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Duquette stays true to his word; could Morales be next?

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Even though I am on record as saying I don’t think the Ubaldo Jimenez signing is a huge upgrade, it does prove a few things.

Dan Duquette has said that he would reallocate the money saved from trading Jim Johnson and the team would have a payroll around $100 million. With the signing of Jimenez, he has done just that, and it quiets the haters that think the Orioles are cheap. It also shows the Orioles want to win and they want to win now. I respect that and the fan base just wanted the O’s to show they were serious about being contenders. This move accomplishes that.

So, where do the Orioles go from here?

In a recent interview with FoxSports.com, Duquette said if the O’s forfeited their first round draft pick, it would be a lot easier to give up their second round pick. His exact quote on the subject was: “If you do one, I think that makes the second one easier, frankly.”

If that is true, could this mean the Orioles would be willing to sign Kendrys Morales? He is the one player I have wanted all offseason. His age, position, and productivity is perfect for this team.

I would slot him in the fifth spot of the lineup ahead of Matt Wieters and J.J. Hardy and this would give the Orioles seven strong hitters. The 8-9 spot in the lineup would consist of whoever wins the left field and second base jobs.

As for the pitching staff, the signings of Jimenez and Suk-min Yoon have added much-needed depth to not only the big league staff, but the minor leagues as well. Pitchers who may have had a shot to make the big leagues even though they needed more time in the minors will now get the chance to mature in Norfolk.

The locks in the starting rotation are Jimenez, Chris Tillman, and Wei-Yin Chen. I would put Miguel Gonzalez and Bud Norris as strong candidates, but if one of these guys ended up in the bullpen, I would not be shocked.

Could Yoon and Norris now be candidates for closer? At the press conference today, Duquette and Buck Showalter were non-committal about Yoon’s role. Yoon does have experience closing games, but plenty of contract incentive to be a starter.

In offseason interviews, Norris has said he would like to be a starter, but he is open to being the closer. Norris relies heavily on his fastball and slider and pitchers who are so dependent on two pitches usually end up as relievers. Knowing what the Orioles gave up for Norris, I would think they will roll him out as a starter for as long as possible.

Competition is always a good thing, and there will be plenty as spring training gets rolling. After months of negative press, it is great to see the O’s getting some love.

Even if Jimenez doesn’t live up to the expectations that many will put on him, the message the team sent to not only the fan base, but to the team itself, goes a long way in what the future of this organization may look like, especially with players like Hardy, Wieters, and Chris Davis.

One Response

  1. Good stuff. And the connection/DD quote to an increased likelihood of a second signing after already losing the first rounder.

    The only reason they would move either to the pen is IF Britton pitches well enough to start. I don’t see Yoon starting from day 1 (he’ll be in the minors most likely). In fact, I see Yoon as Britton insurance when the team DFA’s Britton. I don’t see Britton or Yoon bumping Gonzo or Norris to the pen. But if one of them were bumped…

    Why would you think Gonzo is a question mark in the starting rotation? A 3.58 ERA and a 1.2 WHIP are solid numbers. I’d argue that he’s more of a lock than Chen.

    I think Norris is the better bet to move to the pen. He has the high pitch count and the power arm. I think he might even be better out of the pen. It would allow him to throw unreservedly, ala Tommy Hunter. Maybe there’s a couple of more ticks in the MPH.

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One Response

  1. Good stuff. And the connection/DD quote to an increased likelihood of a second signing after already losing the first rounder.

    The only reason they would move either to the pen is IF Britton pitches well enough to start. I don’t see Yoon starting from day 1 (he’ll be in the minors most likely). In fact, I see Yoon as Britton insurance when the team DFA’s Britton. I don’t see Britton or Yoon bumping Gonzo or Norris to the pen. But if one of them were bumped…

    Why would you think Gonzo is a question mark in the starting rotation? A 3.58 ERA and a 1.2 WHIP are solid numbers. I’d argue that he’s more of a lock than Chen.

    I think Norris is the better bet to move to the pen. He has the high pitch count and the power arm. I think he might even be better out of the pen. It would allow him to throw unreservedly, ala Tommy Hunter. Maybe there’s a couple of more ticks in the MPH.

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