Kawakami would be huge for the O's, as they have got to get a player from Japan soon if they have any intentions of being a major player in that market. Everyone seems to think this guy is a solid # 4 SP, so that obviously helps the pitching staff.

The good news is that with the Sox signing of Brad Penny, they have zero room in their rotation, so this is one time where the O's might luck out in the Asian market.

Pete, any sense that guys like Manny, might regret leaving prior offers on the table? It really seems outside of NY, teams are not spending as much in the past or is this because it just took so much time for Tex to sign, that many teams are just now narrowing down their choices?

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Pete's reply: I think Manny will go back to the Dodgers for three years and $75 million. You should have to regret something like that.

Guess the rumor is more O's bashing of their negotiating tactics. Hopefully the Sox have dropped out of the running now that they signed Penny but it will still not be easy to get him signed.

Meanwhile, the Cub rumors are up and running as the Chi. papers talk about Peavy and, to a lesser extent, Roberts. Olson for Pie and Cedano sounds fine but there will be little left to get Roberts if they do get Peavy.

I LIKE THE IDEA OF ADAM DUNN IN AN BALTIMORE UNIFORM. AM I NUTS OR IS THIS A DECENT IDEA

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Pete's reply: No, you're not crazy. But it's not happening.

I suggested that the Orioles should get Pie and Cedeno in any deal that would involve sending Olson to the Cubs, and a few Cubs fans tore me apart for it.

Then again they were suggesting absurd things for Roberts and trying to convince me how great a pick up Jason Marquis and his near $10 million contract would be for the Orioles. Ha ha.

Every fan values their own higher than anyone else, but there is a line.

Cedeno is a failed prospect with no more options left. He hasn't hit like he has shown he could in the minors and while he does flash greatness with the glove at times, his fielding is way too sporadic to be a defensive-first player at SS.

Pie is also a disappointment so far. He is still young and has time to get the switch flipped on, but so far he has proven he can't hit at the major league level, his base running instincts are horrid, and his lauded fielding may be not quite so good. He also has no options left.

So, the Cubs could trade them and get something of value in return like a very young, cheap, left handed starting pitcher in Olson. Or, keep both Pie and Cedeno on their roster all year which seems highly unlikely now with the signing of Aaron Miles and them wanting to pursue Milton Bradley, or lastly, try to slip them through waivers. Pie won't make it through, but Cedeno might.

And before Cubs fans try to bash Olson, his minor league numbers are very comparable to a certain pitcher on their current staff that they want to have starting rather than in the bullpen.

Pete - Roch's hearing rumors about B. Roberts for G. Floyd. What are you hearing about this possible trade? Thanks

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Pete's reply: Good for Roch. I haven't heard anything.

Pete, What's the deal with O's wanting Pie? Don't we have enough outfielders?

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Pete's reply: Depends on whether Freel has to play second base, I guess.

Pete,

I'm certain that Andy didn't give the all or nothing either, in fact the agent reported exactly that on another site. But I really can't get too excited about this signing either. The guy got moved to the pen because he couldn't go 5 innings every 6TH day in Japan. Yeah it may open some future doors in that market, but the reality is I want a reason to watch the O's now other that to have an office pool each day betting on how long our starters will last past the second inning! Dunn, and incentive contracts for Sheetz, Garland and Byrd would be a minimum effort for the O's!

Kawakami is a little guy, listed at 5'10" and he will be 34 in June. I looked at his Japanese statistics and they are impressive, but it seems the Orioles are not looking for quality, only for bargains. I know that they are trying to bridge to what they feel are their core prospects who are mostly in Double A, but come on Pete, potential is only that. Unless I see some willingness on their part to spend some money this off season to at least try to compete, I really have to rethink another year of blowing my company's marketing money on season tickets.

Macphail may run out of time as far as goodwill is concerned. Yes, let's rebuild but the team needs to compete in the interum to retain fan interest.

Peter: You know more baseball people than I; nonetheless I hazard the statement that I don't believe the Dodgers will spend that much money on Manny. They aren't competing with anyone. The Giants are just waiting to see if he drops into their price range; they're not going to match the 2 years, $50 million that LA already offered and took off the table. Not that this has anything to do with the O's. Sorry.

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Pete's reply: I thought the Dodgers deal was two years at $50 million with a third-year option for $75 million.

White Sox And O's Discussing Floyd-Roberts Swap

According to Roch Kubatko of MASN, the White Sox have discussed a trade with the Orioles for second baseman Brian Roberts.

Gavin Floyd would be sent over from Chicago. The White Sox reportedly want to make it a straight-up swap, but the Orioles, predictably, are asking for more. Floyd, 25, went 17-8 last season with a 3.84 ERA and actually grew up in the Baltimore area.

Hope Roch is wrong. We need a leadoff hitter, and there is nothing available and nothing on the farm. Trading Roberts is a mistake.

By most accounts (does that really mean anything?) the guy is more suited for a relievers job, not a starters job. In your opinion, do the O's spend that kind of money on a project just because he is from Japan, or is he a guy that can start for two years?

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Pete's reply: My opinion wouldn't be worth much, since I've never seen more than a two-second clip of the guy pitching.

Pie and Cedeno- no thanks- I'm having deja vu- but they were called Patterson and Bynum . . . Floyd and Getz sounds much more reasonable . . . why not sign Roberts to a long term contract and have a gentlemans agreement that if we're not close to contending in 2 years we'll trade him to a contender.

Pete, Any truth to the rumor that the O's are going back to a 4 man rotation so they only have to find 3 more pitchers in the free agent market? How about the one that the fan of the game will get to pitch the 5th inning of any game that the starter doesn't make it through 4 innings?

Pete,

At the expense of asking what in media circles would appear to be insider information is it fair to ask the question, do team own media outlets have an unfair advantage in reporting team news vice other sources (ie... MASN with the O's and Danny Snyder radio empire in DC)? I can't speak to the MASN piece concerning their reporting but the Redskins network is pathetic apologists for the Front Offices failure in DC to the point where they gave their incapable GM a radio show!

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Pete's reply: MASN is a team-owned entity, so I don't see any problem with it being a pro-team entity. As far as it being at an advantage over non-team-owned entities, I would say it's a two-edged sword. There are going to be times when, say, Roch gets some information from the team that others don't get. But there are also going to be times when the team won't want something released and we'll get it and put it out early.

Trading Roberts. w/leave voids at second and at the lead-off slot, true.But chances are, he won't extend and w/b gone after this year anyway. If they can get a 25 year old starter who won 17 games last year, they have to look at it.Right now they have exactly one true SP and their top minor league prospects are a year or more away-if they make it at all.

If Pie could get his act together, he'd be the leadoff hitter if they trade for him and Roberts is gone.

Pete, a while back it was reported the Orioles had contacted Jon Garland's agent. I think he'd be a good, inning-eating fit here and maybe affordable. Any chance the O's get serious about Garland?

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Pete's reply: Haven't heard anything, but I said at the time I thought they would wait and see if the price comes down. Still think so.

Pete, a while back it was reported the Orioles had contacted Jon Garland's agent. I think he'd be a good, inning-eating fit here and maybe affordable. Any chance the O's get serious about Garland?

I understand Robin Roberts has been keeping his pitching arm supple...

A highly reliable source told me the Gaven for Roberts deal is close , with a throw in second basemen of the future , we need pitching more than a lead off man , it's a good deal if it happens..............

Pete-I used to be one of Roch's bloggers when he was here at Sun . Now Roch works for MASN ( O's owned) and you work for Sun ( non-O's ) . Some of your bloggers were questioning whether Roch was getting first scoop O's information . You mentioned about two-edged sword ? My question is wouldnt Roch be restricted from crictizing the O's/Angelos since he is employed by them? You also have some bloggers here who had blamed you for O's woes . Unbelieveble .

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Pete's reply: It's a fair question, but I think Roch is doing a fine job and my understanding is that nobody is telling him what to write and whether or not he can criticize the team. I've seen blog entries where he has criticized the team and, from talking to him, I don't think he's gotten any blowback from the warehouse. Does being affiliated with the team-owned network help him once in awhile? Probably. But it can also work the other way, as I explained earlier...and Roch just jumped in to answer that question himself...just read on.

I am pulling hard for the japanese guy because we need him as a starter and to get a foot in that door. Treat him well so he will be an ambassador for the orioles when they go there again.

Hey Pete, hope you don't mind if I jump into this discussion, since you brought up my name. You make a good point, but I want to add that I can count on one hand the number of times that I've received information from the team. It hasn't been anything major, and it's usually something that everyone else gets, as well. It might be more of a heads-up if I'm not in front of my laptop. Also, so there's no confusion or more lame accusations that I can only report what the Orioles allow, just because the team doesn't want something released doesn't mean I'm not writing it. Just ask Dave Trembley or Andy MacPhail. That point was understood before I signed my contract with MASN. I also made it clear that I would occasionally contribute a comment to The Schmuck Stops Here, so I expect you to have nothing but nice things to say to me at my roast later this month.

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Pete's reply: Thanks for jumping in. I'm already sharpening my claws for your Roch Roast, which takes place later this month (at Rams Head Live -- this updates incorrect info that was in this space). Just like the NCAA overtime system, it's always better to get the ball second, and you already had your say last summer.

Trading Brian Roberts straight up for Gavin Floyd seems like a no-brainer. Floyd is younger and his era indicates that he could win some games for the Orioles. Brian Roberts is a good second baseman/leadoff hitter, but last year's starting pitchers and bullpen gave up so many runs that Roberts' getting on base and scoring didn't win many games for us.
We really, really need good pitching although replacing Roberts defensive skills will not be easy.

Peter,

How credible is this Floyd for Roberts trade?

Even though you would normally always take an everday field player ( never mind a star like Roberts) for a starting pitcher, surely the White Sox realize how much the pitching poor O's would want a reasonably proven front line starter who, as a bonus, happens to be a local kid.

I would think it would be the Sox who would want something else thrown in.

Also, what about getting Bedard back? Is that even possible?

I think we should be taking advantage of the bad economy to lock up Markakis on favorable terms.

Our team ERA is shaping up to be higher than last years the way things are going, so any help would be good.

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Pete's reply: Good luck with that. Markakis already turned down $60 million for six years.

One or two more years, one or two more years, one or two more years. How long do O's fans have to imbibe such garbage about the O's soon-to-come turnaround? I'm 31 and I'm sure that if Angelos' son/s take over this team when he soon dies, I'll be hearing one or two more years on my own deathbed. Baltimore deserves so much better than the lies and false hope of one or two more years. Baseball is going to be dead before Baltimore gets the chance to compete again. Thanks Bud, thanks Peter A!

At this point,sadly, I would be all for Floyd for Roberts. Question: how many years on Floyd's contract are left? Also Dave Johnson is on MASN and he doesn't pull any punches when he talks about the O's Today he talked about how poor their P R is with the fans.

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Pete's reply: I think Floyd is under reserve for two more years.

Schmucker:
Who the hell is going to start if they don't resign Cabrera, trade Olson, and have only signed Hendrickson, who might only be a reliever!!?? They need 5 starters, had three, and now might lose 2 from last years staff. If they trade Olson and include Hendrickson as #2, we are behind where we started the offseason. Looks like MacPhail either really believes in the farm system, or he has a lot of work to do in a short period of time. What say you?

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Pete's reply: He definitely has some work to do in a short time.

I just can't stay away from your blog! Just a headsup that the roast will take place at Rams Head Live on Jan. 21, not the Comedy Factory. It's been moved. Dress is casual, which works fine for you. You'll have to teach me how to sit there and smile while being insulted for over an hour. - Roch

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Pete's reply: Glad you updated me. I would have shown up at the other place. I'll go back in and fix the other reference.

Peter, in your column today you said you wouldn't be surprised if the O's didn't make a play for a back end starter or middle reliever. This is truly alarming. Are they trying to be as bad as possible in '09?

What then do you think they intend to throw out there as a starting rotation beyond Guthrie ?

TP Carroll

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Pete's reply: That's what we're all waiting to find out. I think Guthrie, Penn and Hendrickson will end up in the rotation. Still waiting to see if they get Kawakami.

At the time the Orioles talked to Garland he asked for $13 million per year and the Orioles said goodbye.

Gavin Floyd for Brian Roberts seems like a decent move to me. After all, some of the other suitors have moved on, Cleveland took DeRosa and although they want him to play 3b, I think you might see him all over the place there, and the Cubbies seem content with a tandem of Fontenot and Miles.

Freel could be a lead off hitter this year and play LF for you while Scott is the DH. You still need somebody to play 2b. The Orioles really don't have much in the minors right now.

Pete,
I understand that the "Yard" is not a pitchers dream but have the Orioles sunk so low in players, agents, and general regard that they can't sign anyone (including Roberts, Markakis)? Has anyone got the guts to spell out the core problems though we probably know them and are stuck with them forever. Should we all just throw in the towel and thank heaven for the Ravens? I lived in Baltimore a long time, saw all the ballparks and loved the atmosphere, the excitement of going from one season to the next (of course the Bullets and the Colts were there then and I would never have dreamt that the Cleveland Browns in this day would be the last remaining excitement we had to look foreward to). Physically I left Baltimore in 1957 but my sportsman"s heart has never left. From Montgomery County I kept and used season tickets for the O's, Colts and Bullets (who could ever call them the Wizards or any of their other tags) until leaving for California in1993 for health reasons. Thank God for Cable TV, the computer and the Ravens (Ollie should get the biggest of the Gold Stars). I still rarely miss any of their games or those of the Terps and can maintain some of the excitement. But what is happening to the O's is breaking an old man's heart, can we feel any hope?

For the O's to not make a serious run at Garland to solidify the rotation and trade Roberts for the best package of prospects you can get to speed up the rebuilding process is pure negligence and will rest squarely at the feet of Andy MacPhail. Honeymoons are short MacPhail and yours is over.

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Pete's reply: I would think the definition of organizational negligence would be giving Garland $13 million per year,which is what his agent was talking about the last time I heard anything.

The Orioles need to weigh whether they are better off waiting and letting Roberts jump ship, getting substance in return, or whether Roberts really fits into the team's future, given that the future appears to be at least a couple of years away. The O's would go a long way toward ending fans' frustration if they finalized a deal with Markakis. Short of that, it would be appear the O's are not serious about the future. If Markakis is the foundation upon which the team's future is to be built, failure to ink him to a long-term deal only demonstrates to other top prospects that Baltimore is stop-off in a career destined to end up in a city that is more appreciative, thus more rewarding. Signing Markakis long-term sends out a very positive message now, telling fans and players that the team is serious about its future.

The O's SUCK.

GO RAVENS!!!

What pitchers have the orioles had discussions with on terms of any deals? I've heard Braden Looper, Redding, and Kawakami. And rumors of a Gavin Floyd for Roberts deal. Whats the latest on any of these situations?

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Pete's reply: My guess is that none of them are hot right now. The Orioles appear to be done until the start of training camp on Sunday.