Orioles Have Interest In Kikuchi & Chapman
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [October 15 at 1:39pm CST]

The Orioles have some interest in the world's most coveted amateur lefthanders. Director of international scouting John Stockstill tells Roch Kubatko of MASN.com that the club has some interest in Yusei Kikuchi, a top Japanese amateur. But Kikuchi's not the only big name the O's would consider.

"We're looking at all of them," Stockstill says. "It's the same thing with (Aroldis) Chapman and anyone else."

Stockstill says he isn't sure how interested the Orioles are at this point. Kikuchi will still have plenty of suitors to choose from if the O's decide not to pursue him. The Giants, Mets, Dodgers, Yankees, Rangers, Mariners and Indians are expected to start meeting with the 18-year-old lefty this week.

We should know a lot come the winter meetings.

Strong Interest In Aroldis Chapman
By Tim Dierkes [October 23, 2009 at 1:59pm CST]

1:59pm: Lennon says (via Twitter) that the Mets won't bid $40-60MM for Chapman. FRIDAY, 1:19pm: Add the Blue Jays to the mix of teams interested in Chapman, according to our source. Also, the Orioles have maintained interest and want to meet. THURSDAY, 2:39pm: MLBTR has learned that the Cubs and White Sox have expressed interest in free agenty lefty Aroldis Chapman. The Cardinals have been more aggressive than those clubs, and plan to meet with Chapman next week. The Yankees and Red Sox, of course, have also been among the aggressive suitors. A meeting with the Mets will come later... Continue Reading

Hendrickson Hopes To Re-Sign With O's Quickly
By Mike Axisa [October 30 at 7:29pm CST]

Once the World Series ends, teams get an exclusive 15-day window to negotiate with their own free agents before they truly hit the open market, and as Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun notes, lefthander Mark Hendrickson hopes the Orioles take advantage of that window.

"We won't wait just for the purpose of waiting," said Joe Urbon of CAA Sports. "They have an exclusive window to talk and try to get something done and I would hope that they'd use it because I know that's what Mark would like.

"There has been indications and a vibe that there is an interest in the Orioles in having him back and Mark has made it clear that he has an interest in staying. It has to work on both sides. That includes fit and role and economics. I don't see any reason that all three things can't be accomplished."

The former Philadelphia 76er, Sacramento King, New Jersey Net, and Cleveland Cavalier pitched to a 4.37 ERA in 105 innings this season, mostly out of the bullpen for the O's. He earned $1.5MM in 2009, but FanGraphs values his performance at $2.2MM. It was also the fourth straight year Hendrickson's value has declined.

"Hendrickson Hopes To Re-Sign With O's Quickly"

I don't have a problem with him coming back as a reliever (not a starter) but he would have to wait until after the rule 5 draft if it were up to me. If he really wants to play in Baltimore then he'll wait til then. I value the roster spot more then his quick return.

Baez Back In Baltimore?
By Drew Silva [November 4 at 5:57pm CST]

According to MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez, right-handed reliever Danys Baez is interested in returning to the Orioles.

It's not yet clear if the feeling is mutual.

The 32-year-old Baez posted a 4.02 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 40/22 K/BB ratio in 71 2/3 innings this season. He served as an effective workhorse for the O's and was especially dominant against right-handed hitters, holding them to a .197 batting average and .565 OPS. He also had a robust 60.9% groundball rate. Baez told the Baltimore Sun back in September that he hoped to resume his career on the East Coast:

"I'd like to stay in the East. I like pitching [in the division], and the East is more convenient for me and my family," said Baez, whose family lives in Miami. "I would love to be on a contending team and get into the playoffs. But I have to wait until the offseason and free agency and talk to my agent."

The Orioles signed Baez to a three-year, $16MM deal in November of 2006. He will get another crack at free agency once the World Series concludes.

Interesting. Those numbers (other than ERA, which is often misleading) are actually pretty good. His LHB splits are pretty decent as well. It did seem like he gave up some big HR's last year with guys on base/inherited base runners though. I guess I might be ok with something around 1 year and 2-3 mil.

There has to be something better out there.... just has to be. Don't want him, don't need him.

Baez does "owe" the Orioles one full season. He needs to redeem himself. If the Orioles were to sign him and trade him in July (assuming that he's pitching well), I wouldn't begrudge it.

If he wants $5 Million, hellwithim.

You'll be sorry.

IMO the orioles would not finish any lower in the standings without Baez then if they resigned him, so why bother.

The Orioles hot stove is on fire!!!! First news of Hendrickson and now Baez. Why not come up with a Millar story and burn the house down!!

'There has to be something better out there.... just has to be. "

Yeah sure, but not a lot and not cheap. I'd rather not pay lots of money on more long term deals to relievers either. The perfromance varies too widely from year to year.

Look past the ERA (which was still below average). His other stats were well above average. That coming off arm surgery and used somewhat judiciously (probably helped him). There are not a lot of "better" relievers out there for the picking.

If he'll go on a one year deal at 2-3 mil I'm fine with that. If he doesn't want that, then let him walk.

As far as our bullpen goes in general terms, they would be greatly helped by having starters that can give us more than 4-5 innings. Guthrie and Bergesen were pretty reliable in that aspect, but the balance of our rotation usually couldn't get to or thru the third trip thru the line-up. I think Baez's season was indicative of how our overuse of the bullpen caught up with us by the end of the year.

I'm on the fence with Baez and Hendrickson. Quite honestly I'm not concerned about how much money we spend on the bullpen as long as it's spent wisely. What I do want to see is a few dependable arms that we can depend on to bridge to Johnson and whoever our closer will be. Our biggest step forward for the team next year will be improving our ability to protect a lead and lock down a win.

Probably doesn't mean much one way or the other. I like Hendrickson better and he'd be the priority IMO. I like him used situationally in 1-3 inning stints where he seems to be the most effective. Baez seemingly has turned himself into much more of a GB pitcher than a FB pitcher. Both guys can throw strikes, so they're better than Sarfate (who should be gone).

The one thing I don't want to do is to tie up veteran relievers in long term deals. We've done that twice with horrific results. I also don't want so many vetern relievers that we lose our flexibility to bring some of our younger relievers up/down who have options.

No lack of attention for Lackey
By Steve Melewski on November 5, 2009 9:04 AM

John Lackey, John Lackey, John Lackey.

Are you tired of hearing about him yet? Get used to it. He's considered the top free agent pitcher out there and the time for players to file for their "freedom" hasn't even come yet.

Some are speculating that Lackey will garner a contract for five years and worth between 80 and 100 million.

The ship is about to come in for the right hander.

O's fans will anxiously await word on whether their club is in the hunt for Lackey. While I would love to see him top and lead Baltimore's young rotation, I don't see the O's throwing out a contract of that magnitude.

Some say whoever signs Lackey will be getting a good, but not nearly great pitcher. There is some evidence that may be true.

Here's a comparison of Lackey's last two seasons (combined) vs. Jeremy Guthrie's 2007 and 2008 seasons.

Lackey: 23-13, 3.79.....340IP....338H....43 HR.....87BB.....269K.......1.25 WHIP.
Guthrie: 17-17, 3.66....366IP.....341H....47HR.....105BB.....243K......1.22 WHIP.

Is the Guthrie of those years a pitcher worth 80 to 100 million? I didn't think so, either. By the way, Guthrie is 30 and Lackey 31.

Still, I'll take Lackey on the O's any day and I don't mind if they overspend for him - It's not our money, right?

I just don't see that happening with the Orioles.

These stats do show how important a return to form by Guthrie would be. It would be like adding a Lackey to the rotation. I've heard some say that even at his best, Guthrie is only a third or fourth starter.

At his best, he is clearly better than that - Not an ace like Sabathia or Halladay, but a very solid, perhaps number two, pitcher.

A return to form by Guthrie in 2010 would be so huge for the Orioles. Even with that, they could use another solid starter with similar numbers to help the young guns.

The O's have several quality pitchers still on the way on the farm, but you can never have enough starters. Perish the thought, but if they ever have a surplus of quality starters, other teams would jump at the chance to trade with a club willing to part with young arms.

Maybe then, they wouldn't be Lackey, I mean, lacking a good rotation.

Melewski isn't very good with statistics. He may be a decent reporter (not as good as Roch imo), but his analysis is sorely lacking.

Any new rumors about possible free agents the O's are looking into?

"Any new rumors about possible free agents the O's are looking into?"

Yep, I here that we're real close to signing Richie Sexson to a one year contract. Also, it's just a rumor though, but I here that Morgan Ensgerg may be in line to play third base next year.

Sleep tight.

Kurkjian's Latest: Yankees, Dodgers, Chapman
By Drew Silva [November 7 at 1:14pm CST]
Tim Kurkjian runs through some of the top storylines to watch this offseason for his latest article on ESPN.com. Here's a breakdown of some of the topics discussed...

Kurkjian believes the Yankees will let Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui walk this winter and will "consider" free agents Jason Bay and Matt Holliday.
Kurkjian also thinks Holliday is "perfect for Fenway Park," and someone who will be pursued if the Red Sox aren't able to reach an agreement with Bay.
The McCourts' divorce could have a serious impact on the way Los Angeles does business this offseason. As Kurkjian writes, "The Dodgers need to acquire at least one topflight starting pitcher, but there is already speculation that they will not have enough money to re-sign left-hander Randy Wolf."
The Cubs won't be able to trade Milton Bradley without picking up most of the two years, $20MM left on his contact.
The Yanks are likely to re-sign Andy Pettitte for at least one year.
Kurkjian spoke to one MLB general manager who thinks Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman has "a ways to go before he's ready to pitch in the major leagues, phyiscally and emotionally."

>>>>>>>>The Angels are expected to be aggressive in trying to re-sign infielder Chone Figgins, but he'll have plenty of other suitors. Kurkjian lists the White Sox and Orioles as possibilities. We've heard the Cubs might also have interest. <<<<<<<<<<<