Angelos: Part Deux
Peter Angelos said he is very pleased with the job that Andy MacPhail has done as president of baseball operations and anticipates that the Orioles will be a major player in the free agent market when the team gets close enough that one or two big acquisitions could take the franchise to the next competitive level.
"I think Andy has done a great job,'' Angelos said. "If we can maintain that impetus, things can be pretty good. I don't know about this year, but next year and the year after we have high hopes for."
The next phase -- either next winter or following the 2010 season, depending on the progress over the next two seasons -- would be to plug in a couple of marquee free agents.
"Absolutely,'' he said. "We've had that in mind, and I believe the resources will be available to do that."
Angelos said he speaks to MacPhail an average of once every two weeks. He's particularly impressed with the way the club's overall depth has been broadened in a relatively short time.
"You can see the depth of his professional experience,'' Angelos said. "He's done a great job. We're not one player deep anymore. We're two or three deep."
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Comments
Ugh, we don't want to fill our holes with big name free agents! It's a proven failure! Albert Belle, Danys Baez, Jaret Wright, Ramon Hernandez, and so many other big disappointments that have come through our clubhouse. Given the situation of our minor league system and current roster, we are deep enough that we should not need to pick up big names. If Brian Roberts stays competitive for another 4 or 5 years, we have enough organizational depth to keep every position covered for that span of time. Scott Moore, Ryan Freel, Ty Wigginton, Blake Davis, Snyder and company solidify our infield while the likes of Montanez and Reimold wait in the wings for outfield positions. And we all know the abundance of young pitching waiting to come from the farm.
So Mr. Angelos, it isn't the right thing to make a big signing (or trade for that matter) to push us into contention. The best free agent signings are the ones that produce depth because they often end up being the biggest surprises. Look at the Rays' signing of Carlos Pena last year. Low risk, high reward deal, and the fans weren't left feeling bitter for years afterward.
Posted by: Michael | March 22, 2009 3:39 PM
OMG,
Mr. Mothballs flying out of wallet, says he supports signing "marquee" free agents when the time is right! Well had they gone after even the middle tier of starting pitchers maybe, JUST MAYBE we wouldn't be the laughing stock of baseball. But that's ok, I believe the wallet opens up once the Nationals win more game than the O's and attendance plummets! I've got my season ticket renewal and have requested seats not before 2011 after the BIG GUY gets those marquee players!
Posted by: Keith ROwe | March 22, 2009 6:04 PM
For eleven plus years we have never gone out and signed a legit number one or even two starter. When that day happens i will believe again in this owner. When will the light go on ? It's always next year we will be a player in the free agency . Well next year has come and gone. Sure we may now have legit pitching in the minors but the fans have suffered for eleven years , it's shameful. Remember a few years back , 4th in profit and 16th in payroll. It's a crime.
Posted by: Dew Jones | March 23, 2009 9:53 PM