Orioles GM Dan Duquette spoke to fans and the media at Orioles FanFest today, so let's round up the latest news (all links go to Twitter)…
- "Are we going to get him? I don't know. If we don't, we'll look for someone just like him," said Duquette when asked about the possibility of signing Prince Fielder according to Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com. "There are some players that are attractive to us that we might be able to sign as a DH. That's still possible."
- Duquette said that the team will continue to talk to its arbitration-eligible players right up to a potential hearing, but extension talks have been tabled according to MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli. As our Arbitration Tracker shows, Robert Andino, Brad Bergesen, Jeremy Guthrie, and Adam Jones remain unsigned.
- Jones told Ghiroli that staying in Baltimore long-term is "up to them." The outfielder is an extension candidate, but his name has come up in trade talks as well.
- Second baseman Brian Roberts has "started his workout program" according to Kubatko, though Ghiroli reports that Duquette said they need to have "more patience." Roberts is still dealing with concussion symptoms and skipped the event per his doctor's advice.
The Real D Guar
For God’s sake Orioles, sign Fielder and try to be relevant for a few minutes. I don’t even like the Orioles, but their organization pains me to watch…
FS54 2
just imagine what the fans have to go through.
OrangeCards
A 48 hour headline on ESPN is worth what, two or three wins?
Manny Being Manny
More like 6, but yeah.
Rabbitov
Why do you hate us 🙁
Nosferatu Zodd
I believe he is an angry red sox fan
Madman2TX
Maybe the O’s can trade for Carlos Lee?
Bleed_Orange
lol that sounds like something the O’s would do
Kyle Haker
if houstoun were to trade prospects in order for the os to take lee and his 19 million dollar contract for a year, I’d do it. you have a potential 2-3 win player, and you could get a prospect out of it. Considering houstons monetary problems right now I think that they would do it too
Ben10
Please sign Fielder so he stays out of the AL West. We don’t want his contract, and would not like to face his bat.
Matthew Costanzo
Would make a very interesting AL East in the 1B category. A-Gon, Tex and Fielder (Pena, too).
Joshua Clark
dont forget Lind….
on second thoughts
mmiller54
Please sign him so he’ll stay out of nl.
Deep&Gone
sexymarinersfan does not speak for all Mariners fans.
FS54 2
“someone just like him?” seriously, where are you going to find this imaginary guy? not on FA, not through trade when your farm system is pretty pathetic, only international waters is the option left.
vonhayesdays
for real , i dont know of any other 5’11 300 pounders in the mlb
FS54 2
I am sure someone in my extended family fits that description. Will Orioles be interested in signing him if he can swing a bat? I doubt by “someone just like him”, DD meant PF’s height and weight.
vonhayesdays
i know that , but they arent many who match his stats whether they be height and weight or on field production, i was amused by the choice of words used and made a bad pun
FS54 2
oh hehe, I missed that.
Lastings
They can perhaps recruit someone from the Klumps?
vonhayesdays
i was thinking old school wrestler but sadly enough it seems like one dies every week
Topshelf Nick
Sandoval might be the closest
Forrest Rilling
Why would the O’s want ANOTHER soon to be dead beat in Carlos Lee?! Look at what happened with Derek Lee, Vlad, and bringing back Miguel Tejada. They need pitching, THEN a bat. Fielder is a good player, but not what the O’s need.
ba9oriole
So getting more run support for our pitching doesn’t help? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiight.
Lefty
Are we going to get him? I don’t know. If we don’t, we’ll look for someone just like him,”. Come on Dan, what do you mean you don’t know? Has there even been a contract offer? Did Prince tell you, no? How do you not know? I mean that’s is just plain disingenuous! Just like him? Why do the Baltimore Orioles need someone just like him? We need good pitching, Dan! Not some waiver wire wonder or Albuquerque Isotope reject! Go out and get a #1 and #2. Insert Britton as our #3 and go from there. All you get is Blarney from this guy and he isn’t even Irish!
OrangeCards
Disingenuous? Like complaining about everything for the sake of complaining?
Until Fielder signs a contract, no one knows where he’ll sign or who will “get him.” It’s not that complicated.
Jeff 30
You go to FanFest Lefty? I was looking for you!
Rabbitov
Ditto, it was like “Where’s Lefty” or “Where in the World is Carmen SandiLefty”
Lefty
I wasn’t going to answer this because I am an international man of mystery. Seriously, though I didn’t go this year.
However, I did go last year and once was enough. =P
Eric Smith
At this point I see these glaring issues, Mariners dont want to sign him over 5 years, the Nats dont want to sign him over 5 years, Texas wants Hamilton, unless Boras is going to begin to call other teams trying to convince them to trade their current 1st basemen, where else but Baltimore is going to give him 7 years maybe more? We offered Tex 7 years so its not out of the question and even if Prince can’t field in 4 years, he can DH the other 3. From what I hear he’s slimmer now anyhow, im sure not overly slim, but they say hes in helluva shape and no not round.
Bill German
why on Earth would Prince want to go to Baltimore remember he wants to win Baltimore is destiny is last place how could they even possibly compete…..My predictions Yankees
Rays
Bosox
Jays
O’s again
OrangeCards
Going out on a limb, eh?
tdot32
not even spring training yet and already making predicitions.
OhthePossibilities
You are allowed to disperse those periods throughout your comment.
mstrchef13
There are 150 million (or more) reasons that Fielder might want to go to Baltimore.
Topshelf Nick
I just want him to sign one year in Detroit and then, reset everything that has been going on for about 4 months and we’ll see next year. Please get this over with, as a baseball fan, I am fed up of hearing Prince rumours!
OrangeCards
Don’t go to a MLB rumors site?
Boom, problem solved. I accept paypal, check, money orders, and of course, cash, as payment.
Topshelf Nick
One of 3 posts regards Prince rumours, which each one is linked to a different team and doesn’t add anything to the story.
OrangeCards
“Just say no to clicking on Prince rumors”
I can get you a tshirt, but it’s gonna cost ya.
Topshelf Nick
or not
OrangeCards
Keep reading, keep complaining about said reading I suppose.
china_dave
for whom do those expos fans not disgusted by mlb root for these days? that’s not a joke; i’m legitimately curious. i’m going to assume not the marlins
Topshelf Nick
Yeah you’re right, not a Marlins fan. Neither Toronto nor Washington nor Red Sox. I’m a Giants fan, mainly because of the man named Felipe and I keep an eye on the Pirates.
If only Lebron hadn’t turn on the brakes, he would had sent Loria flyin’ in the third row, that would had been awesome!
Rabbitov
Please Prince, risk your career contract year on a one year deal with the Tigers!
The Mythical One
I think you all should read the full quote. Duquette starts by asking a question and this is the full quote:
“Do you think he would look good in Camden Yards? I don’t know about
that one, but I do know if you have a staple in the middle of your
lineup it’s a lot easier. Are we going to get him? I don’t know. But if
we don’t get him, we’ll look for somebody like him and we’ll certainly
do our best to give you guys some stars players that you can identify
with.”
Yes Dan, I think Fielder would look great in Camden Yards, and even if you supposedly don’t know about that one, I do know. You do know it is easier if you have a staple in the middle of your lineup? Okay, then why not get one, because you currently do not have one. Mark Reynolds should not be a #4 hitter simply because he strikes out too much and doesn’t put the ball in play enough. Are we going to get him? Well, we should. And if you don’t get him there isn’t somebody like him. If you want somebody like him, why not just get him?
Fielder makes this team better. Sure he doesn’t pitch, but the boost to the offense and the fact that he’s 27/28 means he can be part of this “young core” (that is also around 25-29) that is supposed to make this team compete in a few years. You add this piece this year, see where you get, and then add another big piece next off season to the pitching rotation…going to need to anyway since Guthrie is a FA at the end of 2012.
You start looking at a heart of the order that consists of:
Adam Jones/Nick Markakis
Prince Fielder
Mark Reynolds/Matt Wieters
J.J. Hardy
That is some pretty serious lumber right there. Not to mention that Reimold’s bat is pretty potent if he can stay on the field all year long.
Jeff 30
Listen, at FanFest Duquette made it relatively clear. Fielder would be great to sign sure. But considering the cost, and the other issues on the team, is it a good fit? I’m not so sure. Maybe at a discount, sure.
I’m an O’s fan, and I’m pretty sure signing Fielder wouldn’t help the O’s (unless he can be had for $20MM or so)
The Mythical One
Signing Fielder would help ANY team. I do not understand how anyone can think that a guy who hits like Fielder does (combination of power, OBP, and sometimes a pretty high average) couldn’t help this team. He instantly adds 4-5 wins to this team by himself.
To put this into some sort of perspective, look at what influence Rafael Palmeiro’s bat had for the Orioles the first time he signed here. Fielder doesn’t hit for as high an average, but hits for more power and for a better OBP. Palmeiro also had a reputation for being a very good defensive player, that isn’t something Fielder brings, but I am willing to make that sacrifice as I believe he’s not going to kill us with his defense.
The Orioles are moving Mark Reynolds to 3B again and moving Davis back to 1B. Tough choice as to who I want at 1B…and injured Chris Davis, or Prince Fielder.
So Fielder alone might not help the Orioles get to .500 this season…but this is the beauty of the thing. You can sign him to around 7+ years and he IS a player you can build around along with the other good talents we already have here. The Offense would be set for years to come with him anchoring it down in the heart of the order.
Who says you can’t add other players? Guthrie and Gregg and some other guys will be coming off the payroll. Go spend that on a front line pitcher next off season. I don’t see how any Orioles fan could complain about that course of action if the Orioles still don’t win it all with that plan. At least we can say we tried and fielded a respectable team. For most of the past 14 seasons, we can’t say that at all.
Rabbitov
I’ve heard rumors that their may be an article soon that shows how unclear it is if Fielder is coming to Baltimore.
Jeff 30
You’re obnoxious. (Please note, this is not a personal attack. It’s merely a joke) Also, I wrote an exceedingly long response to the post above yours but it probably wont get posted because i called O’s fans a bad name for being impatient. Oops.
Rabbitov
Lol, yea its getting harder and harder to stay posted.
Nosferatu Zodd
He will sell tickets, and Merchandise and let future FAs know the Orioles are serious about winning. So it is a big risk, but hey getting discarded Cubs and washed up Vets has really been working so well.
JTrea81
The problem with trying to find somebody just like him is that they don’t exist, not this offseason.
Joey Votto is the only one that will be available in the next several years and the Dodgers and Mets will likely be ready to make a run at him among others.
After that you’ll be waiting for quite some time to either develop one or acquire one via trade when a player like Mike Stanton or Bryce Harper won’t extend…
The Orioles need to pull out all the stops to acquire Fielder this offseason as he’s available now.
Andrew Rickli
I agree