The Orioles signed Wilson Betemit last night to a two-year deal, with an option for a third one. He’s not the free agent we all expected; however, he’s got some pop in his bat and can play an array of positions in the infield, and some outfield.
I mean, Betemit is a decent major leaguer, but not on the wrong side of 30 – yet – and productive.
He’s now involved in the infield mix when Spring Training rolls around next month; however, it is safe to assume that Betemit is on the roster.
From MASN Sports’ Roch Kubatko: Betemit, 30, is a switch-hitter who’s played every infield position, including 383 games at third base, and four games in the outfield in parts of nine major league seasons. He offers versatility, but is more likely to provide help with his bat.
Betemit is a career .269/.336/.448 hitter with 63 homers and 243 RBIs in 1,742 at-bats. He batted a combined .285/.343/.452 with 22 doubles, four triples, eight homers and 46 RBIs in 97 games with the Royals and Tigers last season.
The Orioles would be his seventh team.
Betemit is a career .277/.348/.469 hitter from the left side of the plate, and 246/.299/.385 from the right side.
By adding Betemit to the roster, the Orioles could give him some starts at third while Mark Reynolds serves as the DH or slides over to first base, with Chris Davis being the DH. Then again, executive vice president Dan Duquette could have another move up his sleeve.
It looks like he may be the primary designated hitter for the Orioles and play some infield – that is, unless they get someone else.
On that topic, it’s just amazing that Prince Fielder is still available – really. I was watching the MLB Network last night, and reports are that Fielder is down to four teams – Texas, Washington, yes … Baltimore, and a mystery organization. Who knows what in the world Scott Boras – Fielder’s agent – is doing. I don’t know if they are holding out for a mega-deal, but all the big spenders – the Yankees, Red Sox and Angels — already have first baseman.
The market for Fielder must either be really limited, or Boras is looking for something that may not exist.
Do I think Fielder is going to play for the Orioles? No, signing him would be a poor use of resources right now and would make a bad team into simply a less bad one; however, at this point, anything is possible.
Then again, Fielder would be good for business for a brief while in Baltimore.
