Though baseball season just ended, the Orioles have been resting up for a full month now. That’s why it was good to hear 2nd baseman Brian Roberts checking in at FM 105.7 The Fan. In a phone interview on November 5th with afternoon co-hosts Scott Garceau & Anita Marks (yes, The Fan is still trotting this unlistenable duo out for 3-4 hours a day instead of promoting their young talent like they should), Roberts talked about his offseason regiment, his take on the playoffs, and the 2010 free agent market.
Roberts took the high road when it came to congratulating the World Series champs and stayed true to the powerful MLB Players’ Union regarding a salary cap, but when Grandpa and The Cougar asked who he thought the O’s should pursue this offseason, BRob was uncharacteristically specific.
The veteran mentioned the need for a starting pitcher, though he admitted the market for a strong arm would be tough, but he did have a suggestion for bolstering the Orioles lineup—Matt Holliday.
Holliday and Roberts know one another personally and have spoken this offseason. Holliday, 29, finished the 2009 campaign with a torrid 2nd half performance in St. Louis. Roberts said that in their conversation, Holliday told BRob that he liked St. Louis but was filing for free agency and ready to test the free agent market.
In 6 years of big league experience, Holliday spent five seasons with Colorado before splitting ’09 between Oakland and St. Louis. He has a .318 career batting average and a .933 OPS, though he struggled in his brief AL stint with Oakland.
Holliday has played left field exclusively, and this is where Roberts envisioned him playing for the O’s during his radio segment. While Holliday would provide a right-handed bat for the lineup, he would further clog the left field picture that already includes Nolan Reimold, Luke Scott, and Felix Pie.
Scott could be a trade chip this offseason or he could be shifted to first, where he saw limited action in September. Pie may be used as a 4th outfielder, as his best position is center. That would leave Reimold and Holliday to split LF and DH duties.
A player like Holliday, who, unlike most of the free agents available, is still in his baseball prime, would be a big signing for the O’s, who should consider their veteran second baseman’s advice and use Roberts’ relationship with Holliday to help pursue him this winter. If he came to Baltimore, the club could find a way to get Reimold into the game elsewhere.
Of course, Holliday will probably just sign with The Yankees. Because that would be good for the game, right?
Comments
Intellegent players like Brian have to realize that the lack of salary cap creates a major deficit of parity in baseball. With little to no parity, baseball will not be able to sustain growth long term. Unfortunately, it seems like enveryone involved with MLB seems to take the Ostrich approach and just stick thier heads in the sand and ignore the obvious problem. Sure, MLB is seeing record profits, but most of that is coming from the major markets of NY, NE, Chi, and LA. Outside of those markets, the mid and small market teams are falling by the wayside of people's interest.
Why would Holliday want to come here, although he would definitely stay in shape if he play LF for the Os chasing down all the missiles hit off of Guthrie Berken and Hernandez
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