Comparing the Orioles' 2010 roster construction to 2007
The Orioles’ 2010 season summary is out, and one of the things that struck me was the current roster construction.
The Orioles used 45 players this year -- certainly not ideal, but not unusual. They used 48 last year, 42 in 2008 and 49 in 2007.
What’s stark, though, is the way last year’s team was built in comparison to say, 2007, the year of the great upheaval when Andy MacPhail came in as president of baseball operations and Dave Trembley took over as manager in the middle of the season.
In 2007, 11 players who played at least one game for the Orioles were homegrown. That is the same number as this year.
In 2007, nine of the Orioles had been minor league free agents and four players were claimed on waivers. This year it was six and four. So things are about the same until you get to trades and major league free agents -- wow, what a difference.
That 2007 team had 12 major league free agents on it; this one had seven. And how about this? That 2007 team used nine players acquired via trade. This one had 17.
We all knew MacPhail attempted to build this team and its farm system by trading veterans for a bevy of younger players. But it’s also important to note how much he has gotten away from buying free agents -- or specifically giving them long-term deals.
Consider this: Of the Orioles’ seven major league free agents in 2010, only one is guaranteed a job in 2011: Michael Gonzalez.
One other thing of note about the 2010 roster construction: The Orioles’ drafts produced 11 players for the 2010 team. But the amateur international system -- we’re not counting Japanese pro Koji Uehara here -- didn’t get one into the majors this past season. That has to be fixed.
2007’s international output was dismal, too, but at least there were two nondrafted free agents that made the Orioles: Dominican pitchers Daniel Cabrera and Radhames Liz.
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A Baltimore native, 
Comments
In other words, he's made the team payroll cheaper. What a shock.
Posted by: TheMythicalOne | November 6, 2010 12:03 PM
Dan,
Why do you bring up things I've worked so hard to block out? ;)
Eddie
Posted by: Eddie in NYC | November 6, 2010 1:12 PM
Could we get a brief summary of amateur international players who have been signed by the Orioles in the last three years and their progress thus far in the farm system? Not surprising that the Orioles have been failures in this important aspect of the game... it is the quintessential open market. Where as the draft and other aspects of the business actually give incentive for losing, signing amateur free agents is a pure measure of scouting ability and financial resources.
Posted by: Jeff | November 6, 2010 1:49 PM
Bottom line is the team lost 3 more games in 2010 than 2007.
Posted by: joefoss | November 6, 2010 1:55 PM
Speaking of international players, the O's failed miserably when they should have went after Aroldis Chapman.
Posted by: Frank Rizzo | November 6, 2010 9:17 PM
Jeff, I'd like to see the success stories from around the majors that shows how unsigned international free agents have fared.
Posted by: cush | November 6, 2010 9:40 PM
I still like this squad more than 2007.
Posted by: paulie | November 7, 2010 5:15 PM