So what % of a chance do you think we have at signing one more pitcher to sure up the rotation a lil bit more then it already is, i.e. Sheets in a heavy incentive based two year contract sounds like a great move to me. When the guy is on he is an ACE when he is off still better then 90% of what we got now, What you think?

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Pete's reply: I'm going to say 60 percent the O's sign a veteran pitcher, but only 30 percent it's someone you would get all that excited about.

Glad to see they locked up Nick. I am sure you meant Gregg Zaun and not Zahn. Love the blog and love your show on BAL.

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Pete's reply: Thanks for the note and the spellcheck. I'll go fix that.

Glad to see they locked up Nick. I am sure you meant Gregg Zaun and not Zahn. Love the blog and love your show on BAL.

McPhail's explanation makes perfect sense. He wasn't going to make the team, so they would have had to designate him anyway. If he does well this spring, he's more likely to get picked up then than now.

I don't understand the O's ignoring all these FA pitchers.

any questions to macphail about signing a steriod cheat? Allegedly.

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Pete's reply: No, it was a Markakis news conference. There weren't any Zaun questions.

Pete, any whispers if the O's aren't done looking at position players, specifically a 1B?

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Pete's reply: Nothing today. I'm starting to think they are only waiting to see whether there's a pitching bargain to be had.

I know it's still early, but this pitching staff scares me-there's no one there with the possible exception of Jeremy Guthrie that looks like a major league pitcher...please tell me there's a plan, as (despite the presence of some decent position players) this looks like a 110 loss disaster of a season....

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Pete's reply: There's a plan, but only because you said please.

How serious are the O's in signing BRob to an extension? Will they put their money where their mouth is? They will have to overpay for him as well!

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Pete's reply: I'm sure they know that, but it's a matter of how much they would have to overpay him.

look, I don't get the deal about Salazar. he's not gonna outhit huff. he's not gonna outhit luke scott.

Why not try Ben Sheets, it appears that somehow this team has really made serious strides toward become real deal contenders (Uhera, Weiters developing perfectly, Pie, etc.) why not take a shot on Sheets, give the rotation a real chance of working out and see if we can't make a run at this thing? Pete, what do you think the odds are of us signing one more starter?

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Pete's reply: I think I just answered that here, but I'll try again. I think the likelihood the O's sign another veteran pitcher is about 60 percent, but the odds on it being someone you would get even mildly excited about is about 30 percent.

Pete,

Nice get on the explanation of Salazar. While he may be in the short term plan, he was in no way any part of the Long-term plan. I would also hope as we get closer to ST we'll still look at a RH 1B and some starting pitching as it becomes available on the cheap!

Hang on to your hats, your undies and whatever else you have... The time for the Oriole spin Meister's are upon us. They walk amongst us, some are on TV, some are on the web, some have their own blogs.... be afraid, be very afraid.

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Pete's reply: I can spin both ways, depending on the circumstances. That's what makes me special.

Hey, Pete...pick up that blood!

I'm glad Nick and BRob are friends, but I can't get my hopes.

I'm in favor of signing Roberts too. He's one of the best leadoff men in baseball with that OBP. I hope he signs like a 4 year 44 mil offer. Some think 4 years is too long, but this guy is hadly ever hurt, in top physical condition, a model player for the community, and a better than average fielder. Nick's going to need guys on base in front of him to drive in runs.

THe Salazar thing vs Alfrdo Simon still makes no sense with our weak hitting vs left handed pitching,

Mr. Schmuck, keep the good stuff coming, especially the subtle (or maybe not so subtle) Caddyshack references!

Pete,

What do you think the chances are of the O's signing Sheets to an incentive laden deal? OK just kidding! I'm actually backing off the Sheets bandwagon. For a guy with his stuff to still be out there, the injury/health issue must be significant. You think we might take a look at Livan Hernandez? Will at least give us some innings. And he would make sense on a 1 year deal.

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Pete's reply: That kind of thing wouldn't surprise me, but I haven't heard his name mentioned.

Schmucker:
Its great to have Markakis in the fold, but I'm getting a litttle worried about him playing next to Adam Jones after yesterday's story. Jones now weighs 235 pounds, that is linebacker size. He hits Markakis while they both go in the gap for a fly ball and Markakis' career will be over. I can't remember an outstanding center fielder who weighed 235 pounds, can you?

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Pete's reply: I don't know. The last time I saw Andruw Jones, I think he was tipping the scale at way more than that.

Why so cynical? Or perhaps why so frugal (directed to AM)? Pete, do you believe with a Sheets type starter we could truly compete this year? It seems like the talent we had only got better and our only true weakness is pitching; therefore, add Uhera and Sheets and see if we can't just shock some media? I love our lineup, defense, LLLOVVE the bullpen, couldn't Sheets really solidify this long shot?

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Pete's reply: You just asked for my honest opinion and it is, unfortunately, no. If the O's got the Yankees to trade them C.C. Sabathia and pick up his salary, they are still not a truly competitive team on paper yet.

Pete, I don't know if you've offered it before, but what is your opinion on Roberts last year? And what I mean by that is do you think the Orioles would have been better off trading him and getting more talent for him, or signing him to an extension? I ask because I am really up in the air about him. Part of me wants him to stay, but the other part wouldn't mind seeing another five players come to our organization. I know I changed tenses from past to present, but I'm having a difficult time typing this question the way I would ask it to you if I were standing right next to you.

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Pete's reply: I think the O's still have a chance to sign him, and that would be the best outcome. Obviously, if they don't, then it would have been better to trade him a year ago.

Dammit, Pete. Take the hint and convince Angelos to sign Sheets and end this thing. Man, you're dense.

For the record, I'd be excited if they'd give Jim Johnson one start.

By the way, I heard they traded Garrett Olson for some Pie. Good move, considering we can probably just claim Olson off the waiver wire in August.

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Pete's reply: As you probably know, Peter Angelos never makes a move without consulting me, so I'll pass that along.

For pop off the bench, a guy who hits pretty well in the clutch, another option at first behind Huff, a player who can relieve Mora when he gets hurt, and a guy who plays hard--it's Ty Wigginton.

I am not going to take a page out of old friend, Leo Mazzone's book, about throwing people under the bus, but I saw Oscar play quite a bit last year during the end of the year and I think he is just OK. I don't see how he would make the team with a 3 man bench (catcher, Freel and Gomez) or a 4 man bench (catcher, Freel, Gomez and Scott) because if they go with a 4 man bench, they would have to get a legit inning eater SP and a 1B. I wish Oscar well, but I didn't see anything in him that would make me want him on the team over say Kevin Millar.

One comment directed at the poster that keeps asking about Zaun and roids. Who cares? IF he was on roids, so were a lot of other guys. Not making an excuse, but all of MLB, turned a blind eye, so the "we are so shocked that it could happen" is a JOKE, as MLB enjoyed the money that was being made during that era. The policies are tougher now and MLB, does seem to be cracking down, so to think he will taint (no pun intended) Matt, is crazy.

Salazar should of been the O's first baseman. He hit in the 280s when called up in Sept. 2008, including 2 homers in one game for the O's.. I do not understand this at all. Salazar also hit .350+ in winter ball this dec. He deserves a chance to make it at 1st for the O's and now what..whos at first..This move was BAD BAD BAD.

You have obviously been practicing for your comedy night: "If they got the Yankees to trade them C.C. and keep the salary..." "...never makes a move without consulting me" hahaha, I love it! Right on right on, I'm going to stick to me guns nonetheless, most people counted the Rays out last year and I think one of the huge x-factors there was J.P. Howell and their bull pen, our is simply freaking fantastic and yankess as well as the redsox (minus there one-two close the and combos) suck big time! Great defense + 3 solid starters + great lineup + great bull pen = LETS GET IT ON!!! hehehe, thanks again Pete for your column, humor, and straight talk.

I think that maybe we did not define competitive well enough in these discussions. I think it should be more competitive, I do not think the readers are saying that Sheets would bring 100 wins to the team. I would be thrilled with 81 to 85 wins for 2009. Can they do that? If they have better luck in the second half and some arms stay healthy. Can they compete this year against the east and finush at the top? NO

Gunga-galunga!

So when will we know if Salazar cleared waivers or not?

Peter, Please explain how long a player, like Salazar, can remain available to other clubs for a waiver claim.

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Pete's reply: I believe the waiver period is 72 hours, but I don't know exactly when the O's actually have to put him on waivers. When you're designated for assignment, I believe the team has 10 days to complete that assignment. Roch Kubatko reported on his blog that Salazar would clear on Monday if he isn't claimed. That sounds about right.

To all the people wondering why we're not signing any pitchers,

Get a clue. This team will not be competitive this year. It makes no sense to waste money on arms that will deteriorate. Hold the money, see if any of the kids break through and splurge next year on a solid rotation guy. Oh, and as much as I love Brob, paying him more than the 10mil for 3 they offered him is a huge mistake. He won't make more as FA and he'll start his decline in a couple years. See Melvin Mora and the ridiculous amount of money we're paying him so he can feel entitled to playing time with garbage stats.