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How can fans in Baltimore be anything but turned off to the Orioles under owner Peter Angelos?
While Angelos blocks efforts to move the Montreal Expos to Washington, D.C., he does little to improve the quality of a team that has had five consecutive losing seasons. Angelos ran off general managers Pat Gillick and Frank Wren with his heavy-handed style.
Then Angelos allowed Syd Thrift to stay too long as the top baseball man. The ultimate proof came in 2002, when the Orioles endured a 4-32 collapse at season's end, the top three farm teams finished 157-266, and Triple-A Rochester ended a 42-year association with the franchise.
Moving deliberately, Angelos waited almost until the winter meetings to settle on a tag team of Jim Beattie and Mike Flanagan in the general manager's office. In recent weeks, the Orioles have bid unsuccessfully for free agents Hideki Matsui and Cliff Floyd.
Their lone move of significance was dubious. In place of popular shortstop Mike Bordick, who is taking his record of consecutive errorless games (110) and chances (543) to Toronto, they added Deivi Cruz, not not exactly a star.
No team needs a jolt more than the Orioles. It's beyond bizarre that they wouldn't extend themselves further to sign catcher Ivan Rodriguez.
An almost certain Hall of Famer, Rodriguez has scared the Cubs and other teams away because of recent injuries and a belief that he should be paid $10 million to $12 million per year for four or five years. The Orioles wouldn't go beyond a guarantee of about $18 million over three seasons.
Negotiations broke off Dec. 18. Since then agent Jeff Moorad has said Rodriguez might go to Japan if that's the only place someone will meet his price.
Personally, we would love to see Rodriguez with the Cubs. The belief here is that he's worth the risk. After being treated for a herniated disc last season, he not only played in 96 of the last 104 games, he hit .325 with 19 homers and 55 runs batted in.
But with no designated hitter spot as insurance, he's a much bigger risk for a National League team. The Orioles, on the other hand, should come to their senses and work out a compromise with Moorad.
Because of knee and back injuries, Rodriguez hasn't been at his best the last two years but nevertheless was among the best defensive catchers. He's determined to stick it to Texas for not re-signing him and is a perfect fit for Camden Yards.
"With the power alleys in that ballpark, he might hit 35 homers for them next year," an executive with a rival club said.
For a player worthy of Cooperstown, Japan is a bizarre option. Rodriguez should stay in the majors, even if it is with a one-year contract that lets him audition to join Miguel Tejada, Vlad Guerrero, Bartolo Colon, Kevin Millwood and Roberto Alomar in next winter's free-agent class.
STRANGE MOVES
It remains risky business for AL teams to add NL pitchers. That didn't keep Cleveland from signing Jason Bere and Brian Anderson, who combined to go 7-21 with a 5.11 ERA for the Cubs and Diamondbacks, respectively, last season.
Before signing the two veterans, the Indians were looking at possibly having C.C. Sabathia as the only non-rookie in their starting rotation. Lefties Cliff Lee, Billy Traber and Brian Tallet and right-handers Ricardo Rodriguez and Jason Beverlin are expected to battle for rotation spots in spring training. Barring a role change, Danys Baez will replace the injured Bob Wickman as closer.
Oh, yes. The Indians will look to rookie Josh Bard to replace catcher Einar Diaz, who was traded to Texas along with right-hander Ryan Drese for first baseman Travis Hafner, who replaces Jim Thome.
Coco Crisp, yet another rookie, is the likely center fielder and leadoff man. There also is no experienced replacement for third baseman Travis Fryman.
Travis Chapman, selected from Philadelphia in the Rule 5 draft, is the leading candidate. He hit .301-15-76 at Double-A Reading last year
GETTING UGLY
Boston believed it had an excellent chance to add Jose Contreras.
But then the Yankees cut a four-year, $32 million with the Cuban pitcher.
"The evil empire extends its tentacles even into Latin America," Boston president Larry Lucchino told The New York Times.
Contreras and Japanese slugger Hideki Matsui were George Steinbrenner's answer to fellow owners who have tried to bring the Yankees back to the level of their teams through expanded revenue sharing and a luxury tax. Their salaries have taken the New York's payroll beyond $140 million-far beyond the $117 million tax threshold.
"It's very difficult to bid against a team that has an unlimited budget," Red Sox owner John Henry said. "It doesn't matter how many outfielders or how many starters they already have, with an unlimited budget you can buy anyone you think you need."
Steinbrenner is expected to invest another $10 million in re-signing Roger Clemens, even though he has seven other starting pitchers under contract. The Yankees also had the best offer on the table for Bartolo Colon, dangling first baseman Nick Johnson and outfielder Juan Rivera. Boston might step up its effort to close a deal for Colon now that Contreras is out of the picture.
Because no one has wanted Orlando Hernandez or Sterling Hitchcock, GM Brian Cashman may have to start shopping lefty Andy Pettitte, who was limited to 135 innings last season yet had his $11.5 million contract option exercised. Either that or petition the AL for permission to operate two teams.
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