• Baltimore- The Orioles started the season hot, but have cooled off as of late. The O’s have good young pitching headlined by Chris Tillman, Brian Matuz and others. It remains to be seen if they will live up to the hype, but they have the potential.
• Possible Scenarios- Derek Lee could find himself switching addresses again at the deadline. Lee, who was dealt from Chicago(Cubs) to Atlanta at last year’s deadline, has 9 home runs to go along with 28 runs batted in and a .235 batting average. For a guy who has a career .287 batting average and 321 career homeruns a change of scenery could help him and the team acquiring him. Pittsburgh, Seattle and Anaheim are intriguing landing spots for him. Vlad Guererro could also be dealt to an AL club seeking a DH. Minnesota and back in Anaheim are possible places the former Angel could end up. We could also see a moving of pitchers from Baltimore. Jeremy Guithre is one of the top pitchers who is presumably available, and while a record of 4-14 might be disheartening, Guithre has posted double digit wins and an ERA under four in 3 of the last four years. Texas, Cleveland, Minnesota and maybe Detroit are possible fits for Guithre. We could also see the Birds deal some of their bullpen, Koji Uehara, Kevin Gregg, Mike Gonzalez and Brad Bergesen could all be dealt. Texas has coveted, or needed for that matter, a bridge to Neftali Feliz, their young fireballing closer. So, maybe one or two of these guys are fits with Texas and St. Louis.
Shortstop JJ Hardy is a hot name on the trade market, with teams looking for an offensive upgrade at shortstop. But Hardy signed an extension in Baltimore after putting up All-Star-worthy numbers at .278, with 13 homeruns and 33 runs batted in, so he probably won’t be dealt.
Felix Pie or Nolan Reimold are both interesting names because both probably should be starting. With Nick Markakis and Adam Jones being stalwarts in center and right respectively and Vlad Guererro logging fewer defensive innings than David Ortiz, one of the Reimold and Pie combo gets pushed to the bench with the only open spot being in left field.
