16
2009
Orioles Continue To Spend; Add Gonzalez and Atkins
An article by Former Writers
While things may be quiet in terms of Mets activity, the Orioles are wasting no time in building their club up for the 2010 campaign and beyond.
Jeff Zrebiec and Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun are reporting that the Orioles have inked former Colorado Rockie, 
Garrett Atkins, to a one year deal.
Atkins, who was non-tendered by the Rockies last week, is coming off the worst full season performance of his big league career. He hit only .226 with 9 home runs and 48 RBIs with on OBP of .308.
These numbers are down significantly from the year prior where he hit to the tune of .286 to compliment 21 home runs and 99 RBIs and an OBP of .328..
However, with Atkins’s track record I think he would have been a solid pickup for the Mets to possibly platoon at first base.
For what it’s worth, Bill James predicts that he will rebound in 2010 and hit roughly .285 while slugging somewhere in the ball park of 15 home runs and 70 RBIs.
That was not Andy Macphail’s only acquisition of the day. He also signed free agent reliever, Mike Gonzalez, to a lucrative two year contract worth somewhere between $12 and $16 million.
Last year Gonzalez was rock solid, posting an ERA of 2.42 in 74.1 innings pitched. Additionally he struck out 90 batters, while only walking 33.
With such impressive numbers, Gonzalez projects to be the team’s closer heading into next year.
However, I’m not as high on this acquisition as I was about Atkins. While Gonzalez is lights out when healthy, his ability to stay healthy is questionable.
Although if Gonzalez can prove me wrong than the Os will have made two very significant, in my opinion, acquisitions that will help turn this club into a winning team.
About the Author: Former Writers
12 Comments + Add Comment
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I agree with you, Atkins would have been a good pickup for us. He is a solid player and I used to get all the Rockies games on my satellite and watched him play alot. He is driven and has solid fundamentals. Missed opportunity, but what else is new?
Atkins would have been the perfect replacement for Tatis and could have given us an option at first base besides Murphy. Wake the hell up Omar!!!!
good, adrian gonzales is still available…
The O’s a winning team? Cause they signed atkins and Gonzalez. ….. how can people say the mets can sign bay and molina and marquis but it won’t help them be a contender in the NL but atkins and Gonzalez will help turn the O’s into contenders in the more difficult AL?
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/no-more-omar
sign my petition to get Omar out of New York
Way to let two more guys who would’ve really been really nice additions get away Omar! Way to keep your word.
ES&D, Omar.
Why not sign a solid corner infielder for platoon duty and bench depth and a lights-out lefty to supplement Feliciano? Dang, that’s right, we gotta pay homage to the likes of Castillo & Ollie. I must be stupid, I forgot…
We didn’t get them because they weren’t broken down former all-star players or because they weren’t Latin. You can choose which one you’ll go with
Last time I checked Gonzalez was a latin name lol
WOW, REALLY?!? I WANTED ATKINS SO BAD ON THIS TEAM!!!! JESUS, CAN OUR GM PLEASE STAND UP!! HE BETTER BE WORKING ON A BIG TRADE OR SOMETHING COZ ANYBODY AT LEAST WORTH A LOOK IS SIGNING WHILE WE’RE LOOKING A … UH… UM… IGIRA.. WHAT’S HIS NAME? THE JAPANESE!?. OH WHATEVER!! UGH!!
It’s kinda sad when even the O’s are approaching the offseason more aggressively than the Mets.