To anyone who thought that the Orioles overpaid for the services of Vlad Guerrero this season, Jeff Flecter of AOL Fanhouse debunked that theory in a tweet he posted on Monday.
Flecter reports that the Texas Rangers made Vlad Guerrero a condition offer worth $8 million, if they would have traded Michael Young. The report explains why Baltimore bumped their offer from $4 million to $8 million to finalize the deal.
Heard today #rangers had conditional $8M offer to Vlad, if they traded Young. Explains #orioles upping their offer from $4M to $8M
Though it’s just batting practice, Vlad reportedly put on a show yesterday in Sarasota. Hopefully he’ll be bringing that show with him to Camden Yards in 2011.
In my opinion, this *does* explain why the Orioles upped their offer but it does not excuse: (1) the offer in the first place or (2) not signing Manny at much less than $8M.
Ross,
You may or may not like Vlad, but Manny? Manny? You gotta be kidding? The guy is the absolute last thing this team needed. Are you aware of his impact on a clubhouse? Here’s a team looking to break out of a 14 year slump and you want to insert Manny in the mix?
Hey MGW,
My main point was to emphasize that this does not ‘debunk the theory that the O’s overpaid for the services of Vlad Guerrero this season’. It explains why the O’s upped the offer but is unrelated to actual market price for that production in their lineup. Manny and Vlad would have provided similar offensive production and are being paid incredibly dissimilar salaries (8M vs. 2M).
We could debate clubhouse stuff (as you tell I think alot of the Manny stories are exaggerated) but its not super pertinent to this point. My emphasis is on the fact that: this was an overpay and just because another team was willing to overpay Guerrero, it doesn’t excuse the O’s front office for doing so.
Note: I actually don’t feel as if the Orioles needed either Manny or Vlad.
Read in between those comments and you see again that the O’s come in well behind other offers (Rangers $8mil to O’s $4mil) as they do with all Free Agents…
Huh? I’m confused. The Orioles tried to get him for $4, then matched an $8 million deal.
What I’m saying Zach is before the O’s came in at $8mil they did what they always do, they come in real low, for example, like they did with Adam Dunn (offered $48mil when the Sox offered $60mil). Then at the last minute they try to raise their price so that they can tell the fans that they submitted an offer.
So they offered Vlad $4mil when the Rangers had offered $8mil. They then did their usual and upped the offer at the last minute figuring Vlad wouldn’t take it. However, Vlad surprised them and took the offer.
Look at the O’s over the years… Came in with low offers and then raised the offer at the last minute to…
Dunn,
Konerko (1st time),
Arod,
Texeira,
Victor Martinez,
Holliday,
Mussina (before he left for Yankees),
It’s the game they play but this time Vlad called their bluff…
Just because some other team was silly enough to offer him $8 mil, doesn’t make it “not an overpay”…
He made more sense for Texas (a contender) than Baltimore (not a contender) anyway.
Enjoy rooting against the Os this year, DA.
Dempsey’s Army…
I got a queston for you. When do the Orioles start trying to win? Do you not want the most productive team on the field that you can get? I sure do.
I think what DA is preaching is a front office strategy that isn’t greedy – spending money and prospects each year to assemble the best team for the given season – but instead is global. A global strategy is a strategy that will forgo assembling the best team possible each season in an attempt to build a truly elite team in the future. Personally, I prefer it. It doesn’t mean not signing free agents but it would discourage the O’s signing of Vlad. Appreciating a global strategy also doesn’t preclude one from rooting for the Orioles. After all, rooting for the Orioles is part of what being on this site is all about.
What you are suggesting is that somehow signing Vlad will prevent the organization from using it’s resources “globally”.
This team, with half the current payroll was completely ignoring different parts of the world for YEARS.
To suggest or imply that signing Vlad to a one year deal somehow equates to taking away from other areas of the organization doesn’t hold any water.
Ross said “rooting for the Orioles is part of what being on this site is all about”… Ahhhhhhh, not for me there Ross dude…
Fair enough. Certainly didn’t mean to speak for anyone. Emphasis on the *part*, I suppose.
Actually Ross, I am an Orioles fan but not a fan of the Orioles for the past 12 years, if you can understand that… What they have done has pissed me off… This once proud franchise is now a laughing stock… On a level with the Pirates and Royals…
Unlike alot of people on here, I don’t have Oriole blinders on… I call it as I see it… And yes, people are excited about Vlad, Lee, Duchscherer, etc… I would be to if it was 7 years ago… But in all honesty, you know and I know that they will be traded by the trade deadline and this off season the Orioles will again be looking for a 1st sacker, DH, Starting pitcher or two, SS, etc…
Yes, I do like the RedSox and think they will win it all…
Well I certainly appreciate the candor and lack of rose colored glasses. The different opinions on BSR make it a fun place to come and discuss news. I can appreciate your stand against the O’s product. It has not been alot of fun the last decade+. For me going to the games is still enjoyable, I can see how it wouldnt be though. In terms of moving vlad, lee, dukey, etc for pieces at the deadline – I’m fine with it as long as they are moved for close to ready infield and pitching prospects. After Machado and Britton the cupboard is really bare right now. We’ll see what Boston can do. There defense is very good and their offense is elite. I still have some questions about their pitching though.