Roch Kubatko Updates The Orioles Hot Stove
Roch Kubatko from MASN sports joins The Scott Garceau Show with Jeremy Conn and Jason La Canfora to discuss the Orioles offseason moves. There are six starters fighting for a spot in the five man rotation on the Orioles and Bud Norris is one of them. Norris' salary will jump from $5million to $8million. With that being said, there are rumors that he is a potential trade chip, but Kubatko says, "I would pay the guy cause of what he brings. They may even pay him $9million, but he wouldn't get paid more." Although he turns 30 in March, Norris is viewed as an asset to the team and other teams in the division took note that the righty went 9-1 in 14 starts in the AL East, with the Orioles going 13-1 in those games.
Roch then provided the latest on re-signing the Orioles big three free agents, Cruz, Miller and Markakis. Kubatko started off by giving the latest on the Markakis front. "I think it's quiet right now. The agent doesn't want other teams to think that the deal is done, meaning they are still open to negotiate." Regarding Nelson Cruz, the free agent left field has turned down a 3 year deal with the Orioles, telling the organization he is interested in a 5 year deal. He is expecting big bucks with his incredible 2014 season, which included 40 homeruns. The Orioles are still holding out hope he will accept the 3 year deal, as no one has reported him being offered a deal with any other team. As far as other contracts go, Kubatko says "The Orioles can be very deliberate. They aren't going to act quickly."
Jason wanted to know what the benefit would be to make a trade in November, what would they want in return this time of the year. He stated short of them getting a corner outfielder, he doesn't know where the trade goes well. Kubatko responded, "That's why I don't think there will be a rush. I think later in the off season, they will see what holes need to be filled." Pitchers are the only players that should be considered looking for right now.
Many of these questions will be answered when the Orioles attend their mid-January mini camps.
