http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9173224/Source:-Orioles,-Wigginton-reach-two-year-deal
There had been prior discussion about Wigginton, but this has caught me a bit by surprise.
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/W/ty-wigginton.shtml
DOB – 10/11/77
2008 Houston 3rd base and LF – .876 OPS, 386 at-bats, 23 homers, 58 rbi
2007 Houston, and Tampa 2nd base and 3rd – .800ish OPS, 547 at-bats, 22 homers, 67 rbi
2006 Tampa 1st and 2nd – .828 OPS, 444 at-bats, 24 homers, 79 rbi
Has played 744 professional games at 3rd, and 427 professional games at 2nd.
I had been projecting the roster as shown in the post below:
http://baltimoresportsandlife.blogspot.com/2009/02/schmucks-25-man-opening-day-roster-my.html
With the acquisition of Wigginton, this drastically changes things for 2009 and 2010.
First, if the team decides to trade Roberts – he gives an in-house stop-gap option for 2nd.
Secondly, if the team resigns Roberts, Wigginton is likely your everyday 2010 3rd baseman, with Snyder taking over for Huff at 1st.
With Wieters in the Minors to start the year, the O’s will be carrying Zaun and Moeller.
Beyond Moeller, I was projecting the other 3 members of the bench as Montanez, Freel, and Gomez.
Unless the team trades Scott or Huff, (or Roberts) you have to believe this means that Gomez will not make the team.
When Wieters comes up, and Zaun goes to bench… the O’s will have a strong and useful 4 man bench.
So, with Wigginton, I think we are looking at:
Roberts 2nd
Jones CF
Markakis RF
Huff 1st
Mora 3rd
Scott DH
Zaun C
Pie LF
Izturis SS
Moeller, Montanez, Freel, Wigginton
Guthrie, Uehara, Hill, Liz, Albers
Sherrill
Ray
Johnson
Hendrickson
Sarfate
Penn
Pauley
*Baez traded or released before Opening Day
** Walker traded or released before Opening Day
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