Look who the Orioles picked? Bet Santana is Pissed!

Today, as I predicted would happen in a previous post! That the Orioles would and indeed they did forfeit their first round, 17th overall draft pick. But the question then was "Will it be Santana or Jimenez? Well today we got our answer. Ubaldo Jimenez whose been on the free-agent market for wuite some time now has signed with the Orioles for four years and $50 million.

Jimenez
(Getty Images)

The Orioles were really in desperate need of a proven 5th starter. Even after signing Suk-min Yoon, there is no guarantee that he will produce in the majors even with his spotless 24-0 record last season with the Kia Tigers in the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO).

The Orioles kind of alienated themselves from AJ Burnett by cancelling contracts and sparking bad blood with former Oakland Athletics' closer Grant Balfour and  OF Tyler Colvin. They lost out on Arroyo to the Diamondbacks who would have been better for them than both Burnett and Jimenez who have draft picks tied to them while Burnett did not. Jimenez went 13-9 with a 3.30 ERA in 32 starts for Cleveland last season. He turned down a $14.1 million qualifying offer from the Indians, so Baltimore would have to forfeit its first-round draft pick to sign him.

As I blogged a few days ago it was time that the O's finally gave in and gave up that draft pick. They were out of options otherwise unless they signed Santana or Jimenez. They ultimately went with Jimenez ... It will be interesting to see where Santana will end up and who still needs a starter and is willing to give up their best draft pick ... my point in this blog was to talk about Jimenez! But I'm kinda off onto topic number #2 ....

Are free-agents who turn down a qualifying offer from their current team really truly free if they have a draft pick attached to their name??

I'd say hello no! But I will get to that in second. I mean yes, the Tanaka signing basically held everything in stasis for the entire month of January which I found disgusting and unfair! Then to be the last pitchers left because you are controlled by a draft pick and no one wants you? To me that means that even if you have played long enough and finally become a free agent but because you couldn't decide you have to feel dragged down. Because while you can blame Tanaka for January, both Ubaldo and Santana should have been signed by now ... I guess Mr. Jimenez has now. 

Ervin Santana
 (Image courtesy of Jaime Squire/Getty Images)

The Orioles needed a closer and a starter and probably would have done better without being overly picky about team physical. I would bet - if I actually had any money - that Grant Balfour has a great year for the Tampa Bay Rays. I don't know too much about Colvin except that he too got screwed by the Orioles over a physical. I personally think that the Orioles need to loosen the reins a bit and chill out or they wouldn't have had to spend $50 million and a first round draft pick to get Jimenez ... if he has a Cy Young year then he may be worth it but who sees that in the stars right now?

The question as of this moment is what teams is desperate for a starter and which teams are brave enough to give up that first round pick?? And how would you feel if you were Santana? Is there anyone in the hunt left for a starter?? Betcha he didnt think that it would be like this come mid February!! Can't wait to find out!!

Orioles Finally Ready to Forfeit Draft Pick for a Starter

According to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal the Baltimore Orioles are finally giving in to the fact that in order for them to round out their rotation they are going to have to give up their first round, 17th overall, draft pick.

The Orioles haven't had the greatest off season. They traded away their closer, Jim Johnson, for a mediocre second baseman, Jemile Weeks. They had pretty much done deals with both RHP Grant Balfour and OF Tyler Colvin only to have both deals fall through due to issues surrounding the player's physicals. They were interested in closer Fernando Rodney but lost out to the Mariners. The Orioles have an even more desperate need for a fifth starter. They had would like to have signed Bronson Arroyo who signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks, reportedly saying that he was deterred from playing in Baltimore because of the issues they'd had with Balfour and Colvin. Baltimore was also very interested in AJ Burnett. It was widely known that Burnett wanted to pitch somewhere near his Maryland home and the Orioles were automatically seen as the front runners, only to have Burnett sign with the Phillies instead.

The Orioles did sign Korean pitcher Suk-min Yoon on Wednesday to a three year, $5.75 million contract. This signing does give their rotation a definite boost, but only if Yoon performs like fellow Korean pitcher Hyun-jin Ryu has performed for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Signing a player from overseas is always a risk because there is no guarantee how they will adjust to playing Major League Baseball as opposed to baseball in their home countries.

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Still there are two free agent, proven starting pitchers out there for the taking but they each have a downfall. Both Ervin Santana and Ubaldo Jimenez have a draft pick attached to them. Meaning that if signed by Baltimore, the Orioles will have to give up their highest draft pick to either Santana's former team, the Kansas City Royals or to Jimenez's former team, the Cleveland Indians. Both pitchers' former teams offered one year deals worth $14.1 million and both deals were rejected by the players, thus the Indians and Royals receive a draft pick to compensate for their loss.

The Orioles (and most other teams) have been shying away from Jimenez and Santana for this reason. It is very likely the reason these two are still on the market with pitchers and catchers having already reported to training camp. Baltimore's only other option is to stay in-house and promote their 2012 first round draft pick, Kevin Gausman, to the starting rotation. Promoting Gausman is, like signing Yoon, a gamble because he is young and inexperienced.

As was reported by Ken Rosenthal the Orioles have a small window if they want to win (2014-2015) so the best bet for the team is to suck it up and give up a draft pick in order to get a proven starter. We will probably know within a matter of days if that starter is Jimenez or Santana.

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My Prediction Comes True: AJ Burnett Signs with the Phillies

Honestly, I can actually say that I saw this one coming. Not to "toot my own horn" or anything, but I called the Philadelphia Phillies signing AJ Burnett just after he announced that he planned to pitch in 2014. In a previously published article, written on January 30, 2013 titled Could the Phillies be Burnett's Third Suitor?, I wrote, 

"Also possibly throwing their hat in the ring for Burnett are the, out of nowhere, Philadelphia Phillies. With a fifth spot left open in their rotation ready to be fought for at spring training, the Phillies could fill that role with Burnett, a proven starter and workhorse...Burnett could fit in not only as their much-needed reliable fifth starter, he could end up in the number two role to break up lefties Lee and Hamels."

It appears that my prediction has come to fruition. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Wednesday that Burnett, 37, had reached an agreement on a one-year, $16 million deal with Philadelphia.

Burnett had been mulling retirement for most of the off season until late January. When the announcement came out that he was not going to retire, most baseball fans and critics thought he would end up with the Baltimore Orioles. Burnett does reside in Maryland and the Orioles definitely could have used another proven, seasoned starter.

The other club reportedly in pursuit of Burnett at the time was the Tampa Bay Rays. According to a tweet by Peter Gammons on January 30, 2013,

@pgammo Orioles "all in" on AJ Burnett, Rays in, early in process

Since then the right-hander had also been linked to the Pittsburgh Pirates, who he played for in 2012 and 2013. He told reporters at the end of last season that he would most likely return to the Pirates as a free agent or retire. When he announced that he would pitch again, he made it clear that the team needed to be relatively close to his Maryland home. Philadelphia certainly fits that bill.

This signing couldn't have come at a better time for the Phillies as just Tuesday the team's ace, LHP Cole Hamels, told reporters that he will not be ready to start on opening day due to bicep tendinitis. He did say he remained confident that he would be able to pitch sometime in April.

Burnett is a perfect fit for the Phillies. Joining Hamels and Cliff Lee at the top of the rotation, Burnett will be able to break up the two lefties and provide extra stability in the rotation, especially now after Hamels' announcement. 

Read The rest of my article on Sports Unbiased - Your Alternative Source for Sports

Suk-min Yoon to Orioles? Where Does That Leave Remaining FA Starters?

After watching pitcher Suk-min Yoon last week out in California it appears the Baltimore Orioles were impressed about what they saw. The Orioles have reportedly made an offer to right-hander, proving how serious they really are about the young Korean. As the Orioles are one of the main teams still shopping for a starter but seem to have found one, what does this signing mean for free agents Ervin Santana, Ubaldo Jimenez, AJ Burnett and Bronson Arroyo?

Image courtesy of Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Of course there are still teams looking for starting pitching. The Yankees have expressed a desire to possibly add another starter. Considering how much they have spent this off season, a little more money spent for them is definitely not an issue.

The Toronto Blue Jays are absolutely still looking. Yoon had also been reportedly linked to the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers so if he accepts Baltimore’s offer than does leave options for Santana, Jimenez and Arroyo.

READ MORE ON Sports Unbiased - Your Site For The Latest Sports News, Poll and Predictions!

So He's Not Retiring! Where will AJ Burnett end up? Maybe not where you think!

Been MIA the last couple of days due to the passing of my beloved and only son, Harry James Potter Rainwater.

Haven't felt like writing or even staying awake or staying ... how to put it delicately - or more like bluntly - not drunk. But I still have my girls - Hermione Jean Granger Rainwater, Little Kitty and my dog, Bebe - so all is not lost and I woke up this morning missing baseball with a vengeance. 

I mean it feels like in two days (where in reality I didn't miss all that much) I missed EVERYTHING ... was gonna write first about Big Papi and I will get to that eventually today. For now we are gonna go with AJ Burnett who as most know had been mulling the idea of retirement that was until yesterday. The 37 year old does intend to pitch in 2014 the question is where ... Baltimore most likely, Tampa Bay yes is in the mix ... but the Phillies? Where did that come from ... oh just a Philadelphia reporter but it makes so much sense it's scary. Well not really scary in that I'm worried about the Phils coming after my A's in the World Series, scary in the sense that it makes so much sense ... so here's a little piece I did for MLB Nation on the subject: 

Pitcher A.J. Burnett, 37, had been mulling retirement until an announcement yesterday that changed a few teams' minds on which of the handful of free agent pitchers remaining that they were looking to sign. Wednesday Burnett announced that he is still planning to pitch in 2014.

Thought by many to be a lock for the Orioles if he were to change his mind regarding retirement Burnett, who resides in Maryland after all, it now appears may have a couple other interested suitors. Another obvious team in the mix is the Tampa Bay Rays, even after avoiding arbitration and re-signing LHP David Price to a 1-year $14 million deal. The Rays actually have the capacity to keep both pitchers if they were to sign Burnett. However, a trade for Price would be more lucrative as he will become a free agent in 2015. They also have the option to wait till mid-season to shop Price for possibly an even better deal. So as the Rays have options, they are still making up their mind.

A tweet by Peter Gammons confirmed that the

Orioles are "all in" on AJ Burnett, Rays in, early in process

But also possibly throwing their hat in the ring for Burnett are the, out of nowhere, Philadelphia Phillies. With a fifth spot left open in their rotation ready to be fought for at spring training, the Phillies could fill that role with Burnett, a proven starter and workhorse. Already their rotation consists of Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Kyle Kendrick and Roberto Hernandez, all locks for the 2014 season, but to have a proven 5th starter could help solidify the aging Phillies team for at least another year.

As of Monday Phillies' general manager, Ruben Amaro Jr. and manager Ryne Sandberg, were "keeping their eyes open" according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. But as of yesterday it seems they may have a vested interest in A.J. Burnett, as reported by Ryan Lawrence at PhillyNews.com.

He's got a point. Burnett could fit in not only as their much needed reliable fifth starter, he could end up in the number two role to break up lefties Lee and Hamels. Burnett who went 10-11 with a 3.30 ERA last season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, also led National League starters in strikeout and ground ball rates which would work well in Philadelphia's home run friendly ballpark. Not to mention the fact that since the Pirates let him go without a qualifying offer whichever team picks him up would be not have to give up a draft pick as compensation, unlike some other free agent starters like Ervin Santana and Ubaldo Jimenez.

With their opening day payroll still well below the $189 million luxury tax threshold the Phillies might very well be in the running with the the Orioles and Rays to be the first to try and snatch up A.J. Burnett.

Any thoughts?!?