Orioles Off-Season 2014-2015

[52520Andrew]

According to Orioles MASN Facebook page, there may be some interest in bringing back McLouth

 

https://www.facebook.com/MASNOrioles

[Guest I-70WestRaven]

Roch Kubatko is floating another former "O" today on SB nation. Nolan Reimold. We all know his story and I wish he could have stayed healthy just to see how his career would have played out. One thing for sure, Dan is on the job and leaving no stone unturned. Has any one seen Delmon Young lately?

[1/28/01]

PA canned a ton of lawyers on Friday. Not sure what that means for the O's, but thought I'd share. Just before the holidays. He's a good guy!

[Guest I-70WestRaven]

Pete's always been a class act. Just in time for Christmas too. Nothing says have a great holiday season like losing your job. Yes Virginia there is an Angelos, now about that X-Box....!   

[cobrajet]

I wish there was some O's news to get excited about.

[codizzle]

I wish there was some O's news to get excited about.

Well if you like minor league prospects you'd be pretty happy this offseason

[cobrajet]

Well if you like minor league prospects you'd be pretty happy this offseason

I do, but I was hoping for just one proven free agent, whether it was pitching or a decent bat. I know PA does not like to spend big money, but I don't want to see all the proven guys get picked up and then pick up a (wishful thinking) player like a Jimenez again. When was the last time we actually went after a big name FA and landed them? I think it was the 1990's. I know we have to have the money to spend if we wanted to. We are not a scrub team anymore, so we should be able to generate some interest from a player if the money was put on the table. I do like that we held on to our prospects, like Bundy, and have a respectable minor league system. I guess I just see what the rest of the AL EAST is adding and then us losing Nick, Nelson, and Andrew. Boston made some huge moves and with New York getting healthy and adding Miller, I am just getting a little nervous.

[Moderator 3]

@masnOrioles: Delmon Young is back with the O's, having reached an agreement on a one-year deal. Details: http://t.co/24TkBBSlm7 http://t.co/VxZOPW8iyM

[Guest I-70WestRaven]

Welcome back Delmon ! It's a happy Festivus for O's fans. No big name but a part of a team and Buck knows how to handle a team. Dan  ain't done yet!

[Alexir]

Would like just ONE more move. Just need an Outfielder.

[52520Andrew]

Good to see, he was absolutely HUGE for us in the clutch

Another outfielder would make me feel pretty good overall

[Moderator 3]

Make that an outfielder who can hit.

[Guest I-70WestRaven]

Do we have one in Norfolk to buy time? The pickings are slim out there on the FA market but it seems like S.D. has the glut. Hold 'em or wait? This is good and Dan's not playing his hand yet. Money is on the O's, we got the arms. Find a way to move Jimenez, eat some cash (have to!) and when Bundy is ready, bet the O's hands down! Dan's the man, one more move to go! Wait for it.

[Guest I-70WestRaven]

Just got out of the school of "Roch" (MASN) and left class wondering why are the "O's" stock piling catchers? Matt, hello!

[Moderator 3]

Just got out of the school of "Roch" (MASN) and left class wondering why are the "O's" stock piling catchers? Matt, hello!

Saw a tweet a few days ago that Matt might not be ready to start the season.

[Guest I-70WestRaven]

Saw a tweet a few days ago that Matt might not be ready to start the season.

Keep hearing that all over the net. The O's have to be counting on his bat, Caleb can call Buck's game. Just makes you wonder, we can DH him if we have to but.......? Stay tuned, I will!

[rmw10]

Just got out of the school of "Roch" (MASN) and left class wondering why are the "O's" stock piling catchers? Matt, hello!

Lavarnway is probably nothing more than us trying to tap into that power potential he showed in the minors. Duquette loves failed prospects. He's not afraid to take a chance and hope some of that potential is still there.

[Moderator 3]

@Orioles: A snow covered field...Only 44 days until pitchers and catchers report to spring training! https://t.co/Q1LTEaTvVG

[ludy51]

Just saw that Miller is a Yankee (4year 36million)............now I am sick to my stomach. Now I can officially say it - What a horrible off-season!!!!!!!! I can't type it but you could hear it if you were in my house.

I am in your house....

[cursona pirate]

Miller...the Orioles are cool come back. I would hate to be a player changing teams all the time. I feel the best teams have to have good team chemistry. Idk i just hate seeing people leave.

[cobrajet]

Anybody concerned about the report that the Blue Jays are trying to trade for Dan D.? I know he is under contract until 2018 but if things are happening behind the scenes and the rumors that he really wants to leave are true, that is a major distraction we don't need and I have to wonder if us not letting him out of his contract means that his heart is not really diligently into making good moves for our team.

[Guest I-70WestRaven]

Me. This is a potentially messy situation for the Orioles and needs to end now! If he wants to go say so. If he wants to stay say so. Don't just sit there and not say nothing at all. The team and the fans deserve better than what were getting. Man up Dan!!

[balfan23]

Me. This is a potentially messy situation for the Orioles and needs to end now! If he wants to go say so. If he wants to stay say so. Don't just sit there and not say nothing at all. The team and the fans deserve better than what were getting. Man up Dan!!

And I'm sure Dan deserves better than what he's getting from Angelos. 

 

Let's not forget where the problem lies with this team. 

[Guest I-70WestRaven]

And I'm sure Dan deserves better than what he's getting from Angelos. 

 

Let's not forget where the problem lies with this team. 

Fair enough, but Dan was on the scrap heap, nobody wanted him, when "Pete the Cheap" gave him a job. Dan also got an extension from Pete (unheard of) for a job well done. Sorry, and I can't believe I am saying this, but this one is not on Angelos. If nothing else they're both idiots and we the fan fans suffer, IMO.

[balfan23]

Fair enough, but Dan was on the scrap heap, nobody wanted him, when "Pete the Cheap" gave him a job. Dan also got an extension from Pete (unheard of) for a job well done. Sorry, and I can't believe I am saying this, but this one is not on Angelos. If nothing else they're both idiots and we the fan fans suffer, IMO.

I guess I'm just saying that, after a great season ... Angelos follows it up by doing nothing for the offseason. Lets all 3 players of significance walk. Certain statement I heard coming from Dan during the period when these guys were on the market sounded like resignation - like, we're not even going to try (and probably saying too, I can't believe this). 

 

Who knows ... perhaps this year's inaction is all about keeping money available to make sure we can retain Weiters and Machado, but I'll believe that when I see it. If that is not being communicated to the GM from ownership as the purpose for us letting critical guys - IMO particularly Miller - walk, then I could see Dan being like, what the hell am I doing here? 

 

It is a tragedy that a team that made such a nice run last year be left to slide back, instead of making a push to get to the next level. Then why should we expect otherwise? 

[bauer77]

I guess I'm just saying that, after a great season ... Angelos follows it up by doing nothing for the offseason. Lets all 3 players of significance walk. Certain statement I heard coming from Dan during the period when these guys were on the market sounded like resignation - like, we're not even going to try (and probably saying too, I can't believe this). 

 

Who knows ... perhaps this year's inaction is all about keeping money available to make sure we can retain Weiters and Machado, but I'll believe that when I see it. If that is not being communicated to the GM from ownership as the purpose for us letting critical guys - IMO particularly Miller - walk, then I could see Dan being like, what the hell am I doing here? 

 

It is a tragedy that a team that made such a nice run last year be left to slide back, instead of making a push to get to the next level. Then why should we expect otherwise? 

 

We can still make the push to get to the next level without giving guys stupid contracts. We still have to think about the future, even if we were close to going all the way. The Braves overpaid for Markakis, and I would have been mad if we would have paid him the 4 year, $40 million like we supposedly offered. And you dont give a 34 year old outfielder a 4 year deal (Cruz), or a reliever a 4 year deal (Miller). I would have been fine with either of them getting a 3 year deal, but they didn't want that. So be it. We move on. we still have plenty of talent in place to win the AL east and go on another run.

 

I expect us to sign Rasmus to a 1 year deal, and hopefully he keeps his head on straight. We probably make a few more "scrap heap" signings, and I'll be happy. I also expect Davis to bounce back, and Wieters to come back healthy. We'll be fine.

[balfan23]

We can still make the push to get to the next level without giving guys stupid contracts. We still have to think about the future, even if we were close to going all the way. The Braves overpaid for Markakis, and I would have been mad if we would have paid him the 4 year, $40 million like we supposedly offered. And you dont give a 34 year old outfielder a 4 year deal (Cruz), or a reliever a 4 year deal (Miller). I would have been fine with either of them getting a 3 year deal, but they didn't want that. So be it. We move on. we still have plenty of talent in place to win the AL east and go on another run.

 

I expect us to sign Rasmus to a 1 year deal, and hopefully he keeps his head on straight. We probably make a few more "scrap heap" signings, and I'll be happy. I also expect Davis to bounce back, and Wieters to come back healthy. We'll be fine.

I understand we have to think about the future. I'll be fine with our current inaction as long it involves us keeping the gunpowder dry for Weiters and Machado, but ... as I said ... I'll believe that when I see it. 

 

Specifically - I knew Cruz wasn't an option and that we couldn't retain Markakis on sentiment alone. However, I found Duquette's comment that "Baltimore market isn’t ideal for a highly paid reliever" .. disturbing. Did he just watch the same post-season I watched? We beat Detroit because our bullpen was better than theirs (a LOT better) and Miller was a major reason for it. Then, KC beat us because their bullpen was from another planet. We kept those games close ... again, because of Miller ... but we had one guy like him and they had 3. 

 

Perhaps he really thinks that ... perhaps Angelos gave him zero latitude concerning money. I don't know - but that was the one that burned me - not only that we didn't sign him ... we didn't even try ... after trading for him and having that trade work out great. 

[Guest I-70WestRaven]

I guess I'm just saying that, after a great season ... Angelos follows it up by doing nothing for the offseason. Lets all 3 players of significance walk. Certain statement I heard coming from Dan during the period when these guys were on the market sounded like resignation - like, we're not even going to try (and probably saying too, I can't believe this). 

 

Who knows ... perhaps this year's inaction is all about keeping money available to make sure we can retain Weiters and Machado, but I'll believe that when I see it. If that is not being communicated to the GM from ownership as the purpose for us letting critical guys - IMO particularly Miller - walk, then I could see Dan being like, what the hell am I doing here? 

 

It is a tragedy that a team that made such a nice run last year be left to slide back, instead of making a push to get to the next level. Then why should we expect otherwise? 

Well said my friend! No matter what we (You & me) the fans suffer and it's just sad to see us take a step back. I'm with you I loved seeing Camden filled with orange and to have baseball in October? We all lose, and much respect to you! At the end of the day that's the price we pay for being O's fans. 

[H8R]

You guys act like this isn't exactly how all the other Duquette offseasons played out... This is who we are... I still think we can be better this year than last!

[cobrajet]

I understand we have to think about the future. I'll be fine with our current inaction as long it involves us keeping the gunpowder dry for Weiters and Machado, but ... as I said ... I'll believe that when I see it. 

 

Specifically - I knew Cruz wasn't an option and that we couldn't retain Markakis on sentiment alone. However, I found Duquette's comment that "Baltimore market isn’t ideal for a highly paid reliever" .. disturbing. Did he just watch the same post-season I watched? We beat Detroit because our bullpen was better than theirs (a LOT better) and Miller was a major reason for it. Then, KC beat us because their bullpen was from another planet. We kept those games close ... again, because of Miller ... but we had one guy like him and they had 3. 

 

Perhaps he really thinks that ... perhaps Angelos gave him zero latitude concerning money. I don't know - but that was the one that burned me - not only that we didn't sign him ... we didn't even try ... after trading for him and having that trade work out great. 

This! I was upset we did not even try to keep Miller. I trusted him enough to give him a 4 year deal. IMHO, the guy is the best reliever in baseball and I am sorry, but nobody is going to tell me that the 7th 8th and 9th innings are not important. To just let him go to out biggest rival..........unforgivable.