I created this thread to cut down on the off-season trade rumor and player signings related threads. I know some people will ignore this thread because they want the attention and fell they have to create a thread every time the O's sign a player. haha

__________________________

Compared to past winters the Orioles actually spent some money in the 2010 off-season. Weather it was spent wisely or not, it was good to finally see the front office get off it’s a$S. Let's hope this off-season the flow of money will continue and maybe we can nab some more studs like Hardy and Reynolds.

FRom MLBTR

•Orioles owner Peter Angelos is trying to convince Andy MacPhail to remain with the team in a decision-making or advisory role, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. MacPhail was expected to walk-away from the team after the season.

_______________

I expect AMP to walk. I wouldn't mind Buck as the GM, because IMO he's not a push over, and he won't let Angelos push him around when it comes to decisions.

If we could get Maybe to commit to only using this thread, this off season will be much easier than last :)

I will stay on this thread guys. Here's to hoping we have many things to fill it up with. Could it be Fielder perhaps, or maybe a starter or two? I hope for Prince, but pretty confident we could survive if no more offense is added. Pitching seems to fail us, and the youth movement didn't give many warm and fuzzy feelings about the future. I do like the way Britton, and Arrieta looked this season, and Hunter could really help us next year also.
I wonder which way they will go: Offense or defense?

I agree about the not feeling warm and fuzzy about it, or the future of our young pitchers. Fact is, the Rays started a guy first game of the playoffs that was in the minors last month...and he pitched a shut-out. They built their pitching phenomenally...if we would have had half their success I would be pretty happy. If we don't buy an arm, I'll be angry.

Personally I'd like to see us focus on improving our pitching. I can totally live with our offense. Looking at the end of year team stats we were 4th in the majors in HRs and in the middle of the pack for runs, slugging pct, and OPS. What killed us this year was pitching without a doubt (or lack thereof) and the team stats reflect that: last in the majors in ERA, WHIP, and Home Runs allowed.

I will spend half of this offseason wondering what additional offense that Lee, Scott, Roberts could have added? I'd say Angelos has to show some sort of urgency to gain fan support again, and they will either go all in for pitching, or all in for Fielder.
I truly believe they will make a splash this offseason whether the fans spend the next 6 months begging for it or not. They MUST do something big to draw up support.

Pitching is "DA KEY " we if we spend any big money this off season it should be on a winning starting pitcher---I stress a "winning" starting pitcher . I'm no Fielder fanatic like a few on these boards I'll take him or leave him We have a couple of 1st base guys to work with in Davis & Reynolds.Also I've said this in the past we should groom Weiters /Reimold for some occasional 1st base play.

"Personally I'd like to see us focus on improving our pitching. I can totally live with our offense"

I agree, next year's offense will be fine. We need starting pitching, pitching, pitching, sprinkled with some pitching on top.

Incoming....... 34 year old starting pitcher retread. Please tell me Buck or Amp doesn’t bring in Chen for thee old veteran leadership role. I know it's just an example but they do mention the Orioles as a possibility.
________________________
From MLBTR

Free Agent Arbitration Primer

We'll use left-hander Bruce Chen as our Type B example. Say the Royals offer him arbitration and he turns it down in search of a better contract. Say also that the Orioles sign Chen. The Orioles do not give a draft pick to the Royals. The Royals do gain a draft pick - it is squeezed into the supplemental round. Therefore, signing a Type A free agent who was offered and turned down arbitration costs one draft pick, but signing such a Type B does not. Players who were not offered arbitration do not have draft pick compensation. Same goes for players who were designated neither A nor B.

Free Agent players who will be under 30 in '12, according to MLBTR:

Catchers Yadier Molina, Dioner Navarro and Kelly Shoppach,
First basemen Prince Fielder and Casey Kotchman,
Infielders Robinson Cano, Jose Lopez, Rickie Weeks, and Ronny Cedeno, and Edwin Encarnacion,
Outfielders Jeremy Hermida, <Grady Sizemore and Jeff Francoeur,
Pitchers Matt Cain, Kyle Davies, Zach Duke, Edwin Jackson, Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy, Scott Olsen, Jonathan Broxton, Matt Capps, and Joel Zumaya.

The list also included JJ Hardy, so it's suspect. I forgot that Mr. Sizemore's given name is verbotten on this forum. Apologies to his parents and all those delicate viewers who are under 18 years of age.

Some of those might be hard to count on because of club options. Cano for instance, you can be guaranteed that the Yanks will pick up his 14 mil option for 2012.

Dayum. I'd been counting on the Orioles signing Cano, Fielder, Yadier Molina and Matt Cain. You've broken my heart. lol

Dream on brother...lol

"I know some people will ignore this thread because they want the attention and fell they have to create a thread every time the O's sign a player."

You know it will happen. We all know it will happen. lol

BTW, did you see Sarfate's numbers from Japan? I'm thinking that between his numbers and "Gregg's high walk totals and his removal from the closer role at the end of the season leave the Orioles looking for a closer for the third consecutive winter" might mean that we bring back Sarfate for some kind of 2 year deal where we just give him a whole bunch of money.

Dennis Sarfate: 1-1, 11 Sv, 2.18 ERA, 28/2 K/BB in 20.2 IP

I know, I should watch what I say. After all, a future Oriole GM could be reading this and think that I'm serious. lol

"I know, I should watch what I say. After all, a future Oriole GM could be reading this and think that I'm serious."

Thanks, however I know better.

Signed, your friend Andy.

lol

Looks to me like Angelos should move this team to Japan. Scrubs go over there and dominate like they're the greatest players in MLB. Take this team over there and they'll hit 300 home runs, pitch to a team ERA of .99 with a WHIP of .78 and the team will be winning 90% of their games.

Good idea for this thread btw.

I don't think we're going to see many offseason moves this year. I bet the biggest move will be Andy becoming commish, with Buck assuming the GM role while also managing.

I think the hitting lineup will stay as is, with Davis as 3B, Reynolds at 1B, Andino at 2B, and Reimold in LF. In fact, I bet they even re-sign Vlady for 2 yrs for only 3mil a yr while dropping him to 6 in the lineup.

If they wanted Capuano, they should have claimed him when he was on waivers earlier this year. I don't think they want him for some reason, although I support the idea.

The old trade idea of Pie and Tillman to somebody like the Royals for a starting pitcher still seems like a good idea nowadays, but I bet they just release Pie when his contract runs out, while hoping Tillman improves and 'gets it' before he hits 25 years old.

No - I don't bet that very much money gets spent this year at all - maybe closer Capps if he's available(if Johnson gets groomed to be a starter.) Otherwise, i think the bullpen stays the same, too, especially with Strop and Patton proving they belong up here and Berken returning.

The team we ended up with the final 10 days of the season or so was pretty darn good. We should keep that unit intact and feed off of that last victory over the Red Sox. We need at least two starting pitchers, tho...but maybe they don't come from free agency - maybe they come from within(Arrieta and either Johnson, Simon, or or a comeback Matusz).

Guthrie, Hunter, Britton, Arrieta, and ?(Simon or Johnson...or the new Matusz) wouldn't be so bad, even though i wish to high heaven that one day the O's will have a strong pitching staff that goes deep into games with many quality starts in '12.

I think fans should totally give up on Fielder coming here, or any self-respecting FA SP, like Buerhle. No chance, at all. I bet we're gonna stand pat, with the outside chance we sign a quality FA closer, although I think it can't hurt to sign the best FA SP they can get their hands on who will agree to come to Baltimore.

"Looks to me like Angelos should move this team to Japan. Scrubs go over there and dominate like they're the greatest players in MLB."

Don't underestimate the Japanese ball players, they may not think your funny and kick our @ss....lol