Orioles sign Bill Hall to replace Josh Bell

[Rob]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/o...,7371286.story

The Orioles have agreed to terms with veteran free-agent utility man Bill Hall, according to multiple industry sources.

He will report to the club's Triple-A team in Norfolk and will replace Josh Bell, who was dealt to the Diamondbacks this weekend after he was designated for assignment.

The Orioles like his glove at third base and his ability to hit for power against left-handed pitching.

Hall spent most of his 10-year big-league career with Milwaukee, where he had a 35-homer, 85-RBI season in 2006, but the Orioles will be his seventh organization since the beginning of the 2009 season.

He has a career line of .248/.307/.436, but his greates asset might be that he can play a variety of positions, including third base, second base, shortstop and both corner outfield spots.

Hall, signed by the Yankees in the offseason, became a free-agent after he did not make the Yankees' 25-man roster.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pl...hallbi03.shtml

Orioles will be his 7th team. LOL. Well, I guess it's actually 6th team as he didn't make the Yankees roster.

[Far from home]

Yeah, I guess this gives them someone to call up if/when necessary. The O's definitely have a win-now mindset.

[hector]

Yeah, I guess this gives them someone to call up if/when necessary. The O's definitely have a win-now mindset.

I agree with you about the win-now mindset given the old guys the O's are signing. Imagine how much more powerful they'd be if you added in Luke Scott who's tearing it up in Tampa and Vlad the Impaler who's tearing it up in Venezuela.

[Rob]

He did hit 35 homers back in 2006. That's the Orioles' type of player. Maybe, just maybe, he can catch lightning in a bottle again and have a season like that again.

I guess there's no downside to the move. I don't think we will miss Josh Bell any. He may never play in the majors again except in September when rosters expand. It's a shame really. A switch-hitting power bat at third base. He just never developed with the bat or glove.

[hector]

He did hit 35 homers back in 2006. That's the Orioles' type of player. Maybe, just maybe, he can catch lightning in a bottle again and have a season like that again.

I guess there's no downside to the move. I don't think we will miss Josh Bell any. He may never play in the majors again except in September when rosters expand. It's a shame really. A switch-hitting power bat at third base. He just never developed with the bat or glove.

Josh Bell owns Cliff Lee.

[Rob]

Bill Hall is 32, by the way.

In 2010 with the Red Sox, Hall hit .247 with 18 homers and 46 runs batted in. He struck out 104 times in just 382 at-bats. He hit just .211 in 62 games last season with Houston and San Francisco with 2 homers and 14 rbi. Had 17 errors as a shortstop in 2006 with Milwaukee and 17 errors playing third base in 2008 also with the Brewers.

[Far from home]

Bill Hall is 32, by the way.

In 2010 with the Red Sox, Hall hit .247 with 18 homers and 46 runs batted in. He struck out 104 times in just 382 at-bats. He hit just .211 in 62 games last season with Houston and San Francisco with 2 homers and 14 rbi. Had 17 errors as a shortstop in 2006 with Milwaukee and 17 errors playing third base in 2008 also with the Brewers.

He's not any good, but he's a vet who can play multiple positions the O's need.