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11-20-2003, 10:13 AM
Mike Flanagan speaks. Apparently the boys were very popular at the GM meetings. :D
11/19/2003 5:45 PM ET
O's looking to add some offense
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com
BALTIMORE -- The Orioles had Pat Hentgen in their 2004 plans, but the right-hander opted to return to his roots in Toronto. But that does not alter the Orioles' free-agent priorities. The club is still expected to pursue two prominent free-agent hitters before addressing the pitching staff.
Hentgen signed a one-year, $2.2 million deal Tuesday, despite the Orioles offering him a multiyear deal for more money, according to club officials.
Hentgen's return would have stabilized the pitching staff and added a veteran arm to a young rotation, but Orioles personnel thinks it has enough depth with pitchers such as Kurt Ainsworth, Rodrigo Lopez, Eric DuBose, Erik Bedard and Matt Riley.
"Our initial part of the journey is going to be for the offense," vice president Mike Flanagan said. "That's the part of our team we want to improve first."
Though the Orioles are in preliminary stages of negotiating with the agents of Montreal slugger Vladimir Guerrero and have not counted out Miguel Tejada as a possibility, they definitely want to be players for Japanese shortstop Kaz Matsui, who on Monday announced his intentions to play in the Major Leagues.
Matsui is considered a solid all-around shortstop with some offensive power. The Orioles, with previous GM Syd Thrift, made a late run at Hideki Matsui -- of no relation -- last winter, but this management team wants to be proactive in pursuing this Japanese star.
"The first stage is to find out who officially is his agent," Flanagan said of Kaz Matsui. "We certainly would like him to come [and visit] here if it gets to that. If there's any interest from him, we will show our interest. From our assessment, from the information we have gathered, he looks like a terrific short, with some pop from both sides of the plate and a strong arm."
If Matsui or someone such as Tejada does not work out at shortstop, the club has expressed desire to move second baseman Brian Roberts to short with utility man Melvin Mora potentially playing third base.
The Orioles have several shortstop options, but one of them is not expected to be Alex Rodriguez. The just-named American League MVP is not likely in the team's plans. The Texas Rangers could be looking to dump Rodriguez's salary via trade and the Orioles have the available money to entertain a deal. But that is likely not going to happen, according to club officials.
Team management has an estimated $40 million budget, and it would rather spend that money on several quality players than on one marquee free agent who commands a large chunk of the payroll.
The world champions of the past two seasons -- the Florida Marlins and the Anaheim Angels -- have proven that winning clubs do not necessarily need superstars to be successful.
Flanagan said the club will be cautious and patient when spending money and admitted that he and Jim Beattie were the center of attention at last week general manager's meetings because of their available money. Flanagan expects a slow-developing market and that the premium free agents will sign later than sooner.
"We need to be a good team, upgrades at four or five positions," he said. "We think we can do a lot of that this offseason. We don't want to settle. We are not looking for a one-year fix."
As the Dec. 12 winter meetings approach, Flanagan expects the market to heat up and calls from agents to increase. He and Beattie anticipate they will be again in demand in New Orleans.
"We had people tell us that we are going to be very popular at those meetings in December," Flanagan said. "We're not looking for bargain basement -- but sensible. I don't think you have to overspend in this market."
Gary Washburn is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
11/19/2003 5:45 PM ET
O's looking to add some offense
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com
BALTIMORE -- The Orioles had Pat Hentgen in their 2004 plans, but the right-hander opted to return to his roots in Toronto. But that does not alter the Orioles' free-agent priorities. The club is still expected to pursue two prominent free-agent hitters before addressing the pitching staff.
Hentgen signed a one-year, $2.2 million deal Tuesday, despite the Orioles offering him a multiyear deal for more money, according to club officials.
Hentgen's return would have stabilized the pitching staff and added a veteran arm to a young rotation, but Orioles personnel thinks it has enough depth with pitchers such as Kurt Ainsworth, Rodrigo Lopez, Eric DuBose, Erik Bedard and Matt Riley.
"Our initial part of the journey is going to be for the offense," vice president Mike Flanagan said. "That's the part of our team we want to improve first."
Though the Orioles are in preliminary stages of negotiating with the agents of Montreal slugger Vladimir Guerrero and have not counted out Miguel Tejada as a possibility, they definitely want to be players for Japanese shortstop Kaz Matsui, who on Monday announced his intentions to play in the Major Leagues.
Matsui is considered a solid all-around shortstop with some offensive power. The Orioles, with previous GM Syd Thrift, made a late run at Hideki Matsui -- of no relation -- last winter, but this management team wants to be proactive in pursuing this Japanese star.
"The first stage is to find out who officially is his agent," Flanagan said of Kaz Matsui. "We certainly would like him to come [and visit] here if it gets to that. If there's any interest from him, we will show our interest. From our assessment, from the information we have gathered, he looks like a terrific short, with some pop from both sides of the plate and a strong arm."
If Matsui or someone such as Tejada does not work out at shortstop, the club has expressed desire to move second baseman Brian Roberts to short with utility man Melvin Mora potentially playing third base.
The Orioles have several shortstop options, but one of them is not expected to be Alex Rodriguez. The just-named American League MVP is not likely in the team's plans. The Texas Rangers could be looking to dump Rodriguez's salary via trade and the Orioles have the available money to entertain a deal. But that is likely not going to happen, according to club officials.
Team management has an estimated $40 million budget, and it would rather spend that money on several quality players than on one marquee free agent who commands a large chunk of the payroll.
The world champions of the past two seasons -- the Florida Marlins and the Anaheim Angels -- have proven that winning clubs do not necessarily need superstars to be successful.
Flanagan said the club will be cautious and patient when spending money and admitted that he and Jim Beattie were the center of attention at last week general manager's meetings because of their available money. Flanagan expects a slow-developing market and that the premium free agents will sign later than sooner.
"We need to be a good team, upgrades at four or five positions," he said. "We think we can do a lot of that this offseason. We don't want to settle. We are not looking for a one-year fix."
As the Dec. 12 winter meetings approach, Flanagan expects the market to heat up and calls from agents to increase. He and Beattie anticipate they will be again in demand in New Orleans.
"We had people tell us that we are going to be very popular at those meetings in December," Flanagan said. "We're not looking for bargain basement -- but sensible. I don't think you have to overspend in this market."
Gary Washburn is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.