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Vladimir Guerrero, OF

 

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Dec. 13 -- The Orioles' competitors for Guerrero are increasing or decreasing depending on whom you ask. The Dodgers, in need of a productive outfielder, traded for Florida right fielder Juan Encarnacion on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, Guerrero's former manager, Felipe Alou, said the Giants are not among the suitors for Guerrero. "We have not discussed his name currently about being with us," Alou said. "At least not yet." Also, the Yankees appear to be close to finally signing right fielder Gary Sheffield, which would essentially take them out of the sweepstakes.The Marlins could be a dark horse because they have money available after moving Encarnacion, Derrek Lee and not re-signing Rodriguez. Florida management is apparently pondering whether to make a creative offer for Guerrero to come to South Florida. A new ballpark and a large Dominican population could be attractions for Guerrero . Still, Orioles officials are feeling better about their chances of landing a target by the conclusion of the meetings. More teams are locking up players through trades and occupying salary, meaning the Orioles could be one of the few teams able to afford Guerrero and Pudge Rodriguez.

We are also a dark horse from a budget perspective. The only way Guerrero will fit into our "budget parameters" is if Loria increases us to around $65M, and we trade or non-tender Looper and Redman. I'm not saying it won't happen......but will be surprised if it does.

Just for some diversity, this is from a Royals fan, found here.

 

A lot of his names are spelled incorrectly, and some of the info is wrong (Guerrero's asking price), but it's still something different and could be possible:

 

Royals Should Make A Run for Vladimir Guerrero

 

 

Nick Athan (Editor in Chief)

12/14/2003

 

It appears that baseball finally has some competitive balance. When the best closer in baseball Keith Faulke signs for $ 7 million per year, the best hitter Vladimir Guerrero is looking at signing for $12 million and arguably the best pitcher Greg Maddox is willing to sign for $8 million per season, the Kansas City Royals need to jump into free agency by signing a big time player.

 

I don?t think the Kansas City Royals will have to endure too many more phone calls from Scott Boras who represents Carlos Beltran. The Royals have tried to sign Beltran to a long term deal but Boras believes he?ll fetch Beltran a seven year deal worth $17 million per season.

 

Late breaking news! Mr. Boras you won?t get that for your client who has never been to an all star game and who still swings at too many breaking balls. You won?t get it because Guerrero is hands down a better player in every category and he?s going to sign for considerably less because most of the owners are being frugal.

 

Late Saturday night Mike Cameron signed a three year deal with the New York Mets that pays him about $6.5 million per season. Cameron might be the second best outfielder available next to Guerrero available in free agency.

 

The Royals can make a huge play for Guerrero. With the Royals payroll budget reportedly at $45 million, Kansas City would only need to increase that to $55 million and they?d have the best pure hitter in the game.

 

Last year the Minnesota Twins had a payroll near $55 million and they won the AL Central. The Royals with Guerrero would easily win the division especially if they keep Beltran all season. In fact, with their starting pitching, improved bullpen and their ability to play solid defense, they might even make it to the World Series in 2004.

 

I?m not kidding.

 

This team needs a huge bat and run producer and Guerrero would be that man. There is no doubt that if the Royals signed Guerrero that season ticket sales would jump by 5,000 before opening day. There is no doubt that the Royals with Guerrero in the everyday lineup would increase attendance by at least 10,000 fans per game.

 

Kansas City is a baseball town. The fans would flock to Kauffman stadium to see a lineup that includes, Beltran, Sweeney and Guerrero. Talk about Murderer?s Row!

 

Mr. Glass with one stroke of his pen, a little Wal-Mart stock and some guts would make his team the best in the AL Central and one of the best teams in the American League. In fact with Guerrero in the lineup, they could compete with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.

 

After the Royals improbable run in 2003, Mr. Glass expects the Royals to win the AL Central. He?s put his money where his mouth is and the team has signed all of their free agents but Raul Ibanez. Now losing Ibanez is not that big of a loss. It might have been by design.

 

Thus far the Royals besides retaining the rest of their key potential free agents have added reliever Scott Sullivan, catcher Benito Santiago and outfielder Matt Stairs. All three veterans were upgrades for the players they allowed to leave via free agency. On paper Kansas City has already has one of the best rosters in the AL Central.

 

The experience the Royals gained with last years pennant chase will be invaluable to the teams success in 2004. But signing a big bat like Guerrero would send shockwaves to the rest of the league and put Kansas City back on the baseball map.

 

Not since George Brett, and to some degree Bo Jackson, were in the lineup did fans come to the ballpark in record numbers to see these guys play. Imagine what Guerrero would do for this franchise.

 

If Glass does not take advantage of this opportunity, then he can at least be glad he didn?t give into the demands of Boros for Beltran. At the beginning of last year, the Royals offered Beltran a three-year deal worth $8.5 per season. When Cameron signed his three year deal with the Mets on Saturday night it was worth far less. Next years economic climate might be just as bad.

 

Now Boras will have to regroup and Beltran might consider switching agents because that big contract his agent is pushing for is not going to happen in KC or any other MLB city. If Guerrero signs with the Baltimore Orioles for far less money than most people expected, Beltran might not even get the money the Royals were offering two years ago.

 

The Royals hope to come out of the winter meetings with either outfielder Juan Gonzalez, Jose Cruz, Jr., Raul Mondesi or Jose Guillen. All of them would be a solid addition and have an impact on the Royals chances to win the division next year.

 

But none of them would match the excitement a Guerrero signing would in Kansas City.

 

It?s time for Mr. Glass to give something back to the fans that have been patient and supported his product last year. Now is the time to reward all the loyal Royal fans who came back to the ball park last year.

 

If nothing else, signing Guerrero would be a shrewd and financially lucrative move. After all that?s the bottom line.

72 mil/6 yrs

 

This is the Real Tejada deal

I know . . .I'm not feeling too good now about our chances to land Vlad after seeing how much the bone headed O's paid for Tejada.

Way to much money on Tejeda...

according to bowden(or however you spell it), the Orioles have been given a go to continue a pursuit of guerrero.

Link

 

here u go at the bottom it shows that we are gonna have some special moeny to make the run for him..i think as long as its within 15 mill range the marlins will sign him...they offered 13 mill for clemens why not vlad...i also think we can get him to come for 13 or 14 because of no tax we have here..

Santa is busting out the 'special money' this year, boys and girls!

I'm happy :thumbup

After the O's overpaid for Tejada (6 years at $72M), I dont think they will be going after Vlad. In fact, they damn near priced him out of our range.

 

And one more thing - the Marlins didnt free up space to sign Guerrero. Enc was never figured into the budget until Fudge refused the Marlins deal. Lee had to be cut out, but we were expecting to lose some salary JUST to sign the core of this team. If Vlad is signed, it is because Loria went out and got some extra money or the Marlins got real creative here. The players they mentioned do not = Vlad's pay. The only one figured in was Fudge, and that was at $8M. Vlad could demand twice that - and actually get it.

Loria said our payroll would be from $60mill to $65 mill

according to bowden(or however you spell it), the Orioles have been given a go to continue a pursuit of guerrero.

Bowden if you read rotoworld, has been very wrong all weekend, he isn't reliable.

according to bowden(or however you spell it), the Orioles have been given a go to continue a pursuit of guerrero.

Bowden if you read rotoworld, has been very wrong all weekend, he isn't reliable. good to know :thumbup

Anyone ever heard of rotowire.com?

 

Lee Sinins, of the baseball Sabermetric Encyclopedia, is reporting that the O's have signed "Pudge" and Vlady.

 

http://www.rotowire.com

 

The headline is about a third of the way down, under recent MLB news.

According to :angry Gammons the O's are expected to sign Guerrero within the next two days. :banghead He also said Guerrero would prefer not to go to Baltimore but with the money they are showing him he migh not have a choice. Guys lets hope this isn't true and Vlad will be a Marlin by Wednesday.

 

 

Make it happen Beinfest. :unsure :

Has Gammons ever been right?

ESPN News article gives this as the breakdown of Tejada's contract:

 

Tejada receives a $12 million signing bonus, with $4 million payable in 2004 and $2 million each in 2005, 2006, 2010 and 2011.

 

He receives yearly salaries of $3 million in 2004, $9 million in 2005, $10 million in 2006, $12 million in 2007, $13 million in 2008 and $13 million in 2009.

 

That comes out to only $7 million spent in 2004 ($4 mil in the signing bonus and $3 mil salary).

 

That's not a lot, so I can see why they've been given a go to continue for Guerrero, if that is indeed true.

 

Hopefully the Pudge/Lopez deal will be more frontloaded and hopefully it'll happen SOON.

Anyone ever heard of rotowire.com?

 

Lee Sinins, of the baseball Sabermetric Encyclopedia, is reporting that the O's have signed "Pudge" and Vlady.

 

http://www.rotowire.com

 

The headline is about a third of the way down, under recent MLB news.

I personally don't buy that, as I have never seen this site before and have no idea if they are ever wrong. Plus, there are conflicting reports from everywhere. We shall see.

Thank god! Let's hope they sign Pudge too and we can land Javy.

According to :angry Gammons the O's are expected to sign Guerrero within the next two days. :banghead He also said Guerrero would prefer not to go to Baltimore but with the money they are showing him he migh not have a choice. Guys lets hope this isn't true and Vlad will be a Marlin by Wednesday.

 

 

Make it happen Beinfest. :unsure :

Yeah, the O's were supposed to have him signed by today. I'll wait and see.

The scary thing is they think they might sign all three of them plus Ponson.

That's crap.... I heard the O's are about to sign Pudge for 3 years 10 mill they have Tejeda I doubt they get all three. Gammons is never right, ok he's right sometimes but not in this case. O's getting Tejeda,Pudge, and Vlad not gonna happen.

According to Gammons, the O's were supposed to have Pudge signed tonight, around the same time as Tejada.

 

Did that happen?

 

No.

Thank god! Let's hope they sign Pudge too and we can land Javy.

 

So I'm guessing your not a fan of Vlad? Plus theres no gurrantee the Marlins will sign Javy either. They say the Dodgers and Cubs are the front runners for Javy.

Thank god! Let's hope they sign Pudge too and we can land Javy.

If the O's sign Guerrero, then likely that can't offer more than $7-8M for Pudge.....so they sign Lopez instead, and Pudge's only possiblity if he doesn't want to sit on the bench is to swallow hard and become a Cubbie for $6-7. Got to love it!

According to Gammons, the O's were supposed to have Pudge signed tonight, around the same time as Tejada.

 

Did that happen?

 

No.

 

He said they would have Pudge signed by the 11 o clock sportscenter.