11 replies to this topic

[ChaosLex]

A lot of baseball left to play, but we've already insured we won't lose 100 game this season.

In seasons past, all we've heard is that a) we're cheap and b) no FA in their right mind would want to play for this craptacular franchise. If the O's continue their march to respectability, do you think some of the premium (I hate that word) FA's will now give us more than a passing glance? Also, does the length and terms of Jones' extension show we're no longer afraid of making a longterm commitment?

What say you?

[SportsGuy]

As it has always been...you must pay to play.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Offer a Boras client the most money and he'll send him to Antarctica.

[Mcgraw]

I'm not sure offering the most money historically gets it done in the O's case. There have always been internal obstacles that complicate matters, but high profile FA's don't have Baltimore on the short list. You can always get crazy on a Boras client but do you want Jason Werth on his contract? I think a strong finish to this season coupled with the talent we are accumulating gets us in the discusion and makes us a more desirable destination than we have been the past decade plus. We still have to show the money but that has always been a part of the equation.

[Mackus]

I think the "Baltimore tax" has probably gone down, but it still exists. We've still got to outbid the more desirable markets to get a top-tier FA to come here, but we probably won't have to outbid them to quite the same degree as we would have had to in recent offseasons.

[SportsGuy]

I'm not sure offering the most money historically gets it done in the O's case. There have always been internal obstacles that complicate matters, but high profile FA's don't have Baltimore on the short list. You can always get crazy on a Boras client but do you want Jason Werth on his contract? I think a strong finish to this season coupled with the talent we are accumulating gets us in the discusion and makes us a more desirable destination than we have been the past decade plus. We still have to show the money but that has always been a part of the equation.

Yes, this is true...but you still have to put big money on the table and if you don't, you aren't getting anyone.

[Oriole85]

I don't see how the winning can hurt? That said, I don't think we became an instant FA destination though at the same time. Unless they want to still overpay, it's going to take more time than a single winning year even(depending how far they advance).

I'm not so negative as many people here are that the O's won't spend. I'm not saying they will (please don't tell me in 4 months, look you said they would spend and they didn't). But my guess is Adam Jones got assurances from ownership that they weren't content to put the product they've had in past seasons on the field in future years.

[Luke Jackson]

Money talks.

[Mike B]

Money talks.

And Peter has often been very quiet, when it comes to talking with the wallet.

That said a 82 win plus team looks a lot better than a 66 win team.

[1970]

I think I heard some talking head on a radio show last week mention that some players don't want to come here because of the sometimes overbearing August heat and humidity. That's the first time I had heard that one. Sounds like another lame excuse.

[mweb08]

I think I heard some talking head on a radio show last week mention that some players don't want to come here because of the sometimes overbearing August heat and humidity. That's the first time I had heard that one. Sounds like another lame excuse.

Yet players have no issue playing in similar nearby cities like Philly and NYC? Or worse cities such Arlington and Atlanta? Chicago, St Louis, Miami, etc aren't exactly pleasant in the summer either. So yeah, lame excuse indeed. I could see it if it's between Baltimore and a West Coast or dome team and everything else is equal.

[Oriole85]

Yet players have no issue playing in similar nearby cities like Philly and NYC? Or worse cities such Arlington and Atlanta? Chicago, St Louis, Miami, etc aren't exactly pleasant in the summer either. So yeah, lame excuse indeed. I could see it if it's between Baltimore and a West Coast or dome team and everything else is equal.

Mark Cuban said the same thing about the Rangers and they got it way worse. Win and spend $$$, players will come, it's that simple.

I'd add DC to that list, it's virtually the same weather as Baltimore. What's next people don't like disasters so they aren't going to pick San Francisco or LA because of potential earthquakes. Hate rain -- can't go to Seattle.