Tap-In Question: Which remaining free agent is the best fit for the Orioles?

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• Hey Dan,
  I think they should bring in Pagan. Plays good D, has some speed, could lead-off, switch hits, hits for a decent average and OBP. Has some pop too. Probably would not cost much either. Stick him in right field, platoon Kim and Ricard in left, and have Smith and Mancini share the DH spot. He's an older guy, so Buck would have options to give him a day off now and then. A good fit.

  • I'm in 100 percent agreement with everything you detailed. Great fit. Shouldn't be too expensive.

  • Totally agree. Without a ton of money to spend, at least assuming that Angelos isn't going to open up the checkbook and start writing checks with reckless abandon, Pagan provides plenty of options. He's a better leadoff option than the O's have on the roster, and plays good defense.

  • Don't forget 1 very important detail about Pagan, he can play CF in a pinch.

    Jones played hurt MUCH of last year because when Rickard went down, Duquette didn't acquire someone to play center to spell Jones. He did get Stubbs..if you wanna call him a big league outfielder.

• Okay, I'm going there: Joey Bats.

  He could DH vs. RHP. He could play RF vs. LHP in a platoon with Smith. And, when he's right, he's the only real impact bat left on the market.

  Of course he's risky. He'll cost a first round draft pick, might not mesh well in the clubhouse, and is aging. He has warts -- like every other free agent still available this time of year -- and maybe more than most.

  But he also provides the biggest potential reward. And given the O's narrowing window and refusal to talk about Manny or Britton in trades, they should be chasing the biggest potential impact. It's now or never with trying to make a deep playoff run with this group. Adding Bautista brings the biggest potential reward.

  • What? What? What, what? Mark it down people. Jan. 11, 2017. Steve Cockey advocates giving up a draft pick for an aging free agent. My head is spinning. :).

  • Mine is too. Trust me.

    They're just so far down this road that I think it makes sense, IF the player coming back has a chance to make a real impact. And Bautista, despite his age, is just one year removed from slashing .250/.377/.536. Add that to Machado and a Davis rebound, and there's an offense that can hit with anyone. And good enough to make a deep playoff run if the pitching holds up.

    Plus, you'd get a pick back for Trumbo.

  • Blasphemer. You obviously have no shame.

• Easy peasy ... bring back Matty Weiters. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Logic and reason be danged.

  • I'm thinking your way. A little bit anyway.

    • Is it really that tough to spell Wieters correctly? I'm constantly amazed at how many Oriole fans keep getting it wrong.

      Spelling rant aside, I'm a little with Boog, too. I gut feeling is that Matt's going to have a comeback type season & the only question is for what team.

      • I'm so ashamed. Nailed by the spelling police.

        And here (or is it hear?) I was thinking it's I before E except after W?

        I blame this all on my Texas high school education.

      • "I gut feeling"? Glass houses and all that ...

        • Nope, no glass house, Boog. You've never heard of the phrase, "I gut feeling"? Seriously?

          I guess the next thing you're going to tell me is that you've also never heard of the famous song from back in the day, "I Gut Rhythm". lol

        • It's all good my friend, after all, we're all birds of a feather around here right?

          Who could ask for anything more?

        • All good, indeed, Boog, but it would be even better with another World Championship this year!

  • I'm glad you guys made up. Grammar should never come between O's fans.

    • I dezerved it Steave. With all my insescent demanding to bring back "Weiters" ... You'd think I'd at least no how to spill his name wright!

• Hammell, Valbuena, Pagan and Colby Lewis, Jennings and Jepsen as 3 non-roster invitees

  • Wow. That's a whole lot of work to do. There are other teams with holes, too.

• Could use a 2nd lefty in the pen. Logan seems like a fit. Not sure if they can put it all on Hart.

  • I agree. Maybe Hart can do it. But if not, then what?

• Pedro Alvarez and call it a day.
  I like the Mancini/Alvarez DH platoon.
  I expect Kim to prove he can handle LH pitching well enough. Joey Rickard can platoon with Smith in RF and spell Jones in CF. Rule 5 or current prospect to spell Kim in LF against toughest lefties.

  • And save $$ for mandatory career contract for Manny

  • Tavarez, the Rule 5 guy is a lefty as well.

    I like Alvarez too. Off the bench late, when not starting and isn't afraid to take a walk. Price will be right as opposed to Trumbo.

    Not sure what smart organization would pay a DH 4/50. Not to mention their marquee player is coming up for free agency in 2 years.

  • Bringing back Pedro makes some sense. But I still think you need another OF with OBP skills on this roster.

• Do you think the O's would give an interview to Colby Lewis ?.....GO O's

  • I'd give him an interview. And I would assume the Os would have some interest if the price is right.

• Doug Fister. Even with a finger blister.

  • I'm buying what you're selling, mister

  • Random trivia time: Name the former Oriole whose walk-up song was by Mr. Mister?

    • Nate McClouth ?

      OK I admit ... I googled. (I'm so ashamed)

      • Nate McClouth. He really hustled & made some great catches in LF and cracked out a lot of key hits.

  • You've got it, Boog. "Kyrie" was the song. Came on the other day in the grocery store, and many fun 'Nate the Great' memories came flooding back :) haha.

• The Orioles are almost in a win now mode but also need to plan for the future, which is a tough place to be in. I think they need 4 more players that aren't going to be too pricey. I love the idea of adding Pagan, because he fits the mold they most notably need to fill. Buck wantso another lefty for the OF which Pagan is a switch hitter, so he fits there. He can also play in the OF consistently with Smith relieving him at times. He can also be the leadoff hitter that the Orioles need. Jonesy is better served with runners in scoring position more often.
  I would also add a power bat. I like Carter for his price here. Bautista is the best available, but with Pagan and Smith, wouldn't be needed as much and he'd be more expensive and comes with a lot of baggage. Carter belted over 40 HR'so which could be huge in Camden Yards.
  I also think one more RP could be useful. I would choose Boone here as I think he's the best available but still wouldn't be much.
  Finally, I think one more SP would be perfect. I like Hammel a lot here. He has a history with the team and division and will fill the rotation in nicely.

  Thone are my ideal additions. I also wouldn't be opposed to Bourne for the OF. I'm also intrigued by Tyson Ross for SP. He could be an ace that will come cheap on a 1 year deal.

  • Good stuff. But as I said earlier. That's a lot of remaining work and there are other teams with holes too.

  • Awesome site name friend. Bartender, set this man up with a drink on me.

• I say pick up Brandon Moss. While he is 33 the Orioles should be able to get him relatively cheap. No qualifying offer to worry about. He's a lefty bat which plays well at Camden Yards. While he does hit right handed pitching a little bit better his numbers against south paws are still respectable.

  He even has some lead off potential. With the current Orioles around him I think he could have a good few seasons with the Orioles. His averaging 24 home runs a season the past 5 years helps too.

  • Welcome, Jennings. Moss is a name that definitely makes some sense, and the O's reportedly have at least some interest in him. I'm not sure about him leading off (career .319 OBP), but a LH bat with power that can play corner OF and DH some definitely fits. And, like you mentioned, he shouldn't cost a ton.

• If no winning starting pitchers are picked up, we are likely to have the recurring nightmare of Ubaldo Jimenez & Miley blowing a huge number of games. Does my memory serve me correctly that Duquette has said that, in so many words, the Orioles will not pay competitive amounts for top-tier starting pitchers?

  • Hasn't really said that. But Os have never given a free agent pitcher more than 4 years. And that was 4-$50 to Jimenez. Long-term deals to pitchers are not often good investments and that's a stance the O's have adopted -- even before Duquette.