Bored at work, found a few rumors I figured I'd post.

From The Sun:

From Fanhouse:

Thanks for the "rumor round-up" Jay…it's more fun speculating about trade moves than it is to watch the O's play this year.

I hear you Jack. We were in Baltimore last weekend and it was tough to watch live. I think at this point, play all the young guys and let them get MLB experience. Hopefully Miggy, Wiggy, and possibly Guthrie & Millwood will be gone by next week and guys like Bell become every day players.

Oh, I received an email from Jen a couple days ago out of the clear blue (I haven't spoke to her in about 3 or 4 years). She's doing good. Married, looking to start a family, and has a distaste for baseball after the steroid scandal broke, but wanted me to pass along a hello to everyone.

Thanks for the update on Jen.

Here is a hotchpotch of O's rumors. The entire page is devoted to the O's, so you can just read down it if you like.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/baltimore_orioles/

High return for Tejada and stuck with Guthrie.
I am beginning to become McDisenchanted. Last place, worst team in baseball, but stay put, hold the line. 5 days till the kitchen closes and McPhail opts to emaciate waiting for a McBargain.
Andy has had one too many Happy-Deals.

In MacPhail's defense, I don't think it's true that he searches for bargains on the trade market. In fact, I think it's the exact opposite; he looks for the very highest return he can get in a trade. I think his track record vis a vis trades speaks for itself in that regard. I don't have a problem with that. In fact, that's what a GM is supposed to do.

Regarding free agency, however, I think it's absolutely fair to say that MacPhail looks for the bargain. His track record there also speaks for itself. I think his thought process there is fairly obvious; he would like to see some of these kids establish themselves, then see what holes are there, then fill those holes via free agency. Until that time, it has been a steady diet of holdovers, stopgaps, and journeymen.

I'm not here to take a position regarding MacPhail's approach to free agency. On that point, it's just a philosophical debate that will just go round and round. Truthfully, I think either way can work.

That being said, whether or not these kids show measurable progress over the rest of the season, I think the O's need to be a lot more aggressive this winter than they have been over the last couple of years. Obviously, that is assuming that there is any quality to be bought on the free agency market.

I used the term bargain and shouldn't have. I meant bargain as in highest return. And I agree, his record is excellent for exactly that, no more. It cannot be considered successful when your team sports the worst record. Highest return, no doubt, that is what he should do, if possible, but high returns are worthless if you continue losing. Obviously those type deals cannot be accomplished often. He is not in a position to make nothing but take-it or leave-it offers.
Whatever his strategy is, which eludes me, he has some deadwood that has no place in the O's future. A little bit of something is better than a whole lot of nothing. If drafting a promising pitcher on an annual basis and holding out for Bedard-like steals is the course, then no one on the current roster will play long enough to enjoy the satisfaction of playing for a winner. Some may not live long enough to even see it. That makes everyone expendable.
I am having communication problems. Let me try this. Tejada, Wiggington, and some others value will never be greater than it is right at this moment. Even if you cannot get what you want, get what you can. If you draw a line in the sand, what have you got? Tejada and Wiggington, Guthrie, will not lead us to a pennant. So, even if you end up with nothing, you have lost nothing.
If Andy is not going to build around Jones and Markakis, soon, he may as well just trade them for a lick and a plethora of promises.
The free agents list this fall looks more like the choices an expansion team would have. If the team is going to be improved, the improvement will have to come with trades. There again, not even the pseudo-successful Mr. McPhail can get Pujols for potholes.

Ah, I understand. I agree, MacPhail is better off moving some guys right now. As you say, their value won't be better than it is now. The only exceptions might be those guys you stil have contractual control over beyond this season.

I think MacPhail knows it too. He may be deliberate but he seems to have a very good understanding of value.

Often there are contractual issues, but evidently not with the names that are being bantered about. I don't know, hope he surprises me. He has a lot to do in 4 days to do it.
I am speculating that a Millwood deal was his #1 priority. Millwood going from his best trade-bait to basically untradable, probably forced him to start all over. The unfortunate timing, I am sure has made things that much more difficult, but it is what it is.
If Tejada and Wiggington are still with the O's next week, it's unacceptable.

Trade for Rangers doesn't appear imminent

July 28
Dallas Morning News

"The Rangers continue to be in contact with several teams as the non-waiver trade deadline approaches this weekend, but a deal does not appear imminent, a baseball source said. Should the Rangers make a trade, it probably won't be until Friday or Saturday. The deadline to make a trade without a player having to first clear waivers is 3 p.m. Saturday, and the Rangers are attempting to land a right-handed-hitting corner infielder. They have had steady dialogue with Florida about Jorge Cantu and Baltimore about Ty Wigginton , and they had a scout in Washington to monitor Cristian Guzman and Josh Willingham."


I think I would take Willingham.

Washington's an interesting case. Their record isn't very good, but they seem to believe they aren't too far away from contending in the NL East. I'm not too sure they will be looking to sell right now. I think there's a good chance they will look to sign Dunn to an extension and add some bats and bullpen help in the winter.

Very interested to see what they do this week.