Orioles sign Ubaldo Jimenez to 4 year, ~$48MM deal

[Evil Yoda]

Article
Now what remains to be seen is if 2013 represents what they bought, or earlier years.

[Deleted]

Almost. Jimenez still has to pass the dreaded physical. If the deal indeed goes through, the Orioles will have to surrender their 2014 first round draft choice as compensation.

Not a huge Jimenez fan, but I still like the signing. At least it shows that the Orioles are making an effort to improve. Now what worries me is JJ Hardy's status. He's a free agent after this season and likely to command a much larger salary than he's currently getting. I'd love for him to stay, but guess which AL East team has a shortstop retiring after this season?

[Moses]

Feb 17, 2014 21:26:09 GMT -5 @mdrunning said:

Almost. Jimenez still has to pass the dreaded physical. If the deal indeed goes through, the Orioles will have to surrender their 2014 first round draft choice as compensation.

Not a huge Jimenez fan, but I still like the signing. At least it shows that the Orioles are making an effort to improve. Now what worries me is JJ Hardy's status. He's a free agent after this season and likely to command a much larger salary than he's currently getting. I'd love for him to stay, but guess which AL East team has a shortstop retiring after this season?

I agree with you. I was starting to get the idea orioles were just never going to sign another free agent. This proves that they still will. It is true that playing the free-agent game is a gamble. But sometimes you just got to do it. Hopefully this one pans out.

[alienrace]

If they get the pitcher that dominated in the second half of the season, it's a great signing.

[Evil Yoda]

Feb 17, 2014 21:26:09 GMT -5 @mdrunning said:

Now what worries me is JJ Hardy's status. He's a free agent after this season and likely to command a much larger salary than he's currently getting. I'd love for him to stay, but guess which AL East team has a shortstop retiring after this season?

My brother tells me they're working on an extension. Seems he'd be dumb to sign it; the Yankees will pay stupid money for him if he has a good year. I'd bet in four years (?) Machado will be heading north as well.

[Moses]

More breaking news! The Orioles sign Nelson Cruz.
!!!!!

[Moses]

Feb 21, 2014 18:10:34 GMT -5 Evil Yoda said:

Feb 17, 2014 21:26:09 GMT -5 @mdrunning said:

Now what worries me is JJ Hardy's status. He's a free agent after this season and likely to command a much larger salary than he's currently getting. I'd love for him to stay, but guess which AL East team has a shortstop retiring after this season?

My brother tells me they're working on an extension. Seems he'd be dumb to sign it; the Yankees will pay stupid money for him if he has a good year. I'd bet in four years (?) Machado will be heading north as well.

I certainly hope not evil Yoda

[Evil Yoda]

Feb 22, 2014 13:21:48 GMT -5 Moses said:

I certainly hope not evil Yoda

I hope not, too. But Machado, if he lives up to his potential over the next few years, will command a far higher salary than this club will pay under current ownership. Angelos was born in 1929, which means he'll turn 85 this year. There's some chance he'll be out of the picture by the time Machado gets a real payday, but who knows who will be making the decisions then?

[Moses]

Feb 22, 2014 14:52:26 GMT -5 Evil Yoda said:

Feb 22, 2014 13:21:48 GMT -5 Moses said:

I certainly hope not evil Yoda

I hope not, too. But Machado, if he lives up to his potential over the next few years, will command a far higher salary than this club will pay under current ownership. Angelos was born in 1929, which means he'll turn 85 this year. There's some chance he'll be out of the picture by the time Machado gets a real payday, but who knows who will be making the decisions then?

Machado is really an exciting player. I really think he would piss off a lot of fans if Angelos lets him leave via free agency without making a great effort to retain him.

[Evil Yoda]

Feb 22, 2014 15:16:45 GMT -5 Moses said:

Machado is really an exciting player. I really think he would piss off a lot of fans if Angelos lets him leave via free agency without making a great effort to retain him.

Please cite any example that supports the idea that Angelos cares what the fans think or want.

[Deleted]

The more immediate concerns would be JJ Hardy, who can walk after this season, and Chris Davis and Matt Wieters, who are eligible for free agency after 2015.

Of the three, I think Wieters is the most likely to leave. There currently are no talks regarding any kind of extension since the sides are so far apart on a figure. Wieters is a Boras client and is said to be looking for "Joe Mauer money." I honestly don't think he'll get that kind of contract here or anywhere else. He's a good defensive catcher with some pop, but he also makes a lot of outs. I'd like to see him stay, but right now it looks like he might be the odd man out. Let someone else overpay for him.

[Moses]

Feb 22, 2014 15:51:43 GMT -5 Evil Yoda said:

Feb 22, 2014 15:16:45 GMT -5 Moses said:

Machado is really an exciting player. I really think he would piss off a lot of fans if Angelos lets him leave via free agency without making a great effort to retain him.

Please cite any example that supports the idea that Angelos cares what the fans think or want.

Luis matos?

[Deleted]

I hope the Orioles can come to an agreement with Hardy, but as of yet there's no word of any talks regarding an extension. The four-year/$52 million deal Jhonny signed with St. Louis this winter could probably serve as a bellwether since the players are somewhat comparable. I don't think a similar deal for Hardy would be unreasonable.

I just hope JJ stays so Machado can continue to become one of the greatest third basemen of all time. Other than Cal moving over there toward the end of his career, Baltimore hasn't had a good third baseman since Doug DeCinces was traded for Disco Dan Ford.