So what trade pieces do the Orioles have?
We continue our five-part look at the biggest questions facing new executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette and the Orioles heading into the winter meetings.
So whom do they have to trade?
There aren't many movable chips. The Orioles are expected to hold on to center fielder Adam Jones, shortstop J.J. Hardy and catcher Matt Wieters. Right fielder Nick Markakis has a hefty contract and, given the drop-off in his offensive numbers, the Orioles likely couldn't get enough in return to justify trading one of the club's most popular players.
Infielder Mark Reynolds could be moved, but the going rate for him last year was two relievers. So he likely wouldn't be the centerpiece of a deal for a quality starter.
That leaves right-hander Jeremy Guthrie, a free agent at the end of the 2012 season, as the best trade chip. But he is also the only dependable starter in an uncertain rotation.
“My take is that we need to add to the pitching staff,” Duquette said. “Guthrie has been dependable in terms of innings, and we need some more of those, pitchers that are dependable in terms of innings and that can contribute.”
A Baltimore native, 
Comments
The O's are a year late in trading Guthrie at this point it will open up a bigger hole on the roster than any holes it would fill. I would hold on to him until the trade deadline when contenders are more desperate and have less options to acquire a starting pitcher.
Plus at that point the O's will only have to get through 2 more months with out him eating innings as opposed to an entire season.
Posted by: Info | December 4, 2011 8:56 AM
Dan you are well aware of the fact that i am not a great fan of Nick M. I know that he has a very hefty salary but i still think teams like Boston and the White Sox need a right fielder and are well capable of taking on his salary. Nick isn't the type of ball player that can lead this team, but would seem to fit very nicely in another enviorment where the pressure wouldn't be so great. Now is the time to trade him for some valuable pieces. I know he is a fan and owner favorite but he will never be the player that the orioles envisioned him to be no matter how hard you keep hoping.
Posted by: blancione | December 4, 2011 11:33 AM
Guthrie should stay put. His value as an Oriole has only risen amid the uncertainty Baltimore's young staff and the Orioles inability to attract a top-of-the-rotation candidate via free agency. Additionally, we know what we have in Jeremy. Any pitchers we would get in return for Guthrie would likely be prospects- unknown commodities. We need all of the Jeremy Guthries we can get. OffEutaw.com
Posted by: OffEutaw | December 4, 2011 1:20 PM
the only guy who shouldn't be available is wieters, and they should be shopping Jones hard. since he'll tell anyone who will listen that he's heading to the west coast the first chance that he gets, we should move him now when his value has peaked.
Posted by: shf9 | December 4, 2011 6:34 PM
Ok, here we go, baby...
Right now we need to offer Miami
Machado
Guthrie
Reynolds
PTBNL
for
HRamirez
LMorrison
2nd trade
Markakis, JBell & BMatusz to ChiSox for Sp- GFloyd, 2b-Lillibridge and 3b/Rf-Dayan Viciedo
*Sign FA 1b-Kotchman
**Sign FA Sp-RHarden
****Sign FA Sp-JMoyer-A good comeback story. Any publicity is good - never know? What if he pitched to 50 and still won 20+ games (over 2 seasons)? This is why I watch/follow baseball!
Imagine...
C-Weiters
1b-Kotchman/Davis
2b-Lillibridge
Ss-Ramirez
3b-Hardy/Viciedo/Davis
Dh-Roberts/Kotchman/Davis/Keep going
Rf-Morrison/Viciedo
Cf-Jones/Angle
Lf-Reimold/Morrison
Sp-GFloyd
Sp-ZBritton
Sp-JJohnson
Sp-JArrietta
Sp-RHarden
Sp/Rp-JMoyer
Sp/Rp-BBergeson
Rp-ASimon
Rp-PStrop
Rp-TPatton
Rp/Su-THunter
Cl/Rp-KGregg
HEY! WAKE UP!!!! Nice dream, huh?
Posted by: ISitAnywhereAtOsGames | December 5, 2011 6:31 AM
Peter Angelos for John Henry.
Posted by: CaptiveFan | December 5, 2011 10:41 AM
Jeremy Guthrie is dependable? Do you mean he can be counted on to show up for work on time? See, Dan...the 'showing up' part of pitching is the easy part. Almost every pitcher can show up on time. It's the damn WINNING part that's the important - and hard - part of pitching.
Herman Cain was dependable too, at least for the showing up part. Why don't we ask his wife if he was dependable for the important part?
Posted by: Harrison Bush | December 5, 2011 2:28 PM