O’sMG
by Mark Keller on Jan.21, 2009, under Baseball, Pro Sports
The Orioles made a smart move in locking up Nick Markakis to a long-term deal, but I still haven’t quite figured out their master plan … or if, in fact, they even HAVE a master plan.
The deal the O’s made to get Felix Pie from the Chicago Cubs baffles me. The Orioles are a team way short on starting pitching, yet they gave up Garrett Olson – a starter who had a so-so 2008 – and Class A pitcher Henry Williamson, who struck out 110 batter in 90 innings last season.
They have three closers on the roster – George Sherrill, Chris Ray and Danys Baez – with 30-plus save seasons under their belts. They could have moved Sherrill a month before the trade deadline last year – when it was quite obvious the team was going nowhere – and gotten a king’s ransom for him, but true to form, the O’s held on to him.
The same could be said of Brian Roberts. Wouldn’t it make sense for the O’s to trade him now (or shouldn’t they have last year) and get optimum value for him? Here’s an idea: Get a starting pitcher or two in exchange for Roberts. Just don’t get anymore outfielder/first basemen.
