November 02, 2004|By Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko,SUN STAFF
Prepared to ante up once they're allowed to begin negotiating with free agents from other organizations later this month, the Orioles still regard themselves as players in the Carlos Beltran sweepstakes as they get ready for next week's general managers meetings in Key Biscayne, Fla.
Beltran should be the most sought-after player on the market, but the Orioles don't believe the center fielder priced himself out of Baltimore after hitting eight home runs in 12 postseason games with the Houston Astros.
The front office continues to formulate its plan for the offseason, one that should become clearer after this weekend. Names are added to the list. Most important, none has been removed.
"We haven't eliminated anybody yet," vice president Mike Flanagan said.
Center field was unsettled for much of the 2004 season because of injuries to Luis Matos and Jerry Hairston. Karim Garcia was acquired and later released, and Larry Bigbie eventually was moved over from left field.
Hairston, who remains a candidate if he stays with the club, is scheduled to undergo a second surgery today related to the fracture he suffered in his left ankle during an Aug. 17 game at Camden Yards.
In a follow-up procedure at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Hairston will have a small piece of bone removed from his ankle. Team officials still expect him to be ready by the start of spring training.
Although not serious in nature, the surgery makes it more likely that Hairston will remain with the Orioles when they open training camp in three months. He's one of the more marketable players on the roster, and no longer viewed as a challenger to second baseman Brian Roberts, but teams figure to be less inclined to trade for him until it's proved that he's fully recovered.
"We're not going to give him away, which is what we'd have to do," said one team official.
The Orioles can't begin negotiating with free agents from other clubs until Nov. 11. They want to add at least two more bats to the lineup, and Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Carlos Delgado and Chicago White Sox outfielder Magglio Ordonez have piqued their interest. So far, they haven't been scared off by Ordonez's injury to his left knee. He didn't play after July 21.
No decision has been made on Jay Gibbons, who's eligible for arbitration and might not be offered a contract in December. Flanagan said returning Gibbons to right field "wasn't out of the question."
Flanagan also indicated that Melvin Mora will remain at third base, so if the Orioles added Troy Glaus, he would move across the infield to first.
"At this point, we're pretty comfortable with Melvin at third," Flanagan said. "Our needs are not at shortstop or third base."
The Orioles are intent on finding a front-line starting pitcher, either through free agency or trade. Carl Pavano, Derek Lowe, Brad Radke and Eric Milton figure to be high on their list. Flanagan confirmed yesterday that only Sidney Ponson and Rodrigo Lopez are penciled in as members of next year's rotation.
At least one more reliever is needed after Jason Grimsley underwent ligament-reconstruction surgery on his right elbow last month. Jorge Julio could replace Grimsley in a setup role, and the Orioles haven't decided whether to keep B.J. Ryan as their closer or pursue one this winter. Ryan might return to left-handed setup, where he's a proven commodity.
"We'll see who files later this week," Flanagan said.
A backup catcher and utility infielder also are priorities. "We want to add to our bench," Flanagan said.
They can expect to add more salary. The Orioles haven't established a firm threshold for their payroll, but it appears they're ready to spend similarly to last offseason, when they set aside $121 million for four prominent free agents.
The Orioles hold exclusive negotiating rights with their own free agents for 15 days after the World Series. They aren't interested in retaining pitcher Omar Daal, first baseman David Segui or outfielder Marty Cordova, but they want to keep outfielder B.J. Surhoff, who has signed minor league deals the past two years.
Past negotiations with Surhoff have been put on the back burner while the Orioles pursued other free agents, but Flanagan said: "It's probably more front burner this time around." The team will attempt to sign him to a major league contract.
"One of the things we want to do is make sure we have plenty of depth going into the season," Flanagan said, "and Surhoff certainly brings that."
The Orioles will decide later this week whether they'll attempt to re-sign left-hander Buddy Groom at a reduced rate. They aren't expected to pick up his $3 million option.
The GM meetings also should provide opportunities for the Orioles to conduct more interviews for director of minor league operations and scouting director.
Two in-house candidates, Tripp Norton and Dave Stock- still, have been interviewed for director of minor league operations, but no other meetings were scheduled as of yesterday.
