No salary dump mode for O's, MacPhail says
Sun 21 Jun 2009
PHILADELPHIA —-- With his team mired in last place in the American League East and a roster that includes several players eligible for free agency after the season, Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail fully expects his club to be at the forefront of much trade speculation before next month's nonwaiver deadline.
However, on Friday, MacPhail reiterated his stance from the past couple of years, saying that the Orioles won't be in salary dump mode even with the prospective free agents that are unlikely to return. Melvin Mora, Aubrey Huff and Danys Baez are all in the final guaranteed year of their contracts, while Luke Scott, George Sherrill, Jeremy Guthrie and Felix Pie are potential trade chips who have attracted inquiries from other clubs.
"Our record is what our record is and we're in the division that we're in," MacPhail said.
"People make assumptions about what our activity would be, which is probably not unreasonable, but at the same time, I never thought we're required to be the rest of the league's farm system.
"If something makes sense for us where we can help somebody in the short term and we can get better in the long-term, that's one thing. But I really don't have much of an appetite to do something just for the sake of doing it."
Still six weeks away from the trade deadline, MacPhail said that he has had some trade discussions, but it's still a little early for anything substantive.
"What people need to remind themselves of is that the other clubs are using this time to determine where they are," he said. "They don't want to commit any resources that they can use in the future until they are pretty convinced that they are in it."
MacPhail declined to talk about any specifics, but he did say that he's had no talks with the New York Mets to this point. It's been speculated that the Mets could have interest in Huff and Scott.
The Orioles did have some general conversations with the Chicago White Sox about 26-year-old third baseman Josh Fields, according to sources, but it does not appear that there will be a deal at this point.
"I'm sure we will see the results of it," MacPhail said. "Our guys have been impressed with him to this point, but I've told you before that I have certain philosophical beliefs that would make me cautious and limit just how extravagant that we will be. But our guys are watching him."
Orioles director of player development David Stockstill has watched Sano work out once, and the team will hold a three-day workout for him from June 22-24 at their Dominican baseball academy. Sano is reportedly looking for a signing bonus between $5 million and $6 million, a price tag which obviously creates some apprehension for the Orioles, considering they've never seen Sano play in an actual game.
"For me those two guys, they can never be out of the lineup - no matter what," said Mora. "Just throw them in there. You have nothing to lose. Those guys need to be hot and when you get two hits, three hits, just let them keep going. That's not my decision, but those guys need to play."
Mora, Reimold and Wieters were all out of the lineup on Saturday as Luke Scott started in left field, Ty Wigginton at third base and Gregg Zaun behind the plate.
However, on Friday, MacPhail reiterated his stance from the past couple of years, saying that the Orioles won't be in salary dump mode even with the prospective free agents that are unlikely to return. Melvin Mora, Aubrey Huff and Danys Baez are all in the final guaranteed year of their contracts, while Luke Scott, George Sherrill, Jeremy Guthrie and Felix Pie are potential trade chips who have attracted inquiries from other clubs.
"Our record is what our record is and we're in the division that we're in," MacPhail said.
"People make assumptions about what our activity would be, which is probably not unreasonable, but at the same time, I never thought we're required to be the rest of the league's farm system.
"If something makes sense for us where we can help somebody in the short term and we can get better in the long-term, that's one thing. But I really don't have much of an appetite to do something just for the sake of doing it."
Still six weeks away from the trade deadline, MacPhail said that he has had some trade discussions, but it's still a little early for anything substantive.
"What people need to remind themselves of is that the other clubs are using this time to determine where they are," he said. "They don't want to commit any resources that they can use in the future until they are pretty convinced that they are in it."
MacPhail declined to talk about any specifics, but he did say that he's had no talks with the New York Mets to this point. It's been speculated that the Mets could have interest in Huff and Scott.
The Orioles did have some general conversations with the Chicago White Sox about 26-year-old third baseman Josh Fields, according to sources, but it does not appear that there will be a deal at this point.
Waiting on Sano
MacPhail said that he was aware of the espn.com report that Major League Baseball was looking into irregularities about the age and identity of 16-year-old Dominican shortstop Miguel Angel Sano, who has garnered interested from a number of teams, including the Orioles."I'm sure we will see the results of it," MacPhail said. "Our guys have been impressed with him to this point, but I've told you before that I have certain philosophical beliefs that would make me cautious and limit just how extravagant that we will be. But our guys are watching him."
Orioles director of player development David Stockstill has watched Sano work out once, and the team will hold a three-day workout for him from June 22-24 at their Dominican baseball academy. Sano is reportedly looking for a signing bonus between $5 million and $6 million, a price tag which obviously creates some apprehension for the Orioles, considering they've never seen Sano play in an actual game.
Mora high on Wieters, Reimold
Third baseman Melvin Mora has seen plenty of prospects come and go during his nine years with the Orioles, but the latest two young position players to come up - Nolan Reimold and Matt Wieters - have made quite an impression on the veteran."For me those two guys, they can never be out of the lineup - no matter what," said Mora. "Just throw them in there. You have nothing to lose. Those guys need to be hot and when you get two hits, three hits, just let them keep going. That's not my decision, but those guys need to play."
Mora, Reimold and Wieters were all out of the lineup on Saturday as Luke Scott started in left field, Ty Wigginton at third base and Gregg Zaun behind the plate.