No consensus on catching situation
Though former Orioles prospect Gregg Zaun might seem like a logical stopgap catcher, club officials are still sorting through a list of candidates who might start the season in the O's lineup and then gradually give way to top prospect Matt Wieters.
The perfect player would be a veteran who can handle a pitching staff, but recognizes that he is accepting a diminishing role and would be content helping to mentor his preordained replacement. Chances are, nobody is going to fit that exact description, because you don't get to the major leagues by not wanting to be in the starting lineup, but the Orioles have identified several players who probably are close enough.
Zaun is one of them. I've also heard the name of journeyman free agent Henry Blanco and Florida Marlins backup Matt Treanor (left) as a trade possibility. Treanor might be better known as the husband of Olympic beach volleyball star Misty May-Treanor.
Comments
The perfect player would be a long-time veteran who can handle a pitching staff, but recognizes that he is accepting a diminishing role and would be content helping to mentor his preordained replacement.
Brad Ausmus came to mind as soon as I read that but after a quick search, I found that he doesn't want to play unless a team in Southern California offers him a job.
Too bad...
Posted by: Anonymous | December 10, 2008 7:05 PM
Oh boy! Another supermodel kind of woman after Kris Benson's wife recently stopped by here.
Posted by: Ben W | December 10, 2008 7:08 PM
Pete,
I heard Michael Barrett's name mentioned. He seems to have a little more pop (although not last season) than the other candidates mentioned. Could he be in the mix?
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Pete's reply: I don't think the O's are interested in Barrett.
Posted by: Jim Carter | December 10, 2008 7:09 PM
Henry Blanco would be a really interesting guy to have on the staff. He really can handle a rotation, but more importantly, he embraced his role last year in tutoring Soto. Blanco had a big part in Soto's NL ROY season, and perhaps he could back up another catching ROY this year?
Posted by: Michael | December 10, 2008 7:15 PM
Ahhh, when it comes to Tex, Scott Boras is playing all these owners off each other like a beauty queen with a bunch of drunk frat boys. He's got the media whispering sweet nothings and jealous-inducing rumors into their ears. Can't blame the guy for being the master! I know I'd want his greedy a** to represent me if I was an MLB player. We'll see if Angelos still has what it takes to man-up and sweep Tex off his feet.
Posted by: O's Fan in Montana | December 10, 2008 7:18 PM
Misty May; Nice Butt. She could probably spike the ball better than some of our pitchers.
Posted by: Joe | December 10, 2008 7:38 PM
Peter,
Any word on interest from the O's taking a flier on Adam Eaton? Ken Rosenthal reported that the Phils are looking to give him to anybody willing to absorb $1 million of his salary.
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Pete's reply: Haven't heard that.
Posted by: tonysabs | December 10, 2008 7:58 PM
I know you've probably gotten this question a lot, Pete, but to go back to the topic of the Ramon trade real quick, what dos AM think about left field? I think Scott as the regular with Montanez and Reimold fighting to win the chance for somewhat significant playing time there makes the most sense, and then see if their potential develops into something more. As much as I love Ryan Freel, doesn't his presence take away a spot from one of our young guys who actually have considerable upside? And wouldn't trading for Pie create even more of an unnecessary logjam? I know that the Cubs need a left-handed guy with pop to play OF for them, and I haven't heard his name mentioned once, but could Luke Scott be somehow involved in all of this Cubs/Peavy/the rest of the world talk?
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Pete's reply: I don't know if Scott could be involved, but Freel plays a bunch of positions and Pie would add depth. If Montanez and Reimold have to compete with him for playing time, that's a good thing.
Posted by: Ron | December 10, 2008 7:59 PM
Ok Pete, here's a crazy conspiracy theory. I can't believe I'm even going to bring it up, soon I'll say that we didn't land on the moon, it was in a Hollywood studio and Courtney Killed Kurt, and another shooter on the grassy...ok...enough...but what if the rumor was true...what if Borris was "packaging" Veriteck with Texeira? The O's don't have a starting catcher...could the O's be lining themselves up to take the Borris bounty? Or is there no second shooter?
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Pete's reply: O's people have unequivocably denied any interest in Varitek.
Posted by: jj | December 10, 2008 9:16 PM
The Marlins released veteran catcher Matt Treanor to create room on their 40-man roster for Thursday's Rule V Draft. After the Orioles traded catcher Ramon Hernandez to Cincinnati on Wednesday, the Marlins tried to work out a deal with Baltimore for Treanor. But talks fizzled late.
Pete - maybe patience pays off?
Posted by: Chuck | December 11, 2008 8:21 AM
I actually don't think Luke Scott is all that, because of his looooong unproductive streaks. He's on or he's off, and when he is cold he is frigid.
Posted by: j. roberts | December 11, 2008 9:45 AM
Treanor is now available after being released by the Marlins.
Is Crash Davis available?
Posted by: Chris | December 11, 2008 10:44 AM
Since we are looking at Olympic caliber wives, why don't we sign Nomar, and convince Mia to come be an instructor up at Michael Phelps' new facility!
Posted by: Mather | December 11, 2008 12:18 PM