The 2012 Orioles Winter Thread

Players that have fewer than six years experience have to accept arbitration while players with more do NOT. But anyone can be offered arbitration.

I believe that players with more than six years experience(as opposed to those with fewer than six years who can have their salaries cut by twenty-five percent at the most) can be offered anything in arbitration. However, don't forget that the way arbitration works is that the player offers one figure, the team offers another and the arbitrators pick one of the two. It would be highly unconventional for a player to get a pay cut in arbitration. If the team offered say two million and Vlad asked for ten, he'd probably end up getting ten million.

Bringing up a new topic, I've read from a couple of sites (just speculation of course) that Johnny Damon would be a good fit for Baltimore. As soon as I heard this, I thought it was a dumb idea and the O's shouldn't even try looking at him. But the more I think about it, the more I wouldn't mind having Damon in an O's uniform. Reimold will likely get a shot at starting next year, with the O's probably letting Luke Scott loose. Damon would be a good option to split time with Reimold and could see time at DH. He might cost a lot, but if the market was shallow for him, the O's could get him cheap, if the Rays don't want him back.

Any other possible options for the LF/DH spot you guys like? 

Johnny Damon is a good guy. But he has no arm anymore so your talking strictly DH. He would give the Os another leadoff man option if Brian Roberts continues to prove he cant stay healthy. BUT IMO the Orioles sights have to be set higher and younger. Im tired of this over 35 club that the Os overpay for  and than when they dont produce they wonder why.

Jason Kubel would be a guy if the Os are reserved to having a Lf/DH type that I think would fit.

Speed or lack there of coming off the bench or applying to the team, seems to be a rare commodity. Thats something that for me is of concern, until of course I read that the Os plan on addressing their bench first. I dont quite get or agree with that strategy shouldnt you be worried about your starting 8 and than your starting pitchers first?

Unfortunately I am getting a bad vibe from everything I have heard the GM say, that we are still not ready to spend on long term starting players until the pitching comes around and even then it will have to be done throught the draft and minor leagues. This sounds like Jazz and O dawg just might get their wish and we could be looking at blowing this up again. I am quite sure I will not go day by day with it if this happens. I am a little tired of the new guy not taking advantage of what we have and adding to it. We have more trading chips now than we did when AM got here I guess, so in theory they should bring back even more prospects that should be ready in a few....blah blah blah. If it happens, I am going to find something else to do after hockey season and before football next year.

Ryan Ludwick. Willingham depending on how the new CBA works out. I don't like Damon at this point of his career. It makes more sense to resign Vlad.

Frankly, even if the Os do another rebuild, they're still closer to being competitive than the Skins. Now, that's a hopeless situation.

You really think so? Cause I really don't. With 2 OL, one big play receiver and a QB the skins could win their division I think. The defense is more than adaquit and the offense just has no leadership or a true playmaker. The WR corp is ok if Hankerson comes back, but they need someone to stretch the field. Armstrong or Stallworth have the speed but not the hands, and Mpss no longer has the jets. The OL is still mostly backups they need a guard and true LT, but all those ills can be covered by a good field general and they simply must get one in the draft.

If the O's are closer it is only because there are less positions to fill in BB than FB. LOL

I guess you are right though because in BB one guy can make all the difference in a game as long as he is the starting pitcher. So a few of them and you can win without improving anything else. If they can't hit it they can't score and you can't lose.

In Football, though the QB is the single most important position of any team in any sport, he can only control how much his team scores and must depend on an entire other team to stop the other guys. So I guess the O's are closer. Just 4 pitchers and 4 firlders away from 500. LOL