Orioles sign Aubrey Huff - 3 yrs/20M

[Erik Bedard]

from ESPN...

The Orioles have reached agreement with free-agent utilityman Aubrey Huff, the Baltimore Sun reported Saturday, citing several industry sources.

The offer is believed to be for three years and $20 million, the newspaper reported.

Huff, a 30-year-old left-handed slugger, is expected to take a physical next week in Baltimore.

"All that is left is a physical and dotting the I's and crossing the T's," one source familiar with the negotiations told the Sun.

The Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers and Pittsburgh Pirates also were believed to be pursuing Huff, the newspaper reported.

One factor the Orioles had to appreciate: Huff has a .285 career average at Camden Yards and has batted .297 against the Orioles over his seven seasons in the majors. He has more home runs (20) and RBI (63) against Baltimore than against any other team.

Huff hit a combined .267 in 2006 for Tampa Bay and Houston, with 21 home runs and 66 RBI. He was dealt to Houston on July 13 and hit .250 in 68 games for the Astros. He posted career highs in 2003 with a .311 average, 34 home runs and 107 RBI.

SOURCE (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2714918)

[Brian McKenna]

Maybe we can sit the ineffective Millar now. Still want a starter - as is the Orioles are only challenging for third place.

[cubsfan1073]

Pretty decent signing. Huff has a lot of upside and could be a great player in the future. The Orioles didn't overspend too much and they got a solid player.

[Mattingly]

Since he plays the corners on both INF & OF, which is his best position defensively?

Also, where do folks here think he'll play the most for Baltimore? Where are Baltimore's most pressing needs on the field that he could fill? 1B, 3B, LF or RF?

[plask_stirlac]

Since he plays the corners on both INF & OF, which is his best position defensively?


DH? Ha.
Probably LF.

[Erik Bedard]

Since he plays the corners on both INF & OF, which is his best position defensively?

Also, where do folks here think he'll play the most for Baltimore? Where are Baltimore's most pressing needs on the field that he could fill? 1B, 3B, LF or RF?

Markakis has RF locked up for about the next fifteen years, they just brought in Jay Payton to be their everyday LF, Melvin Mora is a solid 3B, but 1B is the real trouble area. Kevin Millar would have started before this signing, but now it will probably be Huff. This signing makes the Orioles look like a decent team at every position.

[Mattingly]

Markakis has RF locked up for about the next fifteen years, they just brought in Jay Payton to be their everyday LF, Melvin Mora is a solid 3B, but 1B is the real trouble area. Kevin Millar would have started before this signing, but now it will probably be Huff. This signing makes the Orioles look like a decent team at every position.
Yeah, I figured that asking about 3B wasn't a very good question with Mora there.

Now then, how good is Huff at 1B defensively? I remember that Millar's glove wasn't so good, but he'd been kept at 1B for his bat. I'm wondering if he's a solid-fielding 1Bman or just an offensive upgrade over Millar.

[Erik Bedard]

Huff is decent at 1B. Not great, but better than Millar and Gibbons. A lot better.

[bigtime39]

This is a horse I've been flogging here and at Orioles Hangout for a while now: Melvin Mora is not Cal Ripken. Melvin Mora should play 4 or 5 days a week, not 6 or 7. I would expect Huff to get most of his ABs in LF, with time at 1B, 3B, and DH. It's a good signing, at the right price. Other than the Phelps screw-up, the Orioles FO has had a pretty good offseason. They've made several, high upside, low risk deals with players who can either provide depth in Baltimore or Norfolk. I like how this offseason has gone, very much!

[Erik Bedard]

Why would Huff play LF the majority of the time? I thought they brought in Jay Payton to do that. Now, I can understand him playing there to rest Payton, or move Payton somewhere else and rest Markakis or Patterson, but Payton is the starter in LF, and Huff is the answer to the mess at 1B, and he'll probably get some reps at 3B as well.

[Mattingly]

This is a horse I've been flogging here and at Orioles Hangout for a while now: Melvin Mora is not Cal Ripken. Melvin Mora should play 4 or 5 days a week, not 6 or 7. I would expect Huff to get most of his ABs in LF, with time at 1B, 3B, and DH. It's a good signing, at the right price. Other than the Phelps screw-up, the Orioles FO has had a pretty good offseason. They've made several, high upside, low risk deals with players who can either provide depth in Baltimore or Norfolk. I like how this offseason has gone, very much!
Please expand upon your thoughts of both the O's needs (which Huff is expected to fill), as well as this winter's acquisitions that you are happy about. :)

[Erik Bedard]

Well, the O's, coming into this winter, needed a good starting pitcher, and they seem to think Jaret Wright fills that need. They also needed to improve the bullpen, and I'd say Baez, Bradford, Walker, and Williamson will do that. They also needed an everyday LF, and 1B was a weak link last year, but not a priority. They got their LF in Payton, and Huff was a bonus, who I think will get the majority of his time as the first baseman.

[AlaskatoBalto]

This is a great signing for the Orioles and will be a big bat in the middle of the lineup.

[holyroman]

he was very unimpressive with the Astros last year, good luck