LaRoche Talks going slow

[Far from home]

This might be the right time to make a splash.
LaRoche wants a 3 year deal...and if he can't get that in DC, Baltimore is right around the corner. He won't have to move, and he is a major upgrade at 1st.
This would take him through age 35, which is fine for a 1b.

[weird-O]

He would be a good addition. but the O's tried to sign him last year, and he wanted no part of it. Perhaps his opinion of Baltimore has changed after seeing them make the playoffs, but I would think he'll stay in DC unless the O's outbid the Nats and Boston (who is also reported as interested). Given that his salary demands are already pretty high, outrbidding Boston & DC will mean they have to pay him way more than he'll really be able to live up to.

And then there's the Angelos factor.

[RIKMAN]

I don't see him as his demands are pretty high. I doubt the king gets into a bidding war with anyone so I expect him back in D.C..

I expect Reynolds will be back at 1b for the O's. If not, the FA market is ugly and Davis might be the only alternative.

[bmore_ken]

This might be the right time to make a splash.
LaRoche wants a 3 year deal...and if he can't get that in DC, Baltimore is right around the corner. He won't have to move, and he is a major upgrade at 1st.
This would take him through age 35, which is fine for a 1b.

PETER ANGELOS. 'Nuff said

[hector]

What's the fascination with LaRoche? Davis is younger and better. Besides, I don't want any Frenchmen on the team until we clean up in the Dominican Republic.

[weird-O]

What's the fascination with LaRoche? Davis is younger and better. Besides, I don't want any Frenchmen on the team until we clean up in the Dominican Republic.

I think the fascination is with having a full team. Davis can certainly play 1B. but they are considering a replacement for Reynolds. Davis will probably maintain his roll as the primary DH while filling in for different positional guys throughout the year.

[ajc54terp]

Davis is younger, but I don't think there is a better defensive 1b then Laroche.

[hector]

I think the fascination is with having a full team. Davis can certainly play 1B. but they are considering a replacement for Reynolds. Davis will probably maintain his roll as the primary DH while filling in for different positional guys throughout the year.

If the O's pay top dollar for LaRoche, they'll have to play him and that will limit the use of Davis to some extent. I'm very confident that Davis would far out-perform LaRoche given equal opportunity so hopefully the O's will forget LaRoche and put Davis at first and leave him there all year.

As far as fill-in for position players, the opportunities will be very limited assuming that Machado, Jones, Markakis and McLouth are the position players.

[Far from home]

If the O's pay top dollar for LaRoche, they'll have to play him and that will limit the use of Davis to some extent. I'm very confident that Davis would far out-perform LaRoche given equal opportunity so hopefully the O's will forget LaRoche and put Davis at first and leave him there all year.

As far as fill-in for position players, the opportunities will be very limited assuming that Machado, Jones, Markakis and McLouth are the position players.

Davis didn't play 1st for most of the second half of last season - he was mostly in RF and at DH.
Davis would be fine as full time DH and spot reliever.

[hector]

Davis didn't play 1st for most of the second half of last season - he was mostly in RF and at DH.
Davis would be fine as full time DH and spot reliever.

My assumption is that Markakis won't miss half the season like he did in 2012 and that the opportunities in RF for Davis will be very limited in 2013. I also assume his AB's will be limited if you stick him in the bullpen as a spot reliever.

Davis has been very productive when given the opportunity and I don't follow the reluctance to stick him at 1B and leave him there.

[weird-O]

My assumption is that Markakis won't miss half the season like he did in 2012 and that the opportunities in RF for Davis will be very limited in 2013. I also assume his AB's will be limited if you stick him in the bullpen as a spot reliever.

Davis has been very productive when given the opportunity and I don't follow the reluctance to stick him at 1B and leave him there.

I don't see a reluctance. There is an open position at 1B. If you move Davis to 1B, all you've done is filled one vacancy by creating another.

if it helps you wrap your head around the topic, discuss it from the position that Davis has been given the 1B job. then pick someone to replace Davis in the role he filled last year.

[kudzu]

Perhaps his opinion of Baltimore has changed after seeing them make the playoffs

Perhaps not.

Unless, as you say, they outbid the Nats and Sox.

I'll add the "severely" adjective to that.

Baltimore is a top free agent graveyard right now.

[jordan77]

This Span trade could be cover for the Nats not signing Laroche. Although, Span would've worked nicely here and we could've dispensed with the risk of what to do if we don't sign McLouth. He would give us speed we don't have and he gets on base and doesn't strike out a lot.

[ivanbalt]

I don't see a reluctance. There is an open position at 1B. If you move Davis to 1B, all you've done is filled one vacancy by creating another.

if it helps you wrap your head around the topic, discuss it from the position that Davis has been given the 1B job. then pick someone to replace Davis in the role he filled last year.

I think Hector is just hoping that the full time DH job goes to a certain aging, mediocre singles hitter.

[weenie]

This Span trade could be cover for the Nats not signing Laroche. Although, Span would've worked nicely here and we could've dispensed with the risk of what to do if we don't sign McLouth. He would give us speed we don't have and he gets on base and doesn't strike out a lot.

Span would have resisted playing left. With his singles bat, a move to left would have been financially detrimental once free agency came along. Corner outfielders need more pop.

On the other hand, LaRoche is likely out of the Nats picture. Morse will move back to 1st leaving no room for Adam. That erodes the guy's bargaining position a little and it might present an opportunity here.

This is kind of like the Red Sox reportedly focusing on Swisher, Ross and Napoli. Moves like those fill up spots thereby crowding out other FAs who have to look elsewhere.

Pete is a bottom feeder from way back and his lawyerly preoccupation with oneupsmanship is mostly infuriating but once in a while it does channel guys into town. See Tejada or Lopez for examples of that.

Will Hamilton, LaRoche etc. find opportunities limited to the point that the O's are their best option? I still would not bet on that but moves like Span do eliminate some competition and that can only help.

[weird-O]

Pete is a bottom feeder from way back and his lawyerly preoccupation with oneupsmanship is mostly infuriating but once in a while it does channel guys into town. See Tejada or Lopez for examples of that.

can I ask you to elaborate on this?

not the part about him being a bottom feeder, but how that was a positive factor in bringing in the 2 FAs you mentioned.

the reason I ask, is because I can't see a connection between the two.

[ajc54terp]

Span would have resisted playing left. With his singles bat, a move to left would have been financially detrimental once free agency came along. Corner outfielders need more pop.

On the other hand, LaRoche is likely out of the Nats picture. Morse will move back to 1st leaving no room for Adam. That erodes the guy's bargaining position a little and it might present an opportunity here.

This is kind of like the Red Sox reportedly focusing on Swisher, Ross and Napoli. Moves like those fill up spots thereby crowding out other FAs who have to look elsewhere.

Pete is a bottom feeder from way back and his lawyerly preoccupation with oneupsmanship is mostly infuriating but once in a while it does channel guys into town. See Tejada or Lopez for examples of that.

Will Hamilton, LaRoche etc. find opportunities limited to the point that the O's are their best option? I still would not bet on that but moves like Span do eliminate some competition and that can only help.

Or no room for Morse, rumors on the four letter network, says Morse for shields...Morse makes sense in the AL, he is a defensive liability, and the fact span comes alot cheaper than Bourn or upton who were all rumored to the nats makes it a little more likely they might offer Laroche more than 2 years.

[ajc54terp]

Span CF Harper LF Werth RF....there's not going to be many gaps in that outfield...

[weird-O]

Span CF Harper LF Werth RF....there's not going to be many gaps in that outfield...

I envy DC for getting Span. I would have loved to have seen him playing in baltimore this summer.

[ajc54terp]

I envy DC for getting Span. I would have loved to have seen him playing in baltimore this summer.

They gave up a dam good pitching prospect for him, Alex Meyer, but they're loaded with pitching prospects, the next move is to sign Laroche and trade morse for a starter, dam that defense would be sick.