Thursday, November 4, 2010

The Oriole Windfall for 2011, Part 4

Here is the final (reasonable) roster I would be shooting for in 2011 if I ran the Orioles. I have left trades out of the equation because that can just become a silly guessing game from the outside. I have stuck to current players and free agents.

C - Wieters
1B - Dunn
2B - Roberts
3B - Bell
SS - Izturis
RF - Markakis
CF - Jones
LF - Pie
DH - Scott
OF - Reimold
Utility - Wigginton
Utility - Andino
Backup Catcher  - Tatum

Thoughts: I would go hard after Dunn and plug him in at first base. Defense at 1B is overrated. I feel OK giving Bell the chance to get a full season under his belt in the majors. Wiggy could be brought back to spell Bell and Dunn at third and first respectively. 

Shortstop was tough. A commenter pointed out that J.J. Hardy is not a free agent after all, even though he was listed that way on Cot's Contracts. The pickings are slim after that. Jhonny Peralta looks to resign with the Tigers, Omar Infante and Alex Gonzalez had their options picked up by the Braves. Giving the job to Robert Andino would be cheap but he could turn out to be the second coming of Luis Hernandez. A short, cheap contract for Izzy is probably the best bet via free agency.

Craig Tatum did a fine job as the backup catcher in 2010. Andino or a castoff veteran can fulfill the middle infield role.

SP - Matusz
SP - Guthrie
SP - Vasquez
SP - Arrieta
SP - Bergesen

RP - Tillman
RP - Vandenhurk
RP - Berken
RP - Hernandez
RP - Patton
RP - Johnson
RP - Gonzalez

I still think signing a veteran starter is good insurance. Javier Vasquez will come fairly cheap and short term.

Moving Chris Tillman to the pen will give him big league experience and he can work on his cutter. Tillman, Vandenhurk, Berken and Hernandez give the O's a dynamic bullpen as all of those guys could pitch 2+ innings. Patton and Gonzo provide the lefty arms. 

The projected lineup and payroll:



Dunn, Adam 1B              $15,000,000    
Markakis, Nick rf $10,600,000
Roberts, Brian 2b $10,000,000
Scott, Luke dh-of $7,500,000
Gonzalez, Mike lhp $6,000,000
Vasquez, Javier P $5,500,000
Guthrie, Jeremy rhp-s $5,000,000
Wigginton, Ty 3b $2,500,000
Jones, Adam cf $2,300,000
Izturis, Cesar ss $1,500,000
Matusz, Brian lhp $1,400,000
Pie, Felix lf $1,000,000
Andino, Robert if $700,000
Johnson, Jim rhp $700,000
Bergesen, Brad rhp $500,000
Hernandez,D rhp $500,000
Bell, Josh 3b $500,000
Berken, Jason rhp $500,000
Patton, Troy lhp $500,000
Reimold, Nolan of $500,000
Tatum, Craig c $500,000
Tillman, Chris rhp $500,000
Wieters, Matt c $500,000
Vandenhurk, R P $500,000
Arrieta, Jake P $500,000

$75,200,000



That is an mildly improved team for just a touch over the 2010 Opening Day payroll. The Orioles can certainly afford to take on some payroll via trade (hopefully, a shortstop and/or starting pitcher) to improve the team further. Time to buy a bat, Andy.

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