If O's Trade, 'It's Not to Mortgage Our Future'

"I don't know what to say about that," said Miguel Tejada, shown warming up at the All-Star game with his son, about the possibility of the team trading veteran players. "Whatever they do is up to them." (Jamie Squire - Getty Images)

On the final day of the first half of the season, the Baltimore Orioles' clubhouse in Cleveland emptied quickly, sending players in different directions. Some boarded planes back to their homes. Others took the team plane back to Baltimore. The lone remaining figure in the clubhouse was Miguel Tejada, who slowly packed his things for Pittsburgh and the All-Star Game.

As the second half of the season begins, the Orioles (41-49) are still headed in different directions. They are a team in flux, a miscast group of veterans and rookies mired in the middle of the pack in the American League, 14 games out of first in the AL East, and the only feasible long-term solution may be to break up this crew.

"It is a balancing act that you have," Orioles Executive Vice President Jim Duquette said. "If and when we do make moves it's not to mortgage our future. If we can get value for them we'll be trying to do that. Any trade, we want to make sure it's not for the short term."

Nine of the 25 players on the roster have less than three years of major league experience. Ten of the 25 are at least 30.

"You are what your record is, and right now we're a below-.500 club and I wish we were better," Duquette said. "As much as we have improved ourselves with the trades in the offseason it still seems we have a way to go to get ourselves where we want to be."

What we know about the Orioles this year: They will likely miss the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season. Their starting pitching (third worst in the majors with a 5.61 ERA), aside from Erik Bedard, has underachieved. They have little depth in the minor leagues to plug any holes offensively should the team trade veterans. Ramon Hernandez (.273, 15 home runs, 61 RBI) and Corey Patterson (.278, 10 HR, 31 stolen bases) have been good acquisitions and Chris Ray (3.19 ERA, 22 saves) has made a successful conversion to the closer role. Rookie Nick Markakis (.268) has made a good transition from the minors.

The next few weeks should determine where the Orioles end up in the standings. As the July 31 trade deadline approaches, Baltimore has an interesting dilemma: Does the team trade some of its veterans to acquire prospects at the risk of dropping significantly in the standings? Does Baltimore risk alienating some of its core players, mainly Tejada, by gutting this year's team?

"I don't know what to say about that," Tejada said of trading veterans. "Whatever they do is up to them. The only thing I think about is playing well. It's still a young season, but whatever decision they make, I'll take it."

The reality is that Baltimore will only likely trade one or two veteran players. The most likely candidates to be dealt, according to one team source who spoke on the condition of anonymity, are pitchers Rodrigo Lopez and LaTroy Hawkins. Both have numerous teams interested. Lopez (5-10, 6.77) seems the most likely to go because many teams need starting pitching and the Orioles have prospects Hayden Penn and Adam Loewen ready to step into the rotation.

Hawkins (4.38), a free agent at the end of the season, won't likely return to Baltimore next season, making him expendable.

Otherwise, according to the source, there has been tepid interest in Jeff Conine, Kevin Millar and Javy Lopez. But if interest picks up, there is a possibility they could be dealt too, leaving the organization vulnerable because it has no position-player prospects who are ready for the majors.

"I hate to lose," Orioles Manager Sam Perlozzo said. "None of us want to lose. You just hope that the veteran guys, the core of the team, can be unaffected and maintain a level of play. Anything we do will be for our future. Sometimes you have to lose and take a step back before you can take a step forward."

Though Tejada seems lukewarm at the idea of rebuilding, Melvin Mora seemed more open to the idea, meaning there won't likely be a clubhouse revolt if players are dealt.

"People are saying it's the front office's fault" that the team is not winning, Mora said. "We have good players. We need to put it together. If [members of the front office] make moves, it's for the team to be better."

Of course, there is always the possibility that Tejada could be dealt too, though Baltimore would have to be overwhelmed to do so. More than likely, trade talks for Tejada won't intensify until the offseason.

The Orioles, according to the team source, would deal Kris Benson (9-7, 4.79) if the right deal came along. At some point, several team sources acknowledged, the Orioles will likely have to deal from their pitching surplus to acquire a major league hitter.

The Orioles have strong interest in free-agents-to-be Carlos Lee of the Milwaukee Brewers and the Washington Nationals' Alfonso Soriano (as an outfielder), but it's uncertain whether either of them will have interest in Baltimore. So an upgrade in the lineup will most likely have to come through trade.

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