After details about Adam Jones new deal with the O’s emerged, WJZ’s Mark Viviano made a fantastic point about the Orioles contract extensions.
“Who have they failed to keep,” Viviano tweeted?
Today Baltimore will lockup their star center fielder with the biggest contract in franchise history, six-years at $85.5 million.
Just last season, the Orioles signed shortstop J.J. Hardy to a 3-year, $22 million deal. In January of 2009 they signed Nick Markakis to a six-year, $66 million deal and inked Brian Roberts to a four-year, $40 million deal in February of that same year.
I suppose you could criticize the Orioles for letting Mike Mussina leave for New York 11 years ago. Even that came after he played a decade in Baltimore.
If you’re looking to criticize the Orioles, you can take a shot at the franchise for not signing free agents. But they have a history of locking down their talent.
They have a history of locking down their talent?… Really?
They only locked down Roberts because Angelos likes him and to be honest that deal is a killer…
They only locked Markakis down because Angelos likes him because he is Greek like Angelos.
They only locked down Hardy because there was/is no other decent shortstop on the team or on the market. Machado was years away.
They only signed Jones because THEY HAD TOO… If Jones was not signed and he got away do you know what the backlash would have been? Same with Wieters. They HAVE TO sign him long term.
Don’t get me wrong, I like the Jones signing. I am surprised though that Jones himself signed. I thought he would look to go to New York or such.
Now, with the Orioles doing well I hope there are no dumb pickups or signings to get them through to October… Don’t be cheap and sign a J.C. Romero (Oh shit they already did)… They have to sign guys that will help them out, not just to fill a slot…
Glad the O’s are finally doing well and as most know I have been on their case for a long while and I still am not convinced after around 50 games. But I do hope they are on the path… But it takes more than 50 games to convince me…
Think about the young talent they could have right now if they didn’t play cheap and stupid by drafting Hobgood, Rowell, Snyder, etc… This team would be a nice up and coming team if they drafted smart years ago…
Though I’m still not convinced it is great to see some light at the end of the tunnel with the Jones signing…
Ravens,
Those B-Rob and Markakis deals are looking really good right now. Imagine the uproar since you overrate this fanbase if they didn’t extend them? The results haven’t been there but it’s not lack of trying. They extended Melvin Mora, largely due to his impressive play over a stretch, he didn’t quite perform either.
I doubt the nationality thing really effected much. Did the Nats feel they had to extend Marquis since he’s Jewish? And besides which, who didn’t want Markakis extended when he was? Probably the same people who will say the AJ deal is bad in 10 years or so, since no one is saying it now.
Why did they have to extend Jones? You could make the same case a team that actually draws and has fans show up like Milwaukee had to extend Fielder, they didn’t. Baltimore doesn’t even draw so don’t try the *they had to* are you talking about the 11k fans who showed up after their 9-6 stretch to see the best team in baseball, the Rangers? Also, didn’t they Rays have to extend Carl Crawford by your argument too?
The point is what players haven’t they extended(or re-signed) who you wanted them to? Sure criticize them for the lack of FAs, but it’s not like you can force anyone to sign here. And how much do you want to overpay someone to do so? Criticizing their drafting is fair, but that’s not the point of this article. It’s that they have taken care of their own, and I agree with that.
Oriole85, are you on the hippie lettuce? Roberts deal looking good right now??? WTF? The guy has done nothing since signing that contract! Your the type of fan the Orioles love. They can throw money at Roberts who has done nothing but you say that deal looks good…
If you recall all the talk when they signed Markakis, it had PARTLY to do with his being Greek and that Angelos loves him. Not that I didn’t think they should have extended him, just not that type of money for an average player.
Comparing the Rays having to sign Crawford against the Orioles having to sign Jones are two completely different things. This is what I love about you “I love the Orioles no matter what” fans… The Orioles have maybe 2 stars on their roster vs the Rays who have around 7. Signing Crawford was not even close to the urgency that the Orioles HAD to sign Jones. Rays have depth and are not afraid to add stars. The Orioles, if Jones left would have replaced him with some cheap bum. —- Again, comparing the Orioles and Brewers having to sign Fielder are two different things… Those teams have more than two stars…
The point is that the Orioles haven’t had decent players in the past 13 years that I wanted them to extend or re-sign. So once they got a decent star (Jones), THEY HAD TO SIGN HIM….
You would agree with the Orioles if they put a pile of shit at every position and told you they were All-Stars…
Obviously you don’t get sarcasm with the Markakis and BRob deals looking good “right now.” You just said you thought they should’ve extended Markakis, so looks like you are speaking out of both sides of your mouth? But I take it you weren’t in favor signing Melvin Mora or B-Rob, if so, my guess is that’s total revisionist history since just about all O’s fans were for both moves.
I don’t think Markakis being Greek had much to do with getting the largest contract in team history. He was the best player on the team and one of the top RFers, who was supposed to become an elite player. If you think his nationality had everything to do with it, why didn’t Angelos ever make a push for Eric Karros?
Oriole85,
I know Ravens2488 and he follows the Orioles about as close as I follow Eastern Chinese ping pong. He knows not what of he speaks.
The question is,,,,will Angelos pay top dollar to a pitcher to pitch once every five days,,,,,,,,that will be the clincher for me , until then they will be lucky once in a while but will not be a consistent winner………..he can start by signing Oswalt…….
Orioles85 – No, I didn’t get the sarcasm, my bad… I’ll cut you slack on that… I do think they should have extended Markakis. Just not for that amount of money… At the time, like I say, the Orioles HAD TO SIGN him… Just too much money…
MGW – BTW, Lou Chow un Phee won that Eastern Chinese Ping Pong Tournament last year. You put money on Chan ree Swasiak and lost so don’t be mad…
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