A friend of mine asked my opinion on the Baltimore Orioles and Andy McPhail specifically.  I decided to appease him and offer McPhail a free blueprint to contention.

The trades

1.     Miguel Tejada to the Los Angeles Angels for Brandon Wood

Both teams are better off going with the experience or youth, respectively.  The Angels are built to win now with some young reinforcements on the way, Miguel Tejada fits that mold perfectly.  He would be able to complement the Angels' lineup perfectly.  The Orioles get someone to play First Base exclusively who has 50 homer power.  Wood has his flaws, namely his strikeout to walk ratio, but has shown solid patience.  In Wood, the Orioles would have an extremely young piece for extremely cheap, being able to reinvent the farm and the team.

2.    Kevin Millar for to the Boston Red Sox for Hunter Jones

Millar is just taking up salary and roster space while still being productive.  It seems no secret that he wants to be in Boston and Boston still reveres him.  Jones projects to a solid middle reliever with reverse splits which makes him a very interesting option.  

3.    Melvin Mora and $10 million to the Florida Marlins for Scott Olsen and Ryan Tucker

The youth movement has to be fully embraced and accepted, that means sending veterans packing, even at a cost.  Mora would fill the centerfield hole that the Marlins have had for three years.  The Marlins have clearly tired on Olsen's antics and perhaps a new start would allow him to realize his potential.  For the Orioles, they get two potential middle of the rotation starters to help anchor their staff.  Olsen has frontline stuff and the ability to rake up strikeouts, but his maturity and temper really make him scary.  Ryan Tucker has really struggled in professional ball, but still has the chance to be special.  Part of success is risk, something the Orioles have been scared to do in the past.

4.    Danny Baez and Chad Bradford to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Preston Mattingly

Baez has been awful everywhere but Los Angeles in his career, so the Dodgers should be able to acquire him on the cheap.  Bradford is a very solid situational pitcher, something that can really help the team get over the hump in their own division.  Mattingly has had a very disappointing season but still is thought of as a legit MLB shortstop prospect, but still 2 years away.  Mattingly will never have a shot to break in with the Dodgers as they have 3 top SS prospects ranked ahead of him.  The Orioles very well might have to contribute about $7 million to get this deal done.

5.    Jay Payton to the Padres for Jared Wells

Payton lets the Padres play outfielder roulette and gives them a centerfield option if they come up short on any of the free agents.  Wells is another solid middle relief prospect who will cost very little.  The Orioles don't understand that bullpens are often fungible pieces built on the cheap.  Wells could very well be a legit specialist or a solid reliever.

6.    Brandon Snyder to the Philadelphia Phillies for Michael Bourn

Snyder will never get the shot to play in Baltimore with the extreme talent in front of him at many positions.  He fits for the Phillies who could use catching depth, especially young catching depth.  Bourn gives the Orioles a legit centerfielder and leadoff hitter with 50 steal capabilities.  He again offers youth as well as cost flexibility.  

Not taking into account raises, based on 2007 salaries the Orioles will be saving roughly $41.3 million in 2008.  This number gives them A LOT of flexibility in the free agency market.

Free Agency:

1.  Sign Alex Rodriguez to an 8 year, $275 million dollar contract.  Yes, this is a lot of money, but the Orioles are very close to competing.  Rodriguez would be able to hit in one of the best home run hitters parks in baseball while being in a city that offers him a chance to win and obscurity while staying in the AL, something he wants.   Rodriguez is predicted to bring in roughly $32 million in revenue alone, therefore the Orioles would only be paying an additional $4.375 million for the best player in baseball. 

 2. Avoid any other free agents


Projected 2009 lineup:

CF - Michael Bourn
2B - Brian Roberts
RF - Nick Markakis
SS - Alex Rodriguez
C - Matt Wieters
DH - Aubrey Huff
1B - Brandon Wood
3B - Bill Rowell
LF - Nolan Reimold

No. 1 - Erik Bedard
No. 2 - Adam Loewen
No. 3 - Scott Olsen
No. 4 -- Brandon Erbe
No. 5 - Daniel Cabrera
 
SU: Garret Olson
CL: Chris Ray