Orioles Nab Ty Wigginton
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Tue, February 03, 2009 10:25 AM | Comments: 21
News, Posts
The Orioles signed Ty Wigginton to a two-year contract, according to Ken Rosenthal.
Wigginton, who hit 23 home runs with a .283 average last season for the Astros, sought a starting role, and will play a 1B/DH role in Baltimore. The Phillies were interested in the right-handed hitter, but really had no defined everyday role for him. The list of right-handed hitters in the Phils’ vision still includes Nomar Garciaparra, Kevin Millar and Mark Grudzielanek.
Posts: 0 Greg V.
And I’ll ask it again. What can Nomar, Millar, and Grudzielanek do that Chris Coste can’t?
Posted: 10:34 AM on February 3, 2009
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
Play third base, shortstop, second base. That’s about it.
Posted: 10:38 AM on February 3, 2009
Posts: 0 Griffin
According to ESPN rumors, White Sox make an offer to Abreu (good, keep him off the Muts),
and the Phillies and Will Ohman are not close to a deal.
Posted: 10:39 AM on February 3, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
I still haven’t seen terms of the deal anywhere… but its said that the Phillies WILL NOT pay more than $3 M per season to whoever this Right-Handed pinch hitter is going to be.
Will Nomar come back, and play on the East Coast for $3 M…. i doubt it…
Aurilia will probably get something around $2+ M from the Giants, so I doubt he moves here.
Wigginton is signed…
I think we might be looking at the roster right now, except I still expect Stairs to be traded: Dobbs, Coste, Jenkins, Bruntlett, Paulino on our bench? …not a ton of speed, but replacing Burrell with Ibanez, and having Werth everyday makes the overall lineup that much faster anyway..
Posted: 10:44 AM on February 3, 2009
Posts: 0 From Section 113
Ya know I also think we are all forgetting, including myself, Donald is a righty. I think he should at elast get a chance.
Posted: 10:47 AM on February 3, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
Coste is still out. you need someone who can play more than just catcher and third base – coste has still gotta be the odd man out unless he learns new positions.
Posted: 10:47 AM on February 3, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
Donald needs to play everyday.. and he needs to improve, going from AA to the majors is HUGE jump.
Posted: 11:00 AM on February 3, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
But Jason Donald is automatically the greatest player ever of all time….that said…he needs to play in AAA first..
Posted: 11:08 AM on February 3, 2009
Posts: 0 From Section 113
Don M. I agree with you totally about Donald, BUT let’s just look at it this way.
If Aurilla and Nomar won’t move East for $2-$4 million, than is there anyone better than Donald?
Mets brought up Murphy. And Donald could find time, especially in the first month or 2, filling in for Utley and Feliz. THan after Utley is fully back move Doanld back down and if Nomar or whomever is still unsigned, nab them for a bench spot.
Posted: 11:09 AM on February 3, 2009
Posts: 551 Brian Michael
My Phillies calendar says that tomorrow is Chris Coste’s 36th birthday.
Posted: 11:47 AM on February 3, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
I just don’t think Donald CAN be productive making the jump to the Majors from AA, and not playing everyday… which hurts his development.. AND, I think it would be unfair to place him in that situation and expect anything from him..
its a no-win situation.. I’d rather them have Bruntlett and Dobbs fill the spots if we can’t get anyone else.. If Donald is THAT good, he’ll tear it up in AAA and force the Phillies to bring him up
Posted: 11:54 AM on February 3, 2009
Posts: 0 Greg V.
“Play third base, shortstop, second base. That’s about it.”
Oh, excuse me! I forgot how desperate we were for back ups at third base, shortstop, and second base. My bad!
Posted: 12:50 PM on February 3, 2009
Posts: 0 Greg V.
Because Eric Bruntlett, Greg Dobbs, Marcus Giles, and Jason Donald just isn’t enough!
Posted: 12:55 PM on February 3, 2009
Posts: 0 Greg V.
And for the gentleman who wants to bring age into it, Nomar is 35, Millar is 37, and Grudzielanek is 38!
Posted: 01:04 PM on February 3, 2009
Posts: 0 From Section 113
Giles ain’t gonna do anything.
Posted: 01:04 PM on February 3, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
Greg V …. i don’t think anyone is AGAINST the Phillies keeping Christ Coste.. but you can’t compare him to Nomar Garciaparra
Coste is a backup catcher, which is fine, and he’s a good one.. but they need a RH pinch hitter… if they want to carry 3 catchers, thats fine, then Coste is the RH pinch hitter, or Paulino is.. but you pretty much need a catcher on the bench at all times, just in case… so unless you have 3 catchers on the roster, Coste can’t be the RH pinch hitter, and then its still a role that needs to be filled.
Im not really sure how else to explain it
Posted: 01:09 PM on February 3, 2009
Posts: 0 Pete
The Phils should just stick with what they have and evaluate the RH pinch hitter spot in spring training. They’ve got Coste, Paulino, and Bruntlett slotted in right now as righty bench guys, and internal options of Donald and Mayberry (John Jr. has raked left-handed pitching in the minors). No reason to spend $3MM for a RH bat that might get 150 ABs
Posted: 01:51 PM on February 3, 2009
Posts: 0 Greg V.
My opinion exactly Pete. I would definately watch Mayberry Jr.’s spring.
Posted: 02:01 PM on February 3, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
or Paulino, the lefty-killer…
Posted: 02:11 PM on February 3, 2009
Posts: 0 christopher
orioles are looking solid for next season. smart move on their part.
Posted: 05:44 PM on February 3, 2009
Posts: 0 KM
Wigginton will make a nice addition to the Orioles, and he will get a chance to start. He would have been an awesome addition here, but i can’t blame him for going after the opportunity to start.
Next thing we should do is set our sights on Nomar.
Posted: 01:54 AM on February 4, 2009