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Apparently the Orioles are scouting Justin Morneau, and are reluctant to add his $6 million salary owed for the rest of the season. Twins would have to pay some, and the prospect price would go up. I am not sure how I feel about that one, as Morneau is not the defender he used to be and Urretia has done well at the plate, and Roberts is solid right now. I wouldn't give up what's needed for Morneau.Comment
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Orioles looking into Jason Vargas and also still interested in Bud Norris, but have yet to make an offer. It seems that they wont be nudged into a trade for Cliff Lee, but Vargas is an affordable option who is a rental, much like Joe Saunders was for us last year. Though having Norris beyond this year would certainly be helpful as well.Comment
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Thoughts on the Norris trade guys?
It sucks we gave up Hader, but the Astros were not doing the trade without him. I think he's got a pretty good arm and has a shot at a rotation in the majors. He's certainly got a better chance now with the Astros than with the Orioles. I work with his best friend as well, and he was excited for the chance to make the move. LJ Hoes was blocked by Jones and Markakis here long term, and even if we let McLouth walk, he still had work to do to get himself a role on the club next year. We also don't acquire just a rental, we have Norris for the next two years as well.
With the Feldman and K-Rod deals, I think we positioned ourselves well for a run this year, we didn't mortgage the farm system and I like that we have Norris for two more seasons. Hader is probably the only prospect I was disappointed we lost.Comment
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I've been really trying to be optimistic about everything but i don't think we're gonna make it to the playoffs this year. I don't trust the pitching and for the past few weeks don't trust the offense at all. The beginning of the season offensive surge was probably a fluke. Maybe it's just the fact that i don't trust this team at all and spent a long time down in the dumps. I like Bud Norris but i don't believe in Feldman, K-Rod, Hammel or Gonzalez anymore and i'm waiting for another implosion from Jim Johnson.
Originally posted by Tailback UComment
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We hit this spot at about the same time last season, started picking it up again in the middle of August. Though I do agree, the offense has been awful recently- we have no patience sometimes, from everyone, not just Adam Jones. The pitching is where we fell off from last year- we just don't have it. I am hopeful that Norris is an upgrade over Hammel, K-Rod can help solidify the back end of the bullpen and we just see some consistency from the rest of them.
What I really can't stand are the Johnson defenders. "He leads the league in saves, you can't take him out of there." Yeah, you can when you always wonder how his performance is going to go in that game.Comment
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Claim placed on Willingham. Honestly, I'd rather not give anything up for him and add Morneau if they really want to make a push. Just wait it out until next year, because we'll have plenty of options to pick from for a full-time DH, better options than Willingham.Comment
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Not going to get much for Johnson, unless he is packaged with someone else, which seems unlikely. Most teams are going to sign one of the above names to a one or two year deal and see what happens, instead of taking Johnson at $10 million and giving up something.According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the Orioles are willing to listen to trade offers for closer Jim Johnson. He is projected to earn approximately $10 million through arbitration in 2014 and the team is facing a pretty severe payroll crunch this winter.
Johnson, 30, managed to lead all of baseball in saves (50) and blown saves (nine) this past season. He really struggled at times in 2013 but never did lose his ninth inning job. All those saves -- he led baseball with 51 saves last year as well -- are why he's projected to earn such a high salary before becoming a free agent next offseason.
In 74 appearances this summer, Johnson pitched to a 2.94 ERA (143 ERA+) in 70.1 innings. His 7.2 K/9 was the second highest of his career and a considerable jump from 2011-12 (5.6 K/9). Johnson is a ground ball guy first and foremost, using his sinker to get a grounder 58.0 percent of the time in 2013 and 57.7 percent of the time in his career.
The free agent market offers no shortage of closers. Joe Nathan, Grant Balfour, Chris Perez, Joaquin Benoit, Fernando Rodney and Brian Wilson are all available for nothing but money this winter. Johnson requires both money and giving up a player(s). It's unclear what Baltimore would seek in return, but they are in obvious need of a second baseman. Prospects are always popular as well.
The bullpen is one spot where the Orioles have plenty of depth. They could replace Johnson internally with Tommy Hunter (150 ERA+) or Darren O'Day (194 ERA+), plus they always have the option of signing a free agent lower closer at a lower salary.
If Baltimore's payroll situation is truly dire, they could non-tender Johnson prior to next Monday's deadline and let him go for nothing. That seems very unlikely though. Quality relievers are always in demand and they still have months to find a trade partner.
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-...er-jim-johnson
I am not sure how I would feel about Hunter right now in the closer role after a rough second half. ODay, I would rather keep him out of the closer role and use him whenever we need to put out a rally.Comment
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at payroll crunch... how is that possible when the only way we spend money is to resign people.
Looks like another above .500 season with no playoffs.
Originally posted by Tailback UComment
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And we won't make a trade because any impact trade is going to be made with either Gausman or Bundy, neither of which is going to happen. I know they are saying they will "listen" to offers for Wieters too, but lets be real, everyone knows Duquette values defense up the middle and they have no adequate replacement for Wieters as well.
I'll take the above .500 season, but at some point we are going to regress back to .500 and then below. We've got to do something this off-season that is impactful.Comment
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The Orioles didn't do anything splashy last off season either, they are really using up all the excitement that playoff run gave the fans.Comment
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Yes they are, and it's a little unnerving. I am not asking for a huge $100 million commitment, but we can certainly plug either the DH or LF hole this off-season, add a starter via trade or free agency and add another reliever to the bullpen. Three moves like that would make for a successful off-season. I'm also OK with trying to find guys off the scrap heap and from overseas again as well, but it's time to do something substantial.Comment
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I am not expecting to get much for Johnson, and even for an expected $10 million contract, I would rather keep him. If we aren't looking like contenders around the deadline, we might even get more in a deadline deal instead of moving him now.As has been previously noted in this space, the Orioles are willing to listen to trade offers for All-Star closer Jim Johnson. Reports Monday are a lot stronger, though, as CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman reports the Orioles are trying to trade him. A Fox Sports report said the Orioles are "trying hard" to deal him.
As I said, stronger. "Willing to listen" isn't even in the same ballpark as "trying hard."
The Dodgers in particular are said to be in the mix along with a few other teams.
Johnson, 30, has one more arbitration year left before hitting free agency, so any deal for him would be of the short-term variety, unless the team acquiring him was ready to sign him to an extension.
Johnson has led the majors in saves the past two years, but he blew nine of his 59 chances last season -- which included two stretches where he blew three straight save opportunities. He had a 2.94 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 56 strikeouts in 70 1/3 innings. This following up on a 2.49 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 41 strikeouts in 68 2/3 innings in 2012 -- the season in which his lone All-Star trip took place.
As for the Dodgers, one would hope they learned their lesson in trying to make Brandon League the closer over the much-more talented Kenley Jansen and that a possible Johnson acquisition would be to help set up Jansen. You never know, though, as saves and "proven closers" still carry a ton of weight with some front offices and managers.
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-...dodgers-in-mixComment
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