Hmm. If I were in charge, I’d probably cut all three and say “Fuck it, these guys suck and can’t help us longterm or shortterm, let’s put in some major league minimum guys and win some games.” But then I worry about Patton and Albers and the very strong possibility that they could give us nothing and both would retire because of injuries real soon. They could Matt Albers from the first half of this year, or they could be Jaret Wright from last year. Yuck. But I’d still probably cut Walker and replace him with Mickolio or Cormier.

Bottom line, as I sit here thinking about this, is that a lot of this is shuffling the deck chairs. We’re not going to be any good next year either. The rotation is still going to be inexperienced, and we’re still going to have offensive holes at short and first at least. If Roberts or Huff get traded, that’s our lead off guy and our clean up hitter gone.

What next year is is the chance to wait on Tillman and Arrieta and Matusz. Those are the guys we’re waiting on, combine them with Guthrie and one other veteran stabilizer and you’ve got your rotation…and we won’t be any good until we have a rotation.

Bergesen, Berken, Hernandez, Albers, Patton to start. Albers and Patton are there strictly to rehab. Chances are, by the time they are back in the groove, one or two of Liz, Olson or Burres will have screwed up enough starts to option them to Norfolk. If Penn screws up; I have no idea what we could do. Put him on the DL maybe. Who could prove he wasn’t hurt?

Waters and Mitchell moved into Norfolk pen. Leicester, Keisler, Knotts, Bukvich… whatever other AAAA pitcher we have no use for, cut them all. I hope I never see another AAAA starting pitcher in Norfolk again. I want nothing but MLB ready prospects simmering down there. I’m serious MacPhail, don’t make me come down there.

Possibly see DCab nontendered, FA pitcher in his place (Garland? Burnett?)

Possibly see Ramon at 1B, Wieters at C, Quiroz released.

Possibly see Tex at 1B, but not likely. Dunn said winning is priority #1 for him. Could see FO resigning Millar instead (will slash wrists).

Possibly see Reimold and Montanez not making it out of ST.

Possibly see Roberts, Huff or Ramon traded.

I’m counting on Walker being gone by next year.

Likely to see Liz, Burres, Penn and Olson moved to the bullpen or AAA, Bergesen, Hernandez and Berken moved from AAA into the rotation.

Hoping Sarfate is DFA’d for Mickolio.

Wondering if Johnson will be great again.

Wondering if the FO dumps Baez before the season begins.

I really can’t stand the idea that we’re relying on Kevin Millar to stop gap at first base for yet another year (next year would be 4 years…he’ll be in the running for longest tenured Oriole soon enough – and everybody knows he would rather be a Boston first baseman)…but I honestly don’t know what you do there besides him.

Options:

Mark Teixeria
Kevin Millar
Oscar Salazar
Aubrey Huff
Trade
Luke Scott
Nolan Reimold
Javy Lopez (I kid, I kid)
some other scrub like Mientkiewicz or Casey or Hinske or blah blah

Ouch. We’re probably going to see Reimold go to Norfolk unless he tears it up in Spring Training, but at that point we probably already have a first base plan, and I don’t see Scott moving. Personally, I don’t see why we don’t give the job to Salazar over Millar if for no other reason than to save the dough and give it to Markakis. But yeah, Kevin Millar and his clubhouse personality and mostly soft bat (seriously, a 94 OPS+ isn’t going to cut it from first base in any league) will probably come back for one last ride into the sunset.

Not a lot of options in the pitching department. Guthrie’ll be back we know for sure. Nobody actually knows the gameplan in the Warehosue, but we all agree that at least one veteran guy needs to show up via free agency or trade somehow. Word’s been coming down that Trembley’s been thinking about Liz and Olson and whether they’re starters or relievers. Personally I see progress out of both of them, but Liz has long been thought of by smarter people than I as a reliever and Olson feels to me (in my gut) like a guy who can put it all together sooner rather than later.

I don’t see Cabrera getting cut (even though he’s almost definitely run his welcome out), I don’t see Tillman or Hernandez or Bergesen advancing past Norfolk next year (Tillman still can’t buy a Boh and the other two will be around but not at the beginning of the year), so that leaves us with all of our favorite scrubs, which you all know about.

I guess it comes down to a few things: How healthy are Matt Albers and Troy Patton? How effective are they? Can Jim Johnson reconvert to a starter? Are we getting anything out of Brian Bass? Do we sign one, two, or no free agent pitchers? What about Hayden Penn?

I would definitely pen in Guthrie, Olson, and Cabrera for better or worse into the rotation. Answer those questions and you’ll have a pretty good idea of the rotation and the bullpen.

SS is a huge problem no matter how you look at it. We have nobody in the minors (no offense, Blake Davis) and the free agent pool is thin as hell. Somebody suggested a trade for Khalil Greene, and I kind of like that idea. He has a lot of talent, as I remember, but has scuffled lately. Could be a classic “change of scenery” guy. The only problem there is, what will it take to get him?

Teixeira isn’t coming here — I’m more and more resigned to that fact. It would be a great story but he’s probably not worth what he’ll get, and Andy knows that. Huff/Millar will serve us fine there — it’s not like they create a liability.

Wieters for sure next year. And if not him, I’m not so sure I’m comfortable with Ramon on any level anymore. He, likewise, could use a change of scenery.