Orioles Rumor Roundup
December 8th, 2009 | by Daniel Moroz |- The Orioles still have some interest in Dan Uggla. As I said previously, it’s probably not the best idea.
- Kelvim Escobar might be worth a flyer either as a starter or for the pen. When he’s healthy, he has great stuff.
- No link, but the O’s have interest in Rafael Soriano (who accepted arbitration from the Braves and now wants a trade). Given that he’s likely to make $7+ M, I wouldn’t give up much more than a bag of balls for him. Nice job by Atlanta, by the way, signing Wagner and Saito, and then having Soriano come back. They’ll be paying almost $20 M for the back end of their bullpen, which should be good if everyone’s healthy (which – with this crew – is a sizable if).
- An acquisition of Kevin Millwood is looking more likely.
The following tidbit almost made me throw something at my monitor:
“MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan believes the Orioles have cooled on Millwood. He says the Rangers were interested in Chris Tillman (which is crazy) while the O’s offered David Hernandez and Brandon Erbe (Erbe alone seems fair).”
Tillman?!?!? That is insane. A Millwood for Tillman deal – even with Texas picking up the entire $12 M contract and throwing in a Nolan Ryan signed baseball – would be a fireable offense for the GM.
If the Orioles really offered Hernandez and Erbe, then I’m extremely disappointed. Unless substantial money is coming back (more than half, at least), I wouldn’t send Hernandez over. No way on Erbe.
This is just crazy. The Orioles absolutely should not mortgage even minor pieces of the future for a league average starter in 2010. It makes no sense, and hopefully it can be chalked up to reporters needing some material as opposed to real substance. [Please let that be the case.]
Tags: Dan Uggla, Kelvim Escobar, Kevin Millwood, Rafael Soriano
By Dempsey's Army on Dec 8, 2009
Spencer Fordin reported that the Orioles were talking about giving up Hernandez OR Erbe for Millwood, not both. You know I’m no fan of Millwood but I would have been OK with Hernandez…not so much on Erbe although the team knows more about his injury than we do.
I’m OK with a Soriano trade if you give up, oh, nobody useful or nobody with a future with the club. Even Luke Scott. Plus, Soriano will be good trade bait at the deadline, we could probably get back more value later than we give up for him now.
By Daniel Moroz on Dec 8, 2009
OR makes way more sense, though that’s still on the high side. Such a deal could be workable though, unlike the Tillman baloney.
By Andrew @ TLC on Dec 8, 2009
I’m not a big Millwood fan at all, though I could get behind (I guess) a Berken for Millwood swap. And even then I don’t really like it because Millwood, who won’t be around in 2011, would be taking experience away from Jake Arrieta, who will.
If you read between the lines, you can link the Orioles to Derek Lowe since there is a team talking to the Braves about both Lowe and Soriano. I’m guessing if it’s the Orioles, it’s because they’re kicking the tires on everyone.
Frankly, I’m not thrilled with anybody I’ve heard about so far this winter. My ideal shopping list is probably Nick Johnson, someone at third (but I really, really don’t know who), and Ben Sheets. And those moves aren’t exactly going to set the world on fire. Bottom line: the Orioles success in 2010 and beyond is going to be dictated by the guys we’ve already got, including Josh Bell and Jake Arrieta.