Who's on first for the O's in '09?

3 comments

October 6, 9:27 AM

by Jay Trucker, Baltimore Orioles Examiner

 

 

Check out Roch Kubatko’s complete list of free agents by position here.

It makes sense to begin discussion with first base, a position that could easily see a new face or faces manning the bag come opening day.  Trades, position changes, and minor-league promotions are possible, so the names on this and subsequent lists of free agents do not represent an exhaustive list of possible Orioles pick-ups.  Some FAs are quite remote possibilities for the rebuilding birds. 

Just for fun, let’s take a look at the 1st basemen who may have new homes in 2009.

First Basemen –( 08 team, age, 08 average, 08 OBP, 08 HRs, Career Avg, 08 Salary in millions)

Rich Aurilia -- SF, 37, .283, .332, 10, .277, $4.5
Ben Broussard – NYY, 32, .159, .225, 3, .263, $3.85
Carlos Delgado *--  NYM, 36, .271, .353, 38, .280, $16
Nomar Garciaparra – LAD, 35, .264, .326, 8, .314, $9.5
Jason Giambi * -- NYY, 37, .247, .373, 32, .286, $23.4
Wes Helms – PHI,32,.243, .299, 5, .263, $2.4
Kevin Millar – BAL, 37,.234, .323, 20, .277, $3.8
Richie Sexson – FA,33, .221, .321, 12, .261, $too much
Mark Teixeira – LAA, 28, .308, .410, 33, .290, $12.5
Daryle Ward – CHC, 33, .216, .319, 4, .263, $1.2
*Current club has an 09 option.

The list of free agent 1Bs is sobering; it reveals only one FA under 30.  Having made the playoffs with the Angels this year, Teixeira would really have to want to martyr himself to return to MD and play for the O’s in 09.

Many of the FAs are on the wrong side of 30 and overpaid.  I’m looking at you Rich Aurilia, Richie Sexson, Nomar, and Jason Giambi. 

A look at the 2008 numbers shows that the more affordable FAs – Ben Broussard, Wes Helms, Daryle Ward – don’t offer a real upgrade at 1st.  Kevin Millar has manned the bag for the O’s for the past three years.  He wants to return, but his status with the club is uncertain.  I voted no to a return for Millar, but I’m less firm in my stance since seeing this list.

The facts: the Orioles have signed very few players for more than $10 million a year, and they have little need to bring in a middling veteran in his 30s, even for under $5 million a season.  If they decide they need a veteran, they keep Millar because of his clubhouse presence.  If they decide to go head-first into a rebuilding year, they don’t resign Millar. 

My take: the O’s will ask Huff to play more games at first, allowing LF Luke Scott to DH more regularly.  With Huff starting close to half the games at first, they split the remaining games between Oscar Salazar (who will have to win a spot in spring training) and Ramon Hernandez. 

Starting catcher Ramon Hernandez’s defense was horrific this year.  He has a year left on his contract, and he’ll be out of a position if Matt Wieters is brought up. The birds will get him a few starts at first, hope he hits with a little pop, and try to showcase him for a trade.

I could, of course, be wrong about all of this.  Do you see a potential O on the above list?  If you were GM, would you propose a trade for a heavy-hitting 1B?  Feel free to chime in with your two cents.

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