Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
December 14, 2003
A Bird

The Baltimore Orioles got off their opening salvo today in their bid to compete with the Yankees and Red Sox, signing Miguel Tejada to a six-year deal. It also looks like they are after Ivan Rodriguez and Vlad Guerrero. This could be huge. Last year, Cruz, Fordyce and Gibbons combined for 33 win shares. The three free agents they are going after combined for 66. That's 11 more wins for the Orioles, and that's assuming they replace Gibbons with Vlad. More likely, Gibbons will fill in another week spot in the lineup. Eleven wins takes the Orioles up to 82, not enough to catch the Blue Jays, but enough to be a competitve team that will be fun to watch. And Vlad and Tejada did not have their best years. Could be a few more wins there if they recover.

Looks like the AL East is shaping up to have four very good teams. Could be a very interesting race.


Posted by David Pinto at 07:34 PM | Free Agents | TrackBack (0)
Comments

Even with Tejada and one of the free agent catchers, the Orioles will still only be good enough for 4th place in their division. Is it worth spending all this money (especially on the overrated Tejada and an aging catcher) on free agents for them? I guess it will bring fans into the seats again, but when they are stuck in 4th place at the All-Star break, will the fans still show up?

Posted by: sabernar at December 14, 2003 09:13 PM

They'll compete with the Blue Jays for third if they pick up Guerrero and Rodriguez/Lopez. Truth is, 2005 the AL East is WIDE open. The Red Sox lose a ton of free agents, the Yankees are a year older, and the Blue Jays are coming into their own. This is also as good a buyer's market as the Orioles are going to get. So why not make a splash on free agents that will still be useful in 2005, hope the kids pan out, and maybe make a run? It's better than never spending money, not drawing any fans, and giving up on 2005 already. I expect next year to have the same finish in the AL East, and 2005 to be a big shakeup year. And it may be the only chance the O's have to make a push before the Yanks and Sox retool. I like the moves they're making.

Posted by: Daniel at December 14, 2003 09:44 PM

The Orioles are going to be VERY good in 2005. They have Tejada. If they sign Guerrero than that is two MVP-calibar players right there. Add Lopez/Pudge and 1/3 of your lineup is excellent. Fill that out with the young, developing hitters in that system and add a few proven pitchers next offseason and the O's could be a contender in '05. Next season should determine alot as far as what they have, espically on pitching, for that run in 2005. They have the funds. And the Yankees aren't getting any younger and the Red Sox have a number of expiring contracts next season.

With that said, they'll still finish fourth this year, but I feel this is a great move for the not-too-distant future.

Posted by: Ryan at December 14, 2003 10:24 PM

The great thing about what the Orioles will have done if they land Guerrero and Tejada is get a couple of guys who are young and should be good throughout their contracts. The Orioles minor league system has improved dramatically in the past 2-3 years but it's heavy on pitching, light on positional players. A veteran catcher to handle the young pitching. 3 solid bats in the lineup and this team might compete for a WC in 2005 and beyond.

Posted by: John Gibson at December 15, 2003 09:58 AM

For the Orioles' sake (and for the sake of their fans), I hope they go harder for Vlad than for IRod/Javy, who are both catchers in their 30's. Of course in my dreams, the Yankees are going after Vlad, but I'm a realist. I'll settle for Vlad going to the Dodgers. ;)

Posted by: sabernar at December 15, 2003 10:43 AM