Last year, the Orioles paid Aubrey Huff $8 Million + to play 1B and DH.

Having shed Huff's contract (and Mora's, Gibbons' Walker's, Baez', etc), Baltimore has a bunch of money.

The Brewers' Mat Gamel is available for starting pitching. He's 24 years old and is a power hitter with speed. As I've (annoyingly, I'm sure) pointed out for the past two years, he's an AL DH... since his erratic arm and footwork issues make him a problematic infielder.

I don't think Gamel should play much 1B or 3B if the Orioles can cut a deal for him, but I suspect that he'd hit a ton and offer an interesting dimension at DH... he can run the bases. With Bell, Snyder and Aubrey as corner infielders, Gamel's defensive liabilities wouldn't be a problem... and he could, in time, get better.

I think that the Orioles could deal from strength (Guthrie and young starting pitching) and pick up a guy who is likely to hit .320/25 HR/90 RBI/15 SB/.400 OBP for a long time.

Just more of the same, but the clock is ticking.

Personally, I'd rather have Pie in LF and Reimold at DH than Reimold in LF and Gammel at DH. Aren't you a bit concerned with his decline at AAA (that in the PCL) last year and his not so impressive performance in the majors?

Granted the AA numbers do look pretty good.

If he could play a decent third base I would be tempted but just to have him for DH duties and have to give up Guthrie plus whoever else it would take to get him then I'd have to say no. To many DH types are readily available and we already have one of them in Scott.

"Personally, I'd rather have Pie in LF and Reimold at DH than Reimold in LF and Gammel at DH"

Yup.

2009 was an awful year for Gamel; that's why he's being offered on the auction block.

This is, I think, a "buy low" moment for him. If the Orioles were to pull the trigger and not have it work out, a deal wouldn't be a great loss, but I suspect it would be a great trade.

I think Reimold will play better LF after his surgery. I'm convinced that the Orioles need four outfielders. Pretending that Markakis can't get hurt is ridiculous. Reimold played RF most of his minor league career and is an essential backup there.

I'm very conservative that way... (LOL).

If the second half of the 2010 season finds Josh Bell playing 3B, Michael Aubrey and Brandon Snyder playing 1B, and Gamel/Reimold sharing DH for the Orioles, I think they could win some games.

If Gamel were the Orioles' primary DH, Luke Scott would go a long way toward getting them a shortstop or a starting pitcher.

"This is, I think, a "buy low" moment for him. If the Orioles were to pull the trigger and not have it work out, a deal wouldn't be a great loss, but I suspect it would be a great trade."

I agree with the buy low point you made but Guthrie plus some young starting pitching like you said in your original post is not buying low in my opinion.

The Brewers need a starter or two for next year (Guthrie/Hernandez).

The just traded Hardy for Gomez, so they're not picky at this moment.

Does anybody think Guthrie and Hernandez will get us to the playoffs? It may be too much, but I'd consider it a good risk.

"Does anybody think Guthrie and Hernandez will get us to the playoffs?"

Maybe not but Gamel replacing Scott at DH ain't gonna get us there either.

If Scott + could get us a real shortstop or a starter better than Guthrie, then Gamel (age 24) is an enhancement over Scott (age 31), I think.

It's difficult not to like Scott, but last year he hit 116-449 (.258), 25 HRs, 77 RBI, .340 OBP. He is replaceable... and might be a very useful addition to another team. Those numbers are about in line with his career stats.

I think Gamel definately has a major league bat. He may not be the pure hitter that Billy Butler, KC Royals, is but like Butler his defensive skills limit him. That's why he's available.

Like Butler he could settle down and become a productive first baseman. If you look at his errors most of them were of the throwing variety which helps his cause at first base.

But looking at the big picture...do you trade a seasoned pitcher in Jeremy Guthrie...for a developing prospect....when you have no pitching to spare? Sure the minor leagues have legitimate prospects...but lets face it....they didn't exactly look like Palmer, McNally or Cuellar last August when they got their big league chance.

I would never make this trade. I would sign Nick Johnson (Type B free agent) and have a great defensive and offensive first baseman...and let Guthrie prove that 2009 was a fluke. I'd let the young pitchers develop while signing Hendrickson...not Baez....and pursue the following Type B free agents: Eric Bedard, Jon Garland and/or Rich Harden.

You land two of these three starters, sign Nick Johnson and a couple of relievers...and you know what....you may actually put some fans in the seats.

"... do you trade a seasoned pitcher in Jeremy Guthrie...for a developing prospect?"

Yep. As I said, the Orioles shouldn't count on Gamel for his glove, but for his bat. Bell, Snyder and Aubrey are much more likely corner infielders. Gamel is a DH and could be a REALLY good one. If the Orioles don't get him, another AL team will.

I will say this much for ya. Your man crush on Gamel is a mighty powerful one...lol

Major League Totals - 2 Season(s) 63 130 11 32 7 1 5 20 1 0 18 55 1 2 0 1 1 .246 .340 .431 771
Minor League Totals - 5 Season(s) 522 1983 320 598 133 23 63 333 37 20 222 447 19 25 3 21 30 .302 .374 .487 861

He's a better hitter than Huff. He's a better hitter than Scott. All I'm sayin'

Here's the problem....Guthrie led the Orioles in wins in 2009...with a 10-17 record (embarassing...I'll admit). He's also been their best pitcher the two previous years. He is a legitimae Major League starter. If you trade your best pitcher for a prospect...you've just delayed your rebuilding process a couple of more years...and for what...a DH? Why?...when you have the bucks to sign...Nick Johnson...the total package. Plus he's a Type B free agent which means you lose no draft picks.

The only way I'd make that trade is if the DH in question was Mickey Mantle. Unfortuanately...Gamel isn't that kind of talent. The trade is too risky...and by pulling the trigger you'll be allienating fans...especially me and 2,632.

"Nick Johnson...the total package. Plus he's a Type B free agent which means you lose no draft picks."

The total package is a type B... Sounds as if the wrapping on that package is a tad bit worn.

It all boils down to Einstein's "Theory of Relativity1"

If you're the New York Yankees....and you have a quarter of a billion dollars to spend annually...then you're man is Mark Teixeira.

But if you're the Baltimore Orioles...and you have a number 3 draft pick to lose....then Nick Johnson is your man.

Picks 1-15 are secured, plus the road that won't be traveled is the trade route. No guts, no glory.

"and for what...a DH? Why?"

Because the Orioles don't score enough runs. Because they have a plethora of good young pitching talent. Because the Brewers want a ML starter. Because a good team... a playoff team in Baltimore... has to be built around 25 year-old hitters and a solid starting staff.

I think the Orioles can pick up a TOR starter this winter and go with Bergesen, Matusz, Tillman and Arrieta/Berken/Erbe...

Gamel is a better hitter than Huff, Scott, etc. (and he's 7 years younger). He fits with Jones, Reimold, Markakis, Aubrey, Bell, Snyder, Turner, Pie... and makes the offense work, IMO.

Bergesen is every bit as good a pitcher as Guthrie. The Orioles need a first-class veteran starter (not an Eaton, Hill or Hendrickson), but a serious starter to anchor the staff. Between their money and their young talent, they should get one.

Nice to see that Mora will get a "sandwich" pick. I hope it's not baloney.

We'll never see eye to eye on this one...and only time will tell who is right.

Frankly, I thought the O's should have pursued JJ Hardy...a decent defensive player with some pop to his bat. I think McPhail is a little slow to react to trade opportunities...unless it's a no brainer.

Pitching really isn't an Oriole strength at this point in time...they ranked last in the major leagues in 2009 with a 5.16 ERA while giving up 218 home runs. This ERA was up from the 2008 average of 5.15 runs per 9 innings. Even though Guthrie may not be much in terms of MLB pitchers...he's still the best we got.

I like Guthrie and I like Luke Scott. Both of them are potentially more useful in trade than they are for getting the Orioles into playoff contention.

The Orioles need a TOR starter who's better than Guthrie, they need a shortstop, and they need more power.

Keeping Guthrie because he's "the best we got," or Scott because he hit the most HRs for the Orioles in 2009 makes little sense to me. They didn't get us anywhere last year and they won't next year, either. If the Orioles can trade them (and additional talent) to upgrade starting pitching and hitting that scores runs, they have to do it. Guthrie and Scott are solid complementary players, but not "foundation players," IMO.