six starts, and allowed one home run.
"He's pitching aggressively," said Maryvale coach Joe Ferguson, who managed the Orioles' Single-A Delmarva affiliate last season. "He's throwing strikes with all his pitches, getting ahead in the count, and that's usually a recipe for success.
"He's starting to understand he can throw the ball over the plate, that he doesn't have to avoid contact to get hitters out."
Orioles second base prospect Mike Fontenot, a first-round pick in 2001, was batting .261 with two home runs entering last night. Left-handed reliever Eric Dubose was 1-1 with a 4.40 ERA in 12 appearances spanning 14 1/3 innings. Catcher Eli Whiteside broke the hamate bone in one of his hands, but the injury won't require surgery.
Perlozzo still in hunt
The Seattle Mariners completed their second round of managerial interviews yesterday, and Orioles bench coach Sam Perlozzo remains in the hunt.
The buzz around the GM meetings is that Perlozzo stands as good of a chance at landing the job as the other three finalists -Jim Riggleman, Bob Melvin and Buddy Bell.