Justin Upton

[Gizmo]

curious who you feel the 3 POSSIBLE top shelf players would be ? In my mind that means 3 starters (rookies eventually) for 1 Upton.

Back to looking at Butler or Hamilton

I'm all for looking at Hamilton, and I don't care if we overpay a little for him. He is worth the risk, imo.

[weenie]

The Os will trade for a starting pitcher and they'll add an outfielder via free agency. I'd expect one of their own FAs to also return (Saunders or Reynolds?).

If you want an Upton, BJ is the easier path. But, despite all the recent press claiming the contrary, I still think Hamilton is the big O's splash. He likes the town, fans and stadium A LOT! Of course, RA Dickey is a dark horse addition if the Mets buy into the notion that Arrieta/Britton and Avery/LJ Hoes have MLB value.

Add Dickey via trade and Hamilton via free agency, then add back Wada, Roberts and Reimold. 2013 is already promising regardless. But a few smart adds would push the Os to the preseason forefront.

[weenie]

curious who you feel the 3 POSSIBLE top shelf players would be ? In my mind that means 3 starters (rookies eventually) for 1 Upton.

Back to looking at Butler or Hamilton

Arrieta, Britton, Hoes and Schoop. Jonathan is a natural SS while both Arrieta and Britton are ready for back end starter duty. And, Hoes seems well suited to play in the Diamondbacks stadium.

But, I'd rather see that package used to acquire a pitcher like......Dickey

[SugarRay52]

The Os will trade for a starting pitcher and they'll add an outfielder via free agency. I'd expect one of their own FAs to also return (Saunders or Reynolds?).

If you want an Upton, BJ is the easier path. But, despite all the recent press claiming the contrary, I still think Hamilton is the big O's splash. He likes the town, fans and stadium A LOT! Of course, RA Dickey is a dark horse addition if the Mets buy into the notion that Arrieta/Britton and Avery/LJ Hoes have MLB value.

Add Dickey via trade and Hamilton via free agency, then add back Wada, Roberts and Reimold. 2013 is already promising regardless. But a few smart adds would push the Os to the preseason forefront.

There is no chance and I mean NO CHANCE the Orioles will sign Josh Hamilton. Dan Connolly already threw cold water on the rumors so you can forget about Hamilton coming here. Dickey might be a possibility but not likely either.

[reg_indy]

Arrieta, Britton, Hoes and Schoop. Jonathan is a natural SS while both Arrieta and Britton are ready for back end starter duty. And, Hoes seems well suited to play in the Diamondbacks stadium.

But, I'd rather see that package used to acquire a pitcher like......Dickey

Isn't Dickey like 300 years old?

O's ain't giving up both Britton and Arrieta. Nor should they..

[bmore_ken]

But, I'd rather see that package used to acquire a pitcher like......Dickey

Dickey's a flash in the pan, no thanks. No one had even heard of the guy until this year

[weird-O]

curious who you feel the 3 POSSIBLE top shelf players would be ? In my mind that means 3 starters (rookies eventually) for 1 Upton.

Back to looking at Butler or Hamilton

I don't really know MiLB that well, so I'm not really sure who they would want. the reputation of the O's is that their farm system isn't that strong. so they may not have the pieces.

I'm with you, free agents are the more likely targets. and the O's have lived on the cheap for so long, dropping a ton of money shouldn't be a problem. but this isn't a strong FA class.

FWIW, I heard Bowden say the expectation for Hamilton is 8 yrs @ $25M each.

[Aclobat]

Wow. josh h. is up to 8 years now?

[Gizmo]

I don't really know MiLB that well, so I'm not really sure who they would want. the reputation of the O's is that their farm system isn't that strong. so they may not have the pieces.

I'm with you, free agents are the more likely targets. and the O's have lived on the cheap for so long, dropping a ton of money shouldn't be a problem. but this isn't a strong FA class.

FWIW, I heard Bowden say the expectation for Hamilton is 8 yrs @ $25M each.

Scratch what I said above about Hamilton.

I'll pass on 8yrs/25mill per.

[weird-O]

Wow. josh h. is up to 8 years now?

this is all just talk coming out of the meetings, so it may not mean much. but he's sure to get a much longer contract than any team will want to give.

[Navypost]

How about Hardy and a package for Upton?

I wish

[Oriole-Bob]

The Os will trade for a starting pitcher and they'll add an outfielder via free agency. I'd expect one of their own FAs to also return (Saunders or Reynolds?).

If you want an Upton, BJ is the easier path. But, despite all the recent press claiming the contrary, I still think Hamilton is the big O's splash. He likes the town, fans and stadium A LOT! Of course, RA Dickey is a dark horse addition if the Mets buy into the notion that Arrieta/Britton and Avery/LJ Hoes have MLB value.

Add Dickey via trade and Hamilton via free agency, then add back Wada, Roberts and Reimold. 2013 is already promising regardless. But a few smart adds would push the Os to the preseason forefront.

You had me until you said Roberts, now i can't take anything you say seriously

[dandrews]

Nick Castenellos is on the table from Detroit. We arent' getting Upton unless Manny or Bundy are in the picture.

[weird-O]

Hamilton is asking for 7 yrs/$175M

and for some reason, the O's keeping being mentioned as his strongest suitor. I simply can't believe the O's would do that many years and that much money.

[weenie]

Hamilton is asking for 7 yrs/$175M

and for some reason, the O's keeping being mentioned as his strongest suitor. I simply can't believe the O's would do that many years and that much money.

Considering the only offer yet received was purportedly 3 yrs, 70M from TX, why do folks continue to use the 7 yr/$175M as a valid benchmark? Instead, let's play the arbitration game for a second. Those folks regularly split down the middle. IMO, expect a five year deal starting at $19M in year one and including a sixth year option for $27.5M with a $2.5M buyout. I'd expect the deal to total around $115M.

Now the real question is who the competition is in terms of bidding on this guy. Boston and the Mets are gun shy and likely to sit this hot stove out rather than infuse their franchises with more volatility. The Dodgers, Angels and Giants don't have room. The Yankees claim to be focusing on luxury tax avoidance. For Hamilton to work, he needs an environment conducive to his idiosyncrasies. And, it has to be a team that has sufficient character to envelope Josh.

Now exactly who do you think is ahead of Baltimore at this point in the bidding? And, please don't start with 7yrs/175M.

[weenie]

Dickey's a flash in the pan, no thanks. No one had even heard of the guy until this year

Come on! I know you are more knowledgeable than that! Take a look at Dickey's performance in 2011.....and 2010 pitching on a very bad team.

When did SI do their expose on the guy......before the season started! It would seem most folks knew Dickey was the real deal long before ole sage Ken. In fairness, I can appreciate your concerns for a guy who's 38 and has only developed his knuckle ball within the last 5 yrs but please don't denigrate yourself by avoiding those relevant considerations and instead tossing out eroneous stuff you know is simply invalid.

[weird-O]

Considering the only offer yet received was purportedly 3 yrs, 70M from TX, why do folks continue to use the 7 yr/$175M as a valid benchmark? Instead, let's play the arbitration game for a second. Those folks regularly split down the middle. IMO, expect a five year deal starting at $19M in year one and including a sixth year option for $27.5M with a $2.5M buyout. I'd expect the deal to total around $115M.

Now the real question is who the competition is in terms of bidding on this guy. Boston and the Mets are gun shy and likely to sit this hot stove out rather than infuse their franchises with more volatility. The Dodgers, Angels and Giants don't have room. The Yankees claim to be focusing on luxury tax avoidance. For Hamilton to work, he needs an environment conducive to his idiosyncrasies. And, it has to be a team that has sufficient character to envelope Josh.

Now exactly who do you think is ahead of Baltimore at this point in the bidding? And, please don't start with 7yrs/175M.

I was just passing along what Hamilton said he's looking for.

if you don't like what you're hearing, you'll need to speak with him about it. because right now, you're cocked and loaded with the barrel pointed squarely at the messenger.

[Gizmo]

Hamilton is asking for 7 yrs/$175M

and for some reason, the O's keeping being mentioned as his strongest suitor. I simply can't believe the O's would do that many years and that much money.

I've changed my mind again. I'm back in for 7/175M.

It's not my money thats being spent.

[weird-O]

I've changed my mind again. I'm back in for 7/175M.

It's not my money thats being spent.

a part of me feels the same way. after so many years of watching PGA live on the cheap, I don't care if he pays JH $100M/year.

usually I don't worry about how well a player will live up to a long contract, because salaries go up all the time. today's record breaking annual salary is tomorrow's league average.

let's say he gets $25M/yr for 7 yrs. he's almost certainly going to deliver on that deal for at least 4 of the 7 seasons. by the time 2017 rolls around, $25M/yr won't seem that unusual.

and if his production slips, or the team is no longer a contender, you do what all teams do. you ship him off to a contending team that is trying to bolster their line up for a playoff run. there's always a GM willing to take on a risky contract for the promise of a ring.

look how the yankees have absorbed stupid contracts for Cecil Fielder and Kevin Brown (just to name 2). the Angels and Dodgers are also willing to pay any amount necessary to win. add Boston, Chicago and Detroit to the mix, and there are at least 6 teams that would take on JH in mid-2017, provided he doesn't totally tank.

in the meantime, the O's project to go to the playoffs for a few years, and maybe they win it all at least once.

and that doesn't even take into account the other players who would then be drawn to the O's because they can hit in front or behind JH and AJ.

the ripple effect goes to the draft as well. suddenly college kids are willing to sign faster and cheaper because they know they're going to an org that competes.

I won't be upset if they sign him for 7-8 years. it will just make me wonder why Prince wasn't good enough to open the vault for last year.