UPDATE (1/27): Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports now says that the Orioles have made an offer to Vladimir Guerrero in what he supposes is in the $3-$5 million range for one year.  Buster Olney speculated this afternoon as well that the Orioles could be a major suitor for Vlad, but at the $2 million level.

Either way, the only chance that Orioles fans will see Vlad in Baltimore this season are if he takes a major pay cut.  Here are his career stats, with his 2010 numbers located on the top as well (which were quite impressive for a guy who many thought would decline, not rise).

1/21/11 – We have heard rumors all offseason about different possible trades and acquisitions.  Some have come true, like the ongoing Kevin Gregg talks, while others have fallen through, like Jason Bartlett supposedly coming here for Reimold.  Well, the baseball media world has splashed us with yet another rumor, this time about a major hard swinging DH option: Vladimir Guerrero.

Most people saw it reported first on MLBTradeRumors.com, but they were technically just linking this report found from ESPNDeportes’ Enrique Rojas, who has the in with lots of Spanish sources:

A person close to Guerrero told Rojas that the Orioles have the inside track on signing him, but the Angels are another possibility.

That’s all that it said.  Really.

Reporters from The Sun and MASN have all shut down this rumor.  They all say that Luke Scott is tuned in to be the Orioles full time DH for the 2011 season, barring a big price drop for Vladdy.

A price drop could happen.  People are now speculating.  If he would be cheap to sign (with incentives, of course), the Orioles would have decisions to make.  Mainly, if Vlad comes here, he obviously is your DH (don’t EVER put him in the outfield, and you know this if you watched the 2010 World Series).  Then Luke Scott is either a trade chip or goes to LF.  If he goes to LF, then Reimold/Pie gives you a trade chip.

It’s a lot to think about, and most likely not worth it.  A DH rental, as it would be, for one season compared to multiple more years of Scott/Pie/Reimold seems like a joke almost, especially when this move would not make us an instant contender of sorts.

Should the Orioles chase after Vlad?

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UPDATE (1/22):  Last night, Jim Bowden (with XM and Fox and who knows what else) posted this on Twitter:

Vladimir Guerrero could be one of the best FA bargains for one-year deal of off-season….getting close to accepting humbling deal w O’s

Then, of course, Jeff Zribiec of The Sun came out and said that it wasn’t true, along with MacPhail confirming through MASN’s Steve Melewski that it was “not accurate.”

Whatever is going on, I think all fans agree with me that the rumors are just fishy and not fun to deal with.  I wish the club would either sign him, or just come out saying he is definitely not signing here.  The speculation isn’t fun anymore.

Last year, MacPhail signed Tejada on the day of Fanfest, where it was then announced.  I have a feeling that this could be a delayed signing so that he could announce it there.  That, or a blown up rumor.  Either way, this week should be rumor central if no definite decision is made.

Who do you think is being honest?  The two reports saying a deal is close?  Or the Orioles sources denying those reports?

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