Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail left baseball's general manager meetings in Chicago on Wednesday and headed to Arizona, where he will convene the organization's pro scouting department to discuss the club's offseason options.
The concluded GM meetings, a scaled-down version held at an O'Hare International Airport hotel, gave Orioles executives an opportunity to begin trade discussions in what MacPhail hopes will be an active offseason.
"It was a shorter meeting than is customary, but those things that were first on the list, we were able to accomplish," said MacPhail, who attended the meetings with special assistant Wayne Krivsky and director of baseball operations Matt Klentak. "There was time to talk to a few clubs, and I think we got the basics accomplished. I think we explored the things that we needed to explore, but I never got the feeling we were close to doing anything."
MacPhail declined to identify which teams he met with, saying only "several." He said he plans to go over the players discussed in the trade talks in meetings with his pro scouts over the next couple of days.
MacPhail also acknowledged that Orioles executives met with the representatives of a "few" free agents at the GM meetings. Teams aren't allowed to sign other clubs' free agents until Nov. 20.
That's a big reason much of the discussion emanating from the meetings was of potential trades, including the availability of several third basemen in whom the Orioles have interest at the right price. FoxSports.com first reported Wednesday that the Orioles and San Francisco Giants are pursuing Florida Marlins infielder Dan Uggla, who had 30 or more homers and 90 or more RBIs in three of his four seasons.
Uggla, 29, is a right-handed hitter and a natural second baseman, but the Orioles would acquire him to take over third, a position he has never played in the majors. The Marlins, who will owe Uggla a raise from his $5.35 million salary in arbitration if they keep him, are looking for young pitching in return.
The Colorado Rockies have made available third baseman Garrett Atkins, who had a miserable 2009 season, hitting .226 with nine homers and 48 RBIs. However, Atkins, also a right-handed hitter, averaged 25 homers and 110 RBIs the previous three seasons. While the Orioles have some interest in the 29-year-old, they are more likely to wait and see whether he is non-tendered rather than give up talent to acquire him.
