This is shaping up to be one awesome roster..... if we continue business as usual we just might be lucky enough to be odds on favorites to finish 6th....

Dotel would be a great signing. He's a solid late-season "trade for prospects" option for 2008.

Who is this Flanagan Guy that was quoted?

Agreed, Dan, Dotel is precisely the kind of vet the O's should sign: A 1-year deal, which is crucial. He's potentially valuable at the trade deadline. And he's not blocking any younger players.
This is still easily the best offseason the O's have had in a decade, with no missteps that will shackle them years in the future. Be patient, people. Impatience leads to signing Aubrey Huff and Jay Payton.

Hey Roch, the official Cubs site has a Q&a Written by Carrie Muskrate, MLB.com. Question: are the Cubs still pursuing Brian Roberts........Answer: "The Cubs and Orioles are still talking but some of the players mentioned recently are not involved; so, don't believe the rumors." Anybody got the new rumor list from the Cubbies?

One thing for sure--the Orioles may not finish first but they will be finished first....

Roch,
Some recent Bedard trade blogging from MLBtraderumors

The Mariners reportedly offered Adam Jones, Jeff Clement, and George Sherrill for Bedard. Seems the Orioles want Brandon Morrow or Carlos Triunfel instead of Clement. One source of Churchill's believes the Mariners would be more inclined to buckle and surrender Morrow than Triunfel. It's even possible that the Orioles gave the Mariners a "final counteroffer" including one of the two and will move on if it's rejected.
Many Mariners fans believe Bedard is not even worth Jones straight up, so imagine how they'll feel if the Orioles extract significantly more.
The Orioles still want Jay Bruce from Cincinnati; otherwise they would ask for a ridiculous package of pretty much everyone else worth discussing in the Reds' farm system.

This year is lost, lets just trade Bedard before he strains an oblique.

Can anyone can tell me, given the O's stated intention to get younger and leave over-the-hill free agents alone, one good reason to sign Octavio Dotel? 'Need a closer' isn't a good reason, since there are any number of pitchers in the organization (Hoey, Liz, Sarfate, Albers, D-Cab, to name a few of the usual suspects) who conceivably could fill the role or close by committee without the team getting sidetracked again.

As for what Andy MacPhail told you, Roch, my sense is he means he hasn't locked the door on a B-Rob trade, but I wouldn't expect him to be waiting anxiously for a call, much less intiatiating anything. He needs to be wowed and the Cubs aren't prepared to do that, so although the talks are technically alive, for all intents and purposes we're really just waiting for the coroner's report to make it official.

And I think any trade of Erik Bedard before mid-summer is even less likely. I was over on the team's website and saw a plug for regular season tickets accompanied by a photo of Bedard in action and this caption:

"Baltimore Orioles single-game tickets are on sale now. Don't miss your chance to get tickets to all the great matchups of 2008, as ace left-hander Erik Bedard leads the Orioles into another season of exciting baseball. This is Birdland."

True, there could be some people in the front office who have their wires crossed (wouldn't be the first time...or the tenth...or the hundredth ...LOL). Still, MacPhail (who looks like he could be moonlighting in an America "tribute" band http://www.accessbackstage.com/america/jpg/2004/paris34.jpg oh, wait, that IS America....) made it pretty clear weeks ago that he's content to have Bedard as his Opening Day starter.

Dotel is as useful as the bag of ball the Cubs want to trade us.

If we sign a guy like Dotel, it will really prove that there is no 'plan' in place. This is the type of deal which makes very little sense-overpay for a closer to do what? We aren't going to compete or even win 70 games so what's the point? Use one of the young 'pen arms in that role until Ray is ready in '09.
Besides, with his track record, Dotel will end up on the DL by May.
I'd stay away from anyone over 30 if we are really serious about an overhaul. The only players over 30 on this year's roster should be guys like Roberts/Hernandez and unfortunately, the over 30 crowd that no one lese wants-ie Mora, Payton, Millar. If the Orioles brain trust really had any guts, they's eat those contracts but I'm not holding my breath.
Realistically, most teams can only afford to eat one or two contracts per year so I'd pick Payton and offer Gibbons a buyout. Maybe he'd like a fresh start somewhere else but there's not likely another team out there. On the other hand, the Brewers were dumb enough to give Cameron 7 Mill so maybe Gibbons can be lured there. Wishful thinking!!

i've got to admit that as excrutiatingly intentional and precise, and therefore slower than a glacier, as mcphail is, and as painful as it feels on the heels of ten hard years proceeded by a few real bitter defeats; i must admit that i do however find it to be most intriguing to watch what's possible unfold while he's at the helm. i don't know, maybe it's the way he articulates with precise logic, or maybe it's just the hope that some of the magic from 33rd will leak it's way into the inner habor, but i seem to be enjoying this offseason more than any other in recent history.

Every report I've seen on Weiters says he is major league ready defensively right now. He may start at Frederick, but will likely end up at Bowie.at the very least, by the end of the summer.

O's must really like Morrow, but I would hold out for Triunfel. Having Triunfel and Jones would provide two centerpieces for the rebuilding effort and would signify the turnaround of this franchise. If Seatle is willing to part with those two and Sherrill, it would be a done deal for me.

I would even add one of our young pitchers, Garrett Olsen or Hayden Penn to get both Jones and Triunfel. Gotta think that the Mariners would need someone left over in this deal should Bedard leave for free agency in two years. For that very reason I believe that if this deal is completed before the season it could involve more than just four or five players.

Whitney Houston AND Brittany Spears. Wow! Not trying to play Top The Blogger but I got a neighbor up the street named Randy Moss. I'm serious.

Ken Francis - I agree. Given that we were supposed to be getting young "major league ready" players, all of the O's signings are mysterious.

Although he could be another Todd Jones, I would rather see what Sarfate can do as a closer than bring in a more expensive guy who is not part of our plans after this season.

Duke: My parents had a neighbor in Ocean Pines named George Bush. Seriously.
Anyone else want to join in?

I know ten losing seasons makes it difficult, but I wish people would be a little more positive. We had to go through the likes of Syd Thrift in the past. I mean, come on! What is currently happening is a lot better. If most people on this blog ran the team, they would be running this team into the ground. It's almost the end of the offseason and we now know how everyone else outside of this blog values Corey Patterson. Not a bad player for a one year deal, but THAT'S IT!

The new regime has been steering the organization in the right direction and all anyone does is complain. SO WHAT if Fiorentino was released. He wasn't going to help the team this year anyway and the Orioles don't need a future bench playing messing up their roster flexibility. They already have enough issues on the 25 man roster. The last time I checked, there weren't any scouts on this blog. Obviously, the scouts didn't think that much of him and those are the people that help make the decisions.

Also, if it were so easy to trade Bedard and Roberts for what market value is, then the Twins would have traded Johan Santana months ago. BE PATIENT. Eventually the right deal will come along, more likely for Bedard. Roberts is someone I'd rather hold onto unless they get the right players back in trade for him....but who knows, some other teams may need a second baseman at the trade deadline. The Cubs gave up several top prospects for Juan Pierre, but when we ask for top prospects, they balk. The players the Orioles Hangout reported in the supposed Roberts deal were garbage and anyone that thought that was a good deal is an IDIOT. If Angelos really did balk at this deal, I will actually give him credit for the first time, but I just don't think MacPhail would make this deal. It doesn't make the team better and it doesn't make any sense. We already have plenty of Gallaghers, Marshalls and Cedenos already at the upper levels or on the team now. If Ronny Cedeno were so good, why would Ryan Theriot be starting this year for them at shortstop???? Also, all of these people that claim to know everything, why isn't the Associated Press reporting it? In the past when Angelos blocked deals, the media reported it. So I would think the AP would report if that would happen. The bottom line is, Angelos has the right, as owner, to know what is going on. The difference with the current regime is they will likely get his approval BEFORE they make a deal, so they don't have another embarrassing episode of backing out of a deal. Nobody is perfect, but I feel better about the direction of the team than I have since Pat Gillick was around.

I see the logic in signing Dotel and others veterans for the bullpen. With several young starters auditioning for the future rotation it makes sense to me to have seasoned arms in the 'pen. When one of these young guys gets through 5 or 6 innings with a lead it would certainly do their confidence well to leave the park that day with a win.

I think Trembley should use rookies out of the bullpen in certain situations to test them for the future, but if Albers, Liz, Olson, Patton, Penn, etc. leave the game with a lead I'd like to see a veteran bullpen help them get a ML win.

I don't understand the obsession with George Sherrill. The Orioles have plenty of supplementary arms that can do spot work in the bullpen. We need position players. I'm tired of hearing about Morrow, Sherrill, and Tillman. If we want a greater return, we should target hitters - especially since pitching comes at such a premium. Adam Jones is a worthwhile centerpiece, but the Orioles would be wise to insist on Carlos Triunfel and Wladimir Balentien. Better yet, the Orioles should offer additional help to the Mariners to secure Jeff Clement and Matt Tuiasosopo in the deal. For a minimal cost, the Orioles could add considerable depth to their organization. We have plenty of young pitchers, they just need time to develop.

Ken,

We probably all need to cut the warehouse a break. I imagine the people marketing have deadlines that they have to meet to advertise, and I doubt that the Front Office lets them in on all discussions (since everyone is saying that MacPhail is keeping things close to the vest). I guess they probably have to go through the process of asking what is worse, marketing tickets with him mentioned -- and then the team trading him, or marketing tickets without any mention of players at all. I think they expect that we have the sense to realize (if we know baseball at all) that some people might be here and some might not.

I worked with a guy named Jim Page at the same time my friend worked with a guy named Bob Plant.

I went to school with a John Lennon...but a Whitney Houston & a Britney Spears on the same team - that's just weird.

The senior class president the year I graduated from Old Mill High School was Cheryl Crowe. Different spelling of first name, but still...

I agree that the rumored Cubs offer for Roberts was not worth it. Roberts is our All-Star entering his prime and probably the new club house leader. He has good work ethic and provides the team with good PR in the community for a change. That can help if the Orioles actually start marketing the team to BALTIMORE. So unless the Cubs include Pie in the deal, then I say Roberts stays an Oriole.

Anyone else find it funny that everyone is complaining how steroids use gives players/teams an unfair advantage but no one complains that teams spending 150 million dollars more then other teams as an unfair advantage. Lets but an asterisk, next to the Bsox 2007 championship or an asterisks next to the Yankees for the last 7 years. I know that will never happen but what is the difference?

Hopefully Bedard gets traded soon for a great return, something to get excited about.

My parents had a friend named Eddie Fisher. Don’t know how good he was with “Sunrise, Sunset.” Then, the Birds acquired the knuckleballer with the same moniker from the ChiSox and he did OK for us in 1966 and 1967.

My Trig/Analyt teacher at Franklin Senior High was named Matt Tress. Apparently, his parents crunched numbers all night long trying to determine whether to go with Serta or Sealy.

I attended Roland Park Middle School with a guy named Michael Jackson ... and this was back in the '80s when the King of Pop was actually somewhat normal and tremendously popular ... LOL.

Since we're playing the name game, I went to school with a Daryl Licht....that's just cruel.

Here's one for all you jokesters out there; Next time you go to a restaurant where they ask your name, spell it for them L-E-T-Z. then watch people when they call you over the intercom, Letz Party. Love that one.

bartst, you are assuming they have a marketing dept.

talking about parents having issue's with names: I knew a guy named Richard, last name was Head......his nickname was Dick. Dick Head wins!

If the O's don't deal Roberts, they will have a good 2B playing for a bad baseball team. Grab the prospects and run already!

I just stumbeled onto this site...As a Cubs fan, I can honestly tell you guys you want Marshall, pass on Gallagher, take Cedeneo, and ask for Hart...He wil end up being a solid #4, maybe a #3 if he can learn to locate better.
We need Roberts but you can forget Pie...The only way you get him is in a package for Bedard and Roberts. In that scenrio, we would send Tyler Colvin, Pie, Marshall, and Rich Hill, our future ace lefty.

LOL. Gee, thanks for the advice, Stephen Brown. The only part of your post that means anything is "we need Roberts." Yes, it is obvious that the Cubs need a player like Roberts. Thing is, the Orioles aren't going to give him away. The rumored trade was never a deal, as there is no way the Orioles would give up Roberts for three marginal players. Of the three Cub players involved in the rumor, Gallagher is the one that the Orioles might have an interest in. Taking Cedeno and Marshall and passing on Gallagher is absurd. And by the way, the Chicago Cubs do not have anything to offer for Bedard that compares with the offers the Orioles have received from other teams. You can be sure that McPhail has made it very clear to Hendry what it would take to make a deal for Roberts. The ball is in Hendry's court.

Come on Dave. Your comments sound as if Baltimore is loaded with prospects. Fact is, they are not. The rumored players offered by the Cubs are easily the equivalent of many of the Orioles mid to upper talents. Roberts is on the wrong side of 30...you know, the time speed starts to go away. You know it, I know it, Roberts has peaked. The Cubs would be getting a player that will soon decline while the O's would possibly get players with upside. The word possibly is the key. The O's would be wise to get guys with futures in Baltimore. Roberts isn't one of them. On top of it, nobody is going to break the bank for him. That day has come and gone. Sorry to break the news to you.

Yes, DK, the rumored players are the equivalent of many players the O's already own. Exactly. That is why that "trade" was merely a rumor and has no chance of becoming reality. Offer nothing, get nothing. Roberts is one of the premier lead off men in the game. It will take a serious offer to get him. Sorry to break the news to you.