http://masnsports.com/2009/01/it-could-be-a-busy-july.html
Clearly, you understand the logic – the Orioles have a number of players that could potentially help contending teams, that have contracts that expire after 2009.
Players such as Roberts, Mora, Huff, Walker, and Baez.
Kubatko correctly reminds his readers that Mora would have to waive his No Trade Clause.
My take is that a lot of moves are unlikely.
I believe Roberts will likely be extended prior to Spring Training. It is possible that Mora would waive his NTC, if the club told him in July that they were definitively not picking-up his 2010 option year, but it is just as possible that Mora would choose to play out the rest of 2009 in an Orioles uniform.
I do not think Baez will make the Orioles 2009 roster. I anticipate him getting a lot of exposure to other teams in Spring training… if they can not trade him, I expect they will cut him, and eat his contract.
Having him make the 2009 Opening Day roster, makes little sense. With Sherrill, Ray, and Johnson – Baez will not have the opportunity to raise his value.
So, that leaves you with Huff and Walker.
I could see Walker being moved. I figure he rebounds some this year, and a lefty out of the pen, will always hold some value.
If that happens in July, the Orioles could move Hendrickson back to the bullpen, and replaced in the rotation with existing youth.
Huff is a harder question. He was having a monster 2008 season, and attracted little value from contending teams. If he regresses back to career norms, he can still help teams – but will they be willing to trade value back?
If you are the Orioles, and you know he is not in your 2010 plans, it would make some sense to get what you can get for him. On the other-hand, if you are going to trade him for limited value, and not promote from within (Snyder), it might make just as much sense to keep him around to help finish 2009 as respectfully as possible.
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