Late Innings

Before Thanksgiving, we heard rumors about a Third Team being involved with the Cubs and Padres in a blockbuster trade for Padres’ ace Jake Peavy. That mysterious team, at least according to Steve Gilbert of mlb.com, is the Orioles. I’ve been saying for some time now that if the Padres were to trade their ace, they’d want back MLB-ready pitching. The Cubs have some, but it’s not exactly what the Padres are expecting. Rich Hill’s stock has fallen dramatically, Sean Marshall doesn’t fit their bill, and of course there’s Jason Marquis, who has 9MM owed to him in the final year of his three-year contract signed two years ago.

The Padres have been coveting Oriole’s hurler Garrett Olsen, a soft-tosser who might be best moving to the weaker National League. He’s dominated at the minor league level, however is far too inconsistent in the majors. Granted the Orioles probably didn’t give him enough time to develop (likewise with John Maine), however if he alone could net you Felix Pie, then the move should be made. Andy MacPhail and the Orioles have been coveting Pie for sometime now. He was the Cubs top prospect in 2007, however likewise with many Cubs prospects of late (e.g. Don Veal), his stock as fallen. I honestly believed that he was about to be heading to Baltimore this past Spring with Sean Gallagher for Brian Roberts (I read a incredibly-respectable source.) However that trade didn’t happen (and Gallagher is now a member of the A’s rotation.)

Long story short, if MacPhail pulls off this move and acquires Pie during the Winter Meetings in two weeks, I’ll be very happy. An outfield of Pie, Nick Markakis and Adam Jones could be incredible, especially with all three of them being 25 and under. Luke Scott could be part of a DH platoon, and Aubrey Huff could be the team’s first baseman. Granted I know that Baltimore would be moving some pitching for acquiring hitting, but this is a move that I would like. There are many people in Chicago who are saying that the team shouldn’t be giving up on Pie right now. Besides, given how slow the market has been going of late, the team might be able to snag a starter for cheap soon.