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Let’s party! Orioles pursuing San Diego shortstop Greene?
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Unfortunately, this actor was never heard from again.
The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Tom Krasovic reported this week that the Padres are shopping shortstop and Jeff Spicoli look-alike Khalil Greene. Amongst the teams said to be interested in Greene are the Reds, Tigers, and Orioles. Check out Krasovic’s article here.
The 29 year-old one-time first-round pick can hit for power, which is something the O’s are looking for in a shortstop. Greene hit 27 home runs in 2007 and 15 in each of the three seasons prior. Check out Greene’s career stats here
Things took a turn for the worse in ’08, when Greene batted an abysmal .213. Frustrated with his and the Padres’ poor season, Greene punched a storage chest and fractured his hand in July, ending his season…He then had a pizza delivered to the clubhouse.
His relationship with the club has been rocky ever since. The Padres are now hoping to find a team that will take him and his $6.5 million salary in 2009. Greene would be a free agent after the ’09 season.
Greene also allegedly writes hip-hop lyrics...seriously.
At $6.5 million, Greene’s price tag is fairly high for the Orioles, who don’t have a player making $10 million or more per season. Greene would be amongst the birds' highest-paid position players. The team pays Melvin Mora, Brian Roberts, Aubrey Huff and Ramon Hernandez over $6 million per season.
Paying that much for a guy who hit near the .200 mark is risky. With free agency only a year away, Greene would essentially be a one-year rental, which is not an ideal contract situation for a rebuilding club. In this case, though, the one-year contract could help the O's evaluate Greene and determine if his horrible '08 was a fluke.
The Greene trade won’t materialize unless San Diego is willing to dump his salary for very little return. The Padres are in the midst of a dispute regarding Greene’s paychecks, which could put them in a position to pull the trigger even if O’s GM Andy MacPhail lowballs them.
If you were Andy MacPhail what would you give in order to lure Greene from sunny San Diego? Two low-level prospects? The old Camden Yards Jumbotron? The promise of tasty waves and a cool buzz?
For more info: Check back all winter for developing O's hot stove.
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