2008 Outlook-Team by team starting with the Baltimore Orioles

In what I hope to be a daily feature, I'll be taking a look at each team going into 2008, where they improved themselves, what they lost, etc. We'll start in the AL East, alphabetically with the Baltimore Orioles.

Significant acquisitions:

-RHP Matt Albers

-LHP Troy Patton

-OF Luke Scott

-RHP Dennis Sarfate

-3B Michael Costanzo

-OF Adam Jones

-LHP George Sherrill

-RHP Chris Tillman

-RHP Kam Mickolio

-LHP Tony Butler

Significant departures

-SS Miguel Tejada

-LHP Eric Bedard

After years of waffling, the Orioles finally decided to trade Miguel Tejada, probably a few years too late. Still, they dealt him the day before his name was released on the Mitchell Report, so that’s a plus.

Overall, it was a decent haul. Scott has probably peaked, but he did out-produce Tejada last year, in fewer at bats. If the Orioles are smart, he’ll be shopped at the trade deadline, because I think his peak is now, and will be worth more long-term in a trade. Albers projects as a back of the rotation starter, while Patton profiles as a likely #3. Sarfate looks like a career minor leaguer, but Costanzo could help the Orioles in a year or two, as he has shown decent power and the propensity to take walks. According to Baseball America, some scouts view him as a first baseman in the making. Patton and Costanzo were numbers 3 and 6 on their Top 10 prospect list, respectively.

The real good stuff came in the Bedard deal. The Orioles decided that they wouldn’t be able to keep Eric Bedard(who is a free agent after 2009), and traded him while his name was hot. Bedard is coming off his best year as a pro, and if not for a September injury, would have likely finished higher than 5^th in the Cy Young Race(he finished with more strikeouts, and a lower WHIP and ERA than winner CC Sabathia, despite pitching 59 less innings).

This was the 4^th straight year that Bedard improved his ERA. WHIP, and strikeout totals. The hard-throwing lefty turns 29 in March, and could be poised for a big year in Seattle. The infield defense should be a great help(Bedard has a career 1.31 groundball to flyball ratio).

The Orioles got Adam Jones, who was the Mariners top prospect, and should slide into centerfield. Adam Jones and Nick Markakis should be the cornerstone of the offense for years to come. George Sherrill is a soon to be 31 year old lefty who lowered his ERA by almost 2 runs last year. While he could be useful in the AL East, if someone comes offering a decent prospect for him, the O’s should jump at the chance.

Tillman had the best curve in the Mariners system, and should give the O’s some rotation depth in the future. Tony Butler once ranked in the M’s Top 10 Prospect list, but struggled in Low A ball in 2007. Kam Mickolio is an interesting arm, and like Butler and Tillman, was drafted in 2006, so there is time to sort them out. Wouldn’t be surprised if Mickolio reaches the majors this year, after posting a solid 2.68 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in Double A and Triple A, while striking out more than a batter an inning.

In all, the O’s did well for themselves, and if Peter Angelos ever quits Brian Roberts, the O’s could add a few more big league capable pitchers. Still, the 2008 outlook is bleak, and 100 losses isn’t out of the question.