Sean Welsh, The Examiner
2008-07-31 07:00:00.0
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BALTIMORE -

Andy MacPhail is in his first full season as the Orioles’ president of baseball operations. But this is his second July 31 non-waiver trading deadline in Baltimore. Last year, the Orioles stood pat as July came to a close, choosing to make some minor moves in August. MacPhail took a few moments to speak with The Examiner’s Orioles beat writer, Sean Welsh, on what to expect today — the last day major league teams can trade players without having them clear waivers. Major League Baseball tampering rules prohibit team officials from commenting on which players they covet.

Some general managers prefer to discuss trades via text messaging. How much has the method of communication evolved since you became an executive more than two decades ago?

In the beginning when I first started, there was no such thing. Some guys are more comfortable using the Internet or text messaging. To me, it doesn’t matter. I can go either way. I probably lean toward the phone, rather than putting everything in writing. We can work through it either way.

What will be your routine today?

It can be quiet or it can be hectic. You can sit there and watch your phone and have nothing happen, or you can be doing a lot of back and forth with the result being a trade and sometime not. It depends on the market, and what happens around you. Sometimes you can be the one guy left that’s holding something in need of other clubs. Sometimes a need can be satisfied through earlier moves. You need to know what it is you’re looking for, what’s attractive to you, and if you don’t have something that makes sense to you, you don’t do something for the sake of doing something.

How do you view the trading deadline?

I think you try to stay on your toes and don’t get caught up in the moment, have it predetermined in your mind. If you get [a good deal], fine, if you don’t fine, don’t feel compelled to do anything.

How do midseason trades typically differ from ones made during the offseason?

I think in the offseason, you have a wider spectrum of clubs you can deal with. They’re probably more willing to deal more guys on their active 25 [man roster]. When you get to this point, there’s no point in robbing Peter to pay Paul. You’re pretty much exclusively looking at, in our circumstance being considered a seller, moving a known talent for prospects, which is all well in good when you can fill holes your system. You’re dealing with a more restrictive amount of teams than in the winter.

Of course, trades don’t stop after today. You traded pitcher Steve Trachsel last August after he cleared waivers. Do you see a market that will be conducive for more trades after today?

I think that the Aug. 31 deadline where you have teams fine-tuning what their postseason roster may look like, there will be a wave of activity there.