Do you feel that? It’s the hot stove BURNING.
Not only did the Orioles try to acquire Shelby Miller from the Cardinals, but apparently they are listening to offers for Matt Wieters this winter as well. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that an extension for Wieters is unlikely in Baltimore and since the O’s backstop is due to hit the free agent market after the 2015 season, Dan Duquette and company are listening to trade offers.
Rosenthal suggests that the O’s could sign Jarrod Saltalamacchia this winter to replace Wieters. Salty wasn’t given a qualifying offer by the Red Sox so he wouldn’t cost the team that signs him a draft pick.
The only problem with trading Wieters is his low value at the moment. Wieters went from a 5.1 WAR player in 2011 to 0.4 in 2013. Remember, Wieters would supposed to be Buster Posey before Buster Posey. After hitting .288/.340/.412 in 96 games his rookie season, Wieters has saw his numbers dip to .235/.287/.417 in 2013. I think his offensive output could increase if he wasn’t behind the plate so much, but that’s a risk Buck Showalter isn’t willing to take with such a bad rotation. Last season Wieters caught 1,201.0 innings, more than any catcher in the league.
It’ll be interesting to see if anyone tries to acquire Wieters and what the Orioles could get in return. I’m still excited to hear that the O’s are trying to bring in a front of the rotation starter.
The only way this would be acceptable:
1.) Get a legit #1 starter that will be around more than 1 year, or other high end pieces
2.) Sign a real replacement at catcher. None of this Duquette “off the scrap heap” stuff.
3.) Lock up Chris Davis and Tillman long term
Wieters is a key part of this team, but I think his lack of offense makes him expendable.
Steve-O, whatcha gonna do when Scott Boras asks for $150 for a Rick Dempsey clone? C’mon man wake up, Wieters is a product of the Scott Boras Hype Machine and that’s all. Sure he throws out a lot of runners, so did Dempsey and he hits .230 and so did Dempsey. O, he will ask for $18 million a year. the most Dipper made was $375k.
That’s another reason he’s expendable now. I still think he has a lot of value to this team. But you’re right. $100-150 million man he is not.
Wieters went from a 5.1 WAR player in 2011 to 0.4 in 2013.
My wife has a higher WAR value!
F Wieters and F Boras.
Go Orioles!
Is your wife a pitcher or catcher?
9incher and his wife went to WAR last night! 9incher said he wanted some and the wife, Mrs. 9Incher said “Over my dead body”… So the Incher lob’d grenades at her from behind the couch…