Our guest Monday for Sports Chat was Kevin Malone, the assistant general manager for the Baltimore Orioles. He answered questions on the state of the Orioles and on Friday's trades. The full transcript of the chat follows:

Kailua Hawaii: Kevin:
Do you think that a 1999 O's team that "cleans house" and builds around a nucleus of Brady, Cal, Raffy, B. J.,and Eric and a starting pitching staff of Erickson, Mussina, Guzman, Ponson would be a challenge to the Yankees next year? I think if we keep the guys listed above, trade Robby, Chris and Jeff we may be able to be competitive.
P.S. I haven't given up hope!
Aloha from the westernmost O's fan!!!

Kevin Malone: Well, if those are the core players we're going to build around, we're going to have to have better production from Brady and Cal in '99. And, we're going to have to make sure that our role players are still quality guys that contribute.

Clinton, MD.: We hear a lot about Ryan Minor, what other players in the Orioles' minor league system should we be keeping a eye on for the future

Kevin Malone: The players in Bowie, along with Ryan Minor are Calvin Pickering, Jerry Harriston, and Eugene Kingsale -- who was recently promoted to Rochester. Those are the key guys at Bowie.

At the A-Ball level there are a lot of prospects -- at Fredicksburg, shortstop is Coffey, Casimiro is at second base and a catcher by the name of Alley.

At Delmarva, McDonald, Worth, Matos and Riley. Those are just a few of the many prospects that we have from AA on down.

New York, New York: Why would you allow Cal Ripken's games' streak to compromise managements ability to do what is best for your ballclub? His skills have eroded and clearly his taking a day off now and then would improve his poor play and the play of the team. isn't management's responsibilty to its fans to put the best team possible on the field every day? This can not happen when Ripken's streak takes precedence over the teams objectives, your thoughts?

Kevin Malone: I'd say that Cal Ripken's streak has to be handled in a unique way because it's a unique situation. I think that if the organization feels Cal Ripken is not helping the team win ballgames, then we would look to make changes.

Hopefully, Cal would recognize the situation as well and know that if he's unable to contribute to a winning team, he would take the necessary course of action to rectify the situation.

Blacksburg, Va: In your estimation, what are the chances of re-signing Alomar and Palmeiro?

Will the O's try to pursue Piazza during the off-season?

Kevin Malone: We are trying to re-sign Alomar and Palmeiro. The ultimate decision will be made by both individual players. If they want to remain with Baltimore the next few years, then they will decide that, because the Orioles will do everything possible to keep them in Baltimore. But, the ultimate decision is theirs.

If Piazza is not re-signed by the Mets, then we would have interest in pursuing Mike Piazza because we would have a responsibility to make the Orioles a championship-caliber club. Piazza, if he becomes a free agent, could help us become a championship team.

Upper Marlboro, MD: Just how serious were the Orioles about trading for Randy Johnson, and what do you think it would have taken (or what were you prepared to give up) to get him, if a trade was possible?

Kevin Malone: We were serious about the acquisition of Randy Johnson but the Seattle Mariners were in control of that situation. What we had discussed with them was not sufficient for them and what they wanted in return from us was not sufficient for us. We felt the asking price for the Baltimore Orioles was too much -- it included three of our best players.

Alexandria , Va.: Why we're the Orioles unable to pull off a trade with Toronto for Roger Clements . What we're they asking ?

Kevin Malone: We did have some discussion with Toronto concerning Clemens. They wanted to be overwhelmed to make a deal and we didn't feel we could overwhelm them. We didn't want to mortgage too much of the future for that type of situation.

Chicago IL: Will we see Rocky Coppinger pitch for the Orioles this year? Why or why not?

Is there any trade interest in him?

Kevin Malone: There is some (trade) interest in Rocky. Rocky has been pitching well of late. I think there is a good chance, if he continues to progress, that he will get an opportunity to pitch for the Orioles before September, unless a need presents itself before then.

Greensboro, N.C.: When the O's braintrust meets at the end of the year, what procedures do you go thru to determine what the club will look like in 1999?

Kevin Malone: Well, I guess the first thing that would have to be determined is who is the braintrust. I guess we will have to wait to determine who the braintrust is -- there is a lot of uncertainty here.

Arlington, Virginia: Have you discussed lately the possibility of becoming GM with Peter Angelos if your mentor, MR. Gillick does not return?

Kevin Malone: No, my situation hasn't been discussed lately.

Waldorf, Maryland: If the Orioles get close enough, is there a possibility that you will acquire another player, but this time via the waiver wire? If so, who's out there that would benefit the O's now and for the future that you might be interested in?

Kevin Malone: Well, that's a good question. There is a lot of waiver wire activity right now. We'll have to wait the next week or two to find out who is eligible to be traded based on waiver-wire clearance. If we got closer and we needed a player who could get us over the hump, we would acquire that player. The only thing is, that player would be inelgible for postseason play.

A lot of teams are trying to get the rights to players but have to clear them through waivers.

Tokyo, Japan: Dear Kevin:
Is there any scenario in which you can envision Davey Johnson returning to the Orioles?

Kevin Malone: No possible way.

Davey's relationship with Mr. Angelos is somehwat strained, to say the least. You're more apt to see Mr. Angelos in uniform managing the club than Davey.

Hagerstown, Md.: Do you truly believe that giving up two upcoming, young, promising players is in the best interest of the ballclub?

Kevin Malone: Well, part of our responsibilty is knowing who to trade and knowing who not to trade; and knowing the depth of our prospects and the potential of certain players. We felt like we had some depth in our farm system that enabled us to make the decision to trade Rodriguez and Carter for Guzman.

Fredrick, Maryland: Are the Orioles content having Ray Miller as their manager for next season or will they explore the possibility of Jim Leyland or perhaps someone else?

Kevin Malone: I believe Ray Miller's future is secure with the Baltimore Orioles for 1999, and if a change were needed in the future, Mr. Angelos would make that call.

Bethesda, Md.: What was biggest trade that you didn't pull off, either this year or in previous seasons?

Kevin Malone: We've come close on a few trades that did not get completed with a lot of marquis-type players. But for some reason or another, they never happened. But, I'll keep you guessing as to who they were.

Owings Mills, MD: Does the front office plan to address the catching situation in the offseason? I like Webster as a backup catcher, but I think that the O's need a young catcher who can hit & throw out runners, to replace Hoiles. I've heard that Ray Miller really likes Jason Kendall. Is it possible that the O's could acquire a guy like him?

Kevin Malone: The Orioles recognize the fact that we could upgrade our catching position, but that's a lot easier said then done. We're optimistic that we have future championship-caliber catchers in our farm system -- Alley, Werth and Rosario -- are all potential everyday catchers.

Jason Kendall is not available and any other quality major-league catcher is virtually impossible to acquire.

Arlington, Virginia: How long will the Orioles stay with Brady Anderson as a .220 hitter?

Kevin Malone: Unfortunately, four more years. For the Baltimore Orioles to win and be a championship club, we're going to need more production from Brady Anderson. This has been a very disappointing year for him and I know he feels the same, but Mr. Angelos committed a lot of money for much better production. So, hopefully his season will turn around any day.

York, PA: Mr. Malone, how would you assess the club's attitude right now. After this long successful run in July are the players feeling strong and confident? Do management and the players feel good about their chances of winning the wild-card spot?

Kevin Malone: I would say our attitude is as good as it has been all year. Our attitude seems to have changed in the second half, the same way our play and performance has changed. Much better play and many more wins equates with a much better attitude.

I think a large part of how we finish the season depends on our attitude. With a veteran club, it should be advantageous for us.

New York, NY: What can you tell me about the acquisition of Juan Guzman? The thought process behind it, etc. Is Guzman signed through next season, or is there the possibility of losing him to free agency?

Kevin Malone: We felt like Juan Guzman would help us for the present and the future. He can either vest -- earn a '99 contract with innings pitched, which he's well on course to do -- or there is a club option -- where the club has the option of picking up his '99 contract.

But once we do that, then he can demand a trade, because at that point it becomes a multi-year contract. We would have until March to 15 trade him or sign him to an extension. He would also have until March 15 to rescind his trade request.

Fairfax VA: Can revenue sharing -- TV, merchandise, etc. -- help small city teams, or does it simply constrain big city teams?

Kevin Malone: Revenue sharing helps to some degree but we've got to find new ways to level the playing field. Revenue sharing has had a positive effect, but we have to take it to the next level and look for ways to bring payroll and/or revenues closer together.

We have to find a way to bring the larger resource payroll teams closer to the smaller resource payroll teams.

New York City, NY: On paper, the O's should be on par with last year and perhaps, position by position, as good as the Yankees. Considering both teams have had injuries, what are the major differences between the two teams and what are the priorities of management to decrease the differences?

Kevin Malone: The Yankees have had injuries, but they don't compare -- they've never had three starters out -- which we've had on two occasions. The Yankees have never lost their No. 1, No. 3 and No. 4 starters -- they've never lost them at any time. For large parts of the season we were without Mussina, Key and Kamieniecki.

We've also had numerous other injuries and guys on the disabled list. So, I attribute most of our problems to injuries.

Sykesville, MD: What are the chances of the Orioles, in the off season, going after Mo!

Kevin Malone: If Mo Vaughn was available, just like Mike Piazza or any other quality free agents, the Orioles will enter the bidding. The salary that these free agents are asking for will determine our level of interest.

Vienna, VA: Do you feel that Raffy is worth the $10 million a year range that he should be asking for, and do you see the O's paying him. In my opinion and the opinion of many others, he is the guy who has carried the team the last few years and he deserves to be rewarded for what he has done and what he continues to do.

Kevin Malone: I wouldn't pay anybody $10 million a year. The great thing about that statement is that I don't make that decision, Mr. Angelos will make that decision.

Are we supposed to pay everyone for what they do in the past or for what they do in the future -- and for how many years in the future?

Fairfax: How close were you to trading Roberto Alomar and/or Rafael Palmeiro? Who would you have taken in exchange for either one of them?
I'm glad you didn't trade either one, Rafael is the most solid player on the team right now.

Kevin Malone: We were never really close to trading either player. Most of that was media hype, to sell papers. We talk frequently about trading each individual player on this club, trying to determine if we can make a trade to make us better. So, it's part of the responsibility of a general manager and assistant general manager to know the value of each player they have.

Argenta, B.C.: In assessing talent for the future, even one year at a time, do you consider pitchers less predictable and more of a risk than everyday players?

Kevin Malone: That's a good question, I think it comes down to the individual. I think some pitchers are more projectable than others based on delivery, arm action, athleticism and past medical history.

So, it just depends on the individual. Certain players are easier to predict than others. You have to analyze on an indvidual basis.

Upper Marlboro, MD: Would you consider this season to be a complete failure if the Orioles do not make the playoffs? How will this team's injury-plagued first half of the season (which in many peoples' opinions has much to do with the average age of our players) affect your decision-making about future acquisitions and trades?

Kevin Malone: If we don't reach postseason play and win the World Series, we will be disappointed. We recognize that we've dug a tremendous hole that we're trying to fight our way out of. We will be disapppionted but we will have to regroup and re-tool and focus on '99. Hopefuly we will learn from this year in order to become a championship club in '99.

Bethesda, Md.: So if/when Pat Gillick leaves at the end of this season, how interested are you in the top job? What kinds of moves, if any, would you like to see made?

Kevin Malone: If Pat leaves, I would have interest in the responsibilities of being general manager here with the Orioles. I would prefer to wait and see if I get the job to comment on the direction I would take. Let's wait and see if the first part of your question is fulfilled. Call me back in a couple of months.

washingtonpost.com: Thanks, Kevin for joining us today and sharing your insights on the Orioles. And thanks for all the questions that were sent in for today's discussion. Please join us again next Monday for another discussion on Sports Chat.