Izturis in town
The Orioles have brought shortstop Cesar Izturis here for a physical, and probably will announce his two-year, $5 million contract tomorrow. Izturis was playing in his native Venezuela when he agreed to terms with the club during the winter meetings, so the deal has been pending the medical report.
I guess it's not a foregone conclusion that the guy will pass -- just ask Xavier Hernandez and Aaron Sele -- but this one is all but done. The club is not expected to hold a news conference for the announcement.
Comments
That should sure make the man feel welcome in Baltimore with no news conference...
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Pete's reply: I hear that was his call. He's kind of shy.
Posted by: Craig | December 15, 2008 4:14 PM
Like the blog Mr Schmuck, keep the updates coming.
Did you read Buster Olney's blog about how the Nat's and O's shouldn't go after Tex? He seems to mix some truth with his New Englander bias. I think he's off but it's worth a read. He really stirred up the hornet's nest with the O's faithful.
Posted by: arlington O's fan | December 15, 2008 5:17 PM
Didn't we already have a slick fielding SS with no stick ?
Posted by: Doc Kearns | December 15, 2008 5:27 PM
Last athlete that called his own news conference was Sean Avery and look how well that turned out!
Posted by: TerryP | December 15, 2008 5:50 PM
150 lb, .250 hitting, slick fielding shortstops aren't really "news conference" material.
That said, solid signing by MacPhail. I bet Dave Trembley's excited to pencil in the same name at short for the entire season.
Posted by: b | December 15, 2008 5:53 PM
Hey Peter, Do you know somewhere that carries the O's Jerseys in 3-4-and 5 xl. the Orioles store and most web sites stop at 2x..
I figure...you..have Friends that need 'em. yeah that's it.
Posted by: Will A | December 15, 2008 5:55 PM
Yes, Izturis is not a media hound. He has that quiet intensity about him that will make fans on the field, but off of it people might mistake him for being a jerk.
A lot of people are down on Izturis because he doesn't have power and they think he can't hit. It will change when they see the way he plays and the kinds of plays he can make. With the bat, he puts the ball in play. That's all Trembley wanted out of the rotation of guys they trotted out last season and if you think it is so easy, none of them could do that. Either they couldn't make the plays they should, or they couldn't make any contact, or both.
It'll be interesting to see how Greene does with the Cards because most fans wanted him over Izturis.
Posted by: The Mythical One | December 15, 2008 5:59 PM
The Yankees, Red Sox, Rays and Blue Jays must be very nervous. It's good to see that the O's are serious about making big improvements in 2009. All they need now are 4 starting pitchers.
Posted by: Mark | December 15, 2008 6:22 PM
Hey peter what number is izturis and freel gona wear i know montanez is 3 and mora is 6 those are those 2's old numbers?
...............................................................................................Pete's reply: I don't know yet, but they'll likely have to get new ones. Neither has the juice to demand it.
Posted by: Derek | December 15, 2008 7:02 PM
There were what six shortstops last year, any of those numbers should work, or they can wear 0 and 00 for the amount of homeruns they will hit. Not that homeruns mean anything. Green will be available again, so if he has good numbers you never know.
Posted by: cb coach | December 16, 2008 7:56 AM