All around the MLB fanbase, I have heard that the O's will finish lasy place in the AL East, that they will not win more than 50 games, and they will lose somewhere way over 100 games. I understand that some people believe the Bedard and Tejada trades were huge downgrades, but in reality, its not. Erik Bedard was a huge contributer to a 69 win Orioles team in 2007, but he was not fully there in April and missed all of September, ending the season of the Cy Young candidate. In the trade, the O's recieved two key pieces to this O's team in 2008, Adam Jones and George Sherrill. Jones stepped into the O's organization and was quickly granted a starting spot in center field over veteran Jay Payton. Jones has superstar potential, and will probably start slow, but should work out in a major way as the season progress'. Sherrill stepped in as the leading candidate for the closer role, vacant due to Tommy John surgery on Chris Ray. Not only will Sherrill be a key to the O's season, he will be a very good trade chip at the deadline, as well as the O's other two veteran relievers(Walker, Bradford). In that trade, the O's also reciever the M's Top Pitching Prospect, Chris Tillman(19) and one of the M's best pitching prospects, Tony Butler(20) and Ms relief prospect Kameron Mickolio(23). Mickolio could a be a helpful asset to this young O's team if any reliever get injured/traded.
~ O's new closer George Sherrill will be a big help for several reasons for the O's in 2008 while Erik Bedard trys to boost the Mariners to 1st in the AL West.
Now we go to the Tejada trade. The O's gave up a key component to there offense in 2007, but he was begining his slow down and was starting to be a cancer in the clubhouse. Orioles GM Andy MacPhail turned him around and found a good trade for him in the Astros, one day before his name was set to appear on the Mitchell Report. In the deal, he acquired 3 players that will help right off the bat. Those three are righty-starter Matt Albers, righty reliever Dennis Sarfate and outfielder Luke Scott. Albers has been compared to Curt Schilling and has talent to be a number 4 starter in this league. Sarfate, if Sherrill gets traded, would probably become the closer. He has a fastball that can reach 100 mph, and Luke Scott is a power bat the O's have needed for a while. Also in the deal, the O's recieved the 'Stros Top Pitching prospect in Troy Patton and power hitting third base prospect Mark Costanzo. Costanzo will get some time in at AAA before any moves up to the majors. He is currently blocked by Melvin Mora and third base prospect Scott Moore. Patton will miss the season with a torn labrum, and should come back by next year. The Astros will be getting a good shortstop who should return back to better power numbers in the small Minute Maid Park.
Both trades boosted the offense with a stud(Adam Jones, Luke Scott) and both gave the O's some young talent along with young pitchers. Out of the ten players acquired, 5 will be expected to be helpful to the O's in 2008. 2 of them are expected to see a call-up later in the season, one will miss the whole season. 7 of the 10 are 25 or young. 2 of the 10 are 20 or under. 2 of the 10 are Baseball America Top 100 prospects. Whatever happens in 2008, do not sleep on the O's to get 4th place. This team looks like a horrible team on paper, but are a unit of one, and together they stand, alone they fall. Let the game and the season, the sprited America's game, diside the outcome of the of the O's fatality.
