I'd take a flyer on Alfonseca or Wickman for a look see in ST considering the names we saw recently as the potential members of the O's bullpen.... they don't have to be the closer necessarily. Alfonseca filled in for Wagner in Philly & did a decent job if my memory is correct.

Anyone notice 3 of those names Roch put up of the currently unemployed closer types are former O's closers.... well Mesa was a starter here, but let's not split hairs....

I could see Benitez putting it all together and making a team that passed on him look stupid. Too bad that team will be the Orioles. Armando looked pretty great when he was healthy in San Francisco 2 years back. I guess all I'm saying is I'd rather have him over Greg Aquino.

Brian Roberts has a better chance of being the father of Brenda Frese's child to be, then Nebraska beating Kansas or Ball State beating Ohio tomorrow. Speaking of Kansas, who can beat them ? Thet might beat the Heat.

Hey Roch, I like your tongue in cheek blogs. Of course, you know one of the guys on your list of relief pitchers, Keith Foulke, retired in February. Very good my man and very funny. Keep em smiling.

Hey Roch, the general manager in Seattle thinks he has the potential to finalize the trade for Bedard, possibly by the end of this weekend. Today's Seattle Post Intelligencer quotes Bavasi is quoted as saying, "As I'm sitting here, I think we will (get one of the trades) done." He went on to say he had the same feeling four or five times during the month and was shot down each time. Could it be he is being shot down on Bedard, because his package is not strong enough to move Andy?

Wow - the Twins are spending money. Morneau just got a huge contract - something like six years and 80 million. He might be worth it, but that still seems large. It buys out three free agency years, so I guess the Twins had to make it a pretty hefty deal. Cuddyer got three years and 24 million. I look at his stats, his age, his position and general fielding ability, and I think Jay Gibbons with better plate discipline, less power, and more consistency year to year. So basically, the sort of contract they could regret. And all this is just more evidence that we need to be proactive and lock up Markakis long term. He's only going to get more expensive.

TomD, cheery thoughts are hard to come by these days (this decade) for an O's fan.

You are very knowledgeable, but you seem to see veteran players in terms of their best seasons (which are usually several years in the past and never to be repeated or even approached again).

When players reach their mid-30s, they are almost always on the downhill slope, and often it is more like falling off a cliff. However the salary structure of MLB greatly favors veterans, so signing guys in their 30s with seven or eight years of service time almost always means paying too much for disappointing results.

Sean Casey is a perfect example. He was once a very good player, but he has been declining for the past three seasons, since his peak year in 04, and he is now just a notch above a marginal player.

Really, don't we have enough like that already?

However...

You are 100 per cent correct about the reality of trying to get what we need for Bedard in a mid-season deal. We might get lucky, but the odds are against it.

And, if Bedard doesn't get traded before Opening Day, I will have to say that you were exactly right in wanting to go for Andruw Jones. If we are just plugging holes, instead of rebuilding, we might as well plug them with some interesting filler.

Of course we don't want Alfonseca; those extra-fingered gloves cost money.

And does anyone find it interesting that three of those closers are former Orioles? Granted, Mesa had a nice career, but one would think the other two would be able to find work. Hopefully not with us, though.

Let's just let everyone fight it out in spring training and have the best pitcher close.

Have you heard the term, "identity system" before?
Read this: "The Portland Beavers will unveil the team’s new identity system – including all-new logos, colors and on-field uniforms – during a news conference Tuesday, Jan. 29..."
A system?
Let's hope this term doesn't take root. I'm sick to death of "going forward," already.

If the Orioles are going to sign a veteran closer I would agree with others here that Bob Wickman would be the best choice. He is an experienced guy who has handled this job previously in the AL. This young staff needs someone who can close a game and even if he fails will be ready the next day to take the ball, confidence intact.

Bavisi in Seattle certainly has backed himself into a corner with his comments from yesterday. All of the Seattle papers indicate that Bedard is the pitcher he wants. If you read into what he said, he's certainly willing to trade Jones, but not include Morrow or Triunfel. His offer is on the table and he maintains it won't improve. I would be very tempted to take Jones along with Clement and Sherrill. Almost certain that would be acceptable to Bavisi.

Don't get me wrong, I love Bedard and think it's a shame the team hasn't offered him a major deal to stay for 4-5 years, but it looks like the best thing to do would be to trade him now.

I attended a series opening game against the Mariners this year, watched BP, and there was no doubt that the two most impressive players on either team were Ichiro and Jones. The ball jumps off this kids bat. He's probably as close to can't miss as you can get as long as your name is'nt Jay Bruce. In five years people may be saying that you wouldn't trade Jones even up for Bedard. I agree with TomD that if you are going to get Jones, then now is the time. At the trade deadline in July I can't see him being available. However, I believe there will still be an excellent package available at the deadline if Bedard isn't traded now. Just go back and check out what the Rangers got for Texiera last summer.

p.s.
Jeff Fiorentino got picked up by the A's today on waivers.
Hel-LO Sacramento!

Have read with interest the great deal of frustraion here the last few weeks on the team not pulling the trigger on a major deal. Have to say that I support MacPhail's patient approach and believe he will get a solid return on Bedard and/or Roberts if and when they are moved.

Part of my frustration is that guys like Huff, Millar, Mora, and Payton could remain as starters if a trade isn't made. Count me as one who hopes that if a trade does occur the team will have the guts to dump some contracts, starting with Payton.

Talks about a closer seems sad. Don't you need to have a lead at some point in the game to close? I'm still looking for runs so that the closer position will matter again.

sounds like a stand off at the OK corral between bavasi and mcphail. doesn't really matter what bedard says, he's under contract for two years, and bravasi needs him now. i think maybe the reason we the o's fans are so eager is because the front office administrations of the past few years would have blinked, and thus, got a lesser deal, by now. hence the situation we've been mired in. in other words, we're used to having things done by now. thing is, bravasi is in the news talking, sweating; and mcphail is not. i think mcphail believes he had a shot at cleaning out the cubs with a 2 for ..., but it isn't working out. mcpahil intrigues me very much.

k is for king of spades is only trumped by the ace!!

more people need to look into Bob Wickman, he's the best option for the Orioles in my opinion
If no wickman or keith foulke let greg aquino and bob mccrory battle it out.

I just read more of ...life according to Bedard..... what an @ss. Now he just weakened the O's bargaining position with those comments. He has thrown a tantrum via the press to force a trade, pure & simple. This may the first time I have actually crossed over & been on the FO's side. He might have cost the O's one extra prospect with this BS, maybe even Jones himself. His BS is that BAD. " I can't be on a rebuilding effort", I am not built that way" Waaaaaaaaaa that chump got carried recovering from major elbow sugery, I guess he forgot that part. Ingrate & totally self absorbed. What a self absorbed peck#rhead. He knows d@mn well he could re$ign here, if he wanted. This is all crap to force a deal. I hope they deal the jerkoff to KC now.

Bedard is a good guy, just like the rest of the O's. When he gets traded to Seattle the fun [ it's about time ] will start happening around here. If we could only move Milliar. Keep Huff, he might hit again. Play first. Play a little 3rd. Gibbons might surprise after a full year off the juice and back to his natural self. Please let Amey on your TV show. U2 will be fun. Trust me.

Hey Roch, I think Seattle is really jerking our chain. Buried in Bavasi's big speech on Thursday is this comment, "We can move a premier prospect and numbers (of players), but we're not going to move a number of premium prospected." NO DEAL. Andy would be crazy to take one premium prospect and a couple of slugs for Bedard. I mean this is grand theft baseball Bavasi is trying to push. He also says the others have dropped out for Bedard and his deal is take it or leave it. LEAVE IT. You get one player for one of the top pitchers in the league. RUN AWAY. And, tell Bedard he needs a new agent. His guy turned down a chance to do three years and mega millions when the Orioles are willing to risk the money to keep him, even though he has already had some arm trouble. This is good representation. This is nuts.

Alan
Foulke pitched in front of 20 teams this week and some were very interested in him especially the D-Backs. So I guess he is back. I don't know if the O's was one of the teams bit I think a 1 year deal here to show what he can do might mean a big payday for him next year or a trade to a contender in July. But I doubt that he would come here.

In reference to your blog about going to the Baltimore Sports Legend Museum and how great it is i would not know. Me and my brother planned our vacation from the middle east around the Ravens back to back prime time games. We made a whole day out of it and went to Baltimore extra early just to go to Sports Legend. On Monday's they were closed. That was disapointing. So on Sunday we go back early again and it is closed for a private party. So I still have yet to see how great it is. Unbelievable they would lock out fans on two huge days like that. What do you think of that kind of management???

I see in today's Sun that they finally got an interview with Bedard. After reading it, I'm still not sure where he's at. On one hand, he's surprised O's mgt. hasn't offered a long-term deal and on the other, he doesn't seem to want to stay unless the O's are competitive in the near future.
I think the O's should call his bluff and offer something like 3 years-36 mill and see if he bites. Let's not forget that while Bedard has had a couple of good seasons, he's not as established as other 'aces' like Santanna/Halladay.
I'm sure a lot of fans will slam him for not wanting to be on a losing team but most of the current O's come across that way. Anybody seen Mora and Payton smile much? Those guys should be thankful the O's were dumb enough to pay them because right now, no one else would.

To all you Oriole fans... If this bedard deal goes down... It may sting for awhile... but in the end... The Mariners will be licking their wounds. It's obvious the Orioles are rebuilding... So adding Adam Jones will be HUGE... He will be a superstar.. a 5-tool player. Yes, I am a Mariner fan.... Yes I like this Trade... for now... Seattle fans are hungry for wins. In the end though, I am convinced the Mariners will regret this trade. When Jones is still putting up solid #'s in ten years, Bedard will be fishing with his sore shoulder in the Pacific Northwest. Good luck Baltimore! From aconcerned M's fan