Pete-

Now that DeRosa is an Indian. Is it 1 day, 1 week, or 1 month before Brian Roberts becomes a Cub? And can we get anything in return for him now?

Pete,

I think it's important to note that the MacPhail and team view him as a long reliever/spot starter. While he will be given the chance to win a rotation spot, the Orioles don't view him as a # 3 or # 4 guy.

I am a bit concerned that pitchers don't typically pitch more than 5 innings in Spring Training, so he might look pretty good his first time through the order.

I'm really, REALLY hoping that Troy Patton, Garrett Olson, and Hayden Penn step it up big-time for the team this year. I'd like to see Albers, Liz and Baez stay in the bullpen.

I'd also love to see the Orioles go out and get Derek Lowe, but he's got tunnel vision (NY Mets). Is every big free agent going to sign with a NY, Boston or LA team this year? It certainly appears so!

What I wouldn't give for a salary cap to level the playing field!

Happy New Year to you and your family Pete!

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Pete's reply: And Happy Holidays to you and yours.

Pete,

Brian is gone for sure. Right? He can't be impressed with Hendrickson and Izturis as the club moving forward.

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Pete's reply: Wouldn't surprise me a bit.

Pete,

I try to look at it the way you are. It is wasted money. Instead of signing a bunch of guys that are middle of the road never have been never will, put it all into one player that can help. The problem is we have started in a direction that will just multiply itself. What is next on the list, Sexson, then who? The Orioles management and ownership at this point should be embarrassed that this is the best effort they can put out. Look out Yankees, Redosx and Rays, we now have Hendrickson!

Now that the terms are out, there shouldn't be any more complaining about the Hendrickson deal.

That said, there probably will be. It seems like the past 10 years have helped rid a lot of O's fans of any sense they ever had.

Pete:
Thanks so much for your work on this blog and providing a forum for us Orioles fans who at times lose it in our passion for the team.
Mark Hendrickson... an arm to protect the development of the future pitchers we have in the minors, I guess. It was interesting that Macphail was quoted in the article as saying that Mark will "start out in the bullpen", but Hendrickson says in the same article that he understands he is going to start. Hmmm...maybe not the way to start off a harmonious relationship...
We need to trade BRob if the package is right...
Richie Sexson- no... I would rather re-sign Kevin Millar before we do that. My wife hopes the Orioles bring Kevin back too, as she thinks he is hot (I don' see it myself, but hey...)
Pete: here's wishing you and your family a wonderful and happy New Year's celebration and a great 2009! Go Orioles!!!

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Pete's reply: Thanks for being a regular part of the blog. Happy Holidays to you and yours.

well, they need bodies right now and we all know that, so i won't slight the move. the stats gall me, but that is what modern baseball is about.... blahhhhhh......

Just get a few guys up there, stock the farm and develop talent, and get us thru the next few years. And the incessant whining of those who want it all NOWNOWNOW. Weiters NOW! Top Ace NOW! and so on. Only for their immediate enjoyment. double-blahz

Peter,

Good way to view it. Let's hope Hendrickson can put it together as an Oriole. He has a nice breaking ball, but he stays up too much in the strike zone with his straight 90 mph fast ball (see videos on his Oriole player page link below).

Kranitz need to work with him to keep it down in the zone more, and he might be able to put up better numbers.

Despite his signing today, the biggest Oriole story may be the Cubs' trade of DeRosa, because we know how much Chicago covets Brian Roberts.

Somehow I'm afraid that come next season we'll be hearing announcers open games with, "Now stepping into the batter's box for the Orioles is their leadoff hitter, second baseman...Ryan Freel!"

Don't get me wrong, I like Freel as a solid utility player, but its will definitely be a step in the wrong direction if he's starting. He's no B-Rob, however, and the O's don't have anyone comparable in the minors, either.

And I'm afraid that Andy MacPhail's wheeling and dealing is going to catch up with him at some point and he gets burned on a trade. I just hope it isn't this one, because a bad swap of an All Star caliber player for prospects impacts the team negatively now and in the future.

http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=424805

That's a waste of ONE MILLION DOLLARS. Really, it is. The O's can get the same production from a pitcher from within for league minimum. This makes zero sense. That one million would have been better saved or applied to someone who can perform better than what they've got.

Half the price. Half the walks. Half the wild pitches. Half the HBPs. Half the heartburn.

DCab may make it big someday, but it wasn't gonna happen in Baltimore. Meanwhile, we got a lefty with versatility and saved some $$ for a FA or the June draft pick. One year contract is perfect. This just buys some time till Arrieta, Matusz, Bergesson, Tillman, etc. show up and take their shot.

Sorry about that, had to put my paperbag down from hyperventiliating from all the excitement from the Hendrickson signing, I can't take many more of these big moves! Next the O's might really get out on the ledge and sign Richie Sexson!

Sorry about that, had to put my paperbag down from hyperventiliating from all the excitement from the Hendrickson signing, I can't take many more of these big moves! Next the O's might really get out on the ledge and sign Richie Sexson!

Actually Hendrickson has a BASE salary of $1.5 million and can earn another $500,000 in incentives, bringing the total to $2 million.

I don't know what those incentive marks are right now, but I would have to think it is based on IP or games started. If the Orioles need to use him enough, you could have Mark Hendrickson for $600K less than Cabrera just signed for. That doesn't seem like much of a bargain now. Hendrickson received a lot more than I thought he would and it actually surprised me.

Ken Francis -

Good points. And I think you are correct with Andy moving players as he has, he might eventually make a bad deal. But let's face it, even the top GM's have made bad trades. In that position, a little humility serves well for the long run! As for the B-Rob trade, since Andy has such few bargaining chips,he'll hold out for the best deal possible. He knows that if he moves a player as popular as Roberts is with the fan base, he'd better get a potentially solid return. And I think he needs to tell Hendry all talks begin with Vitters & Pie.

Brian,

Better production from within? Really! And you are basing your thoughts off of which outstanding AAA prospect? See Brian, for this rebuilding to work, you allow your young arms to develop in the minors, and not rush them to Baltimore because we desperately need arms. That's where this franchise failed miserably in the past. Andy knows this, and that's why we have signings like Hendrickson. His value is going to be as a long reliever. And with the results from last year, he's going to get a lot of innings in that role. And it's not just losing ball clubs that have taken a shot at the guy. The Jay's and Dodgers have also signed the guy in the past. Don't read too much into this deal. It's a move that allows a bit of versatility from your pitching staff, at today's rate of a low dollar contract. And the beauty of it is it's not a long term contract.

Woo hoo. Cheaper than DCa?. More money in the owners pockets. What a relief!!!

Do you people realize that according to Forbes, The O's have made 270 million more profit than the Yanks the past 5 yrs? Before you scoff at that number, don't forget how much more the Yanks spend on payroll than this sorry excuse of a franchise,

Pete,

Is this true "Do you people realize that according to Forbes, The O's have made 270 million more profit than the Yanks the past 5 yrs? Before you scoff at that number, don't forget how much more the Yanks spend on payroll than this sorry excuse of a franchise,?" Say it ain't so!

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Pete's reply: MLB and the O's hotly dispute those numbers, but since they won't open their books, I don't know who to believe. Wouldn't surprise me if the O's are making a lot of money, because of the Comcast surcharge and the various national revenue streams, but I don't know and I'm not going to assume anything.

http://www.examiner.com/x-1089-Baltimore-Sports-Examiner~y2009m1d2-Hendrickson-signing-raises-eyebrows